Scouting the Fox Valley area's girls volleyball teams
Burlington Central
Coach: Marv Leavitt (3rd season),
Conference: Big Northern East
2006 summary: 26-10, 8-2 BN-E (second); Lost in sectional semifinal to St. Charles North
Top returning players: Teresa Krog (Sr., MH), Molly Turk (Jr., S), Rachael Latham (Sr., OH), Brittany Priest (Jr., Libero), Kim Ingraham (Sr., MH), Brooke Porto (Sr., DS/OH), Stephanie Holthus (So., OH)
Top newcomers: Meghan Zasada (Jr., RS), Emily Moxness (Jr., OH), Lindsey Lange (Jr., DS)
Season outlook: Third-year coach Marv Leavitt enters the 2007 season extremely optimistic about Burlington Central's potential for success. When you have a 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter who was chosen AAU All-American at nationals this past summer in Stephanie Holthus, it's hard not to be optimistic. Holthus is just one name in a long list of returning talent. Three-year starters Teresa Krog (unanimous all-conference BNE), Molly Turk (unanimous all-conference BNE, All-American club selection) and Rachael Latham also return to the court as well as last year's leading blocker in Kim Ingraham, libero Brittany Priest and defensive specialist Brooke Porto. Holthus will be sidelined for at least the first two weeks of the season with a broken foot, so depth will be a necessity for the Rockets. Over the break, Burlington competed in the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Tournament, where they took second among 30 teams competing (minus Holthus). It was all about a balanced attack. "We are very solid in the middle," said Leavitt. "Kim and Teresa are very strong hitters, and I like our passing. We also have one of the best setters I've ever been around in Molly." According to Leavitt, BNE action will be tough with Harvard and Hampshire as the teams to beat. "Harvard is the team to beat until someone dethrones them," Leavitt said. "Hampshire is very tough and very talented, too." A young team last year, experience will be a strength in the weeks ahead. "The key for us will be whether or not we put in the extra time," said Leavitt. "That is what special teams do."
Hampshire
Coach: Karen Whitehouse (3rd season)
Conference: Big Northern East
2006 summary: 26-9-3; Lost to Harvard in sectional final.
Top returning players: Jena Karkos (Sr, OH), Jen Kondrat (Sr, L), Kim Kartheiser (Sr, RS), Amber Ladwig (Sr, MH), Kara Wehrs (So, S), Amy Wehrs (OH)
Top newcomers: Jackie Jeffries (Jr, RS), Cassie Dumoulin (So, MH/RS)
Season outlook: Hampshire hits the court with five of six starters back from a team that narrowly missed a trip to the Sweet 16, losing to mighty Harvard (35-3) in a sectional title match in three games (25-22, 25-27, 25-20). Still, in making it to the sectional final the Whips achieved their season goal, which was to go a little further than the year before. That objective remains intact. "We have a lot of leadership on the court and these girls are working extremely hard, so the sky is the limit," said coach Karen Whitehouse. "Ball control has improved and will be a strength, and our passing has been excellent." The team did get a preview of its potential over the summer, attending the Wisconsin Dells Camp where it finished second overall while facing off against some great competition. "We've got a head start, and I'd like to see the girls use this summer and last year's success as motivation for the season ahead," Whitehouse said. Another strength will be offense. "Our offense is much more spread out this year so we will definitely have a more vast offensive threat." Whitehouse expects Burlington Central to be among the bigger challenges for the Whips in 2007. "Burlington will be a great match," she said. "We are really looking forward to playing them."
St. Edward
Coach: Jaime Walton, (fourth year)
Conference: Suburban Catholic, Class 2A
2006 summary: 24-13; Lost to Hampshire in Class A Hampshire sectional semifinal.
Top returning players: Kristen Haggenjos (Jr, OH), Katie Yohn (Jr., MH/S) middle and setter this year), starters returning
Top Newcomers: Taylor Barone (Sr., OH), Margie Haggenjos (Fr., DS), Stephanie Kunold (Jr., S),
Season outlook: They don't like to throw the "R" word around at St. Edward, but after graduating seven seniors, including two-time Daily Herald All-Area libero Paige Johnson and all-area hitter Kayla Leyden, the Wave enters a rare rebuilding stage. "We are starting from scratch," said Green Wave coach Jaime Walton. "This year will be all about gaining the experience and preparing to be a strong team next year." Walton has led the Wave to at least a regional title in each of her four seasons coaching at the Elgin school. The program has won 8 regional titles in a row, a streak that also includes 3 sectional titles and a fourth-place finish at state in 2004. Slotted as a Class 2A school this season, the Wave will try to make it 9 straight regional titles with a mostly new cast. The player with the most experiences is junior hitter Kristen Haggenjos, who saw action last season. Barone was nagged all last fall by pneumonia, but is healthy and playing well in the preseason, according to Walton. A multi-spot athlete, Yohn can play the middle and set from the back row. Junior Stephanie Kunold is a setter on the way up. This might not be the most talented group Walton has had on paper, but she likes this group. "I'm actually kind of excited about the season," Walton said. "They're all my kids now, there's no overlap from before I came here. I feel like it's truly my program now that I've been here for four years, which allows my to put in my philosophies. This is a true high school team, and I'm definitely looking forward to it."
South Elgin
Coach: Joni Melahn (second season)
Conference: Upstate Eight
2006 summary: 6-22, 2-9 UEC; Lost to Huntley in regional semifinal.
Top returning players: Tara Bradley (Jr., S), Hayley Bradley (So., MH), Genevieve Johnson (Jr., L), Alexa Kruel (Sr., L/S)
Season outlook: South Elgin enters season two of varsity competition with few changes, though the roster consists of just eight girls this season. Leading the list of returnees are 2006 all-conference honorable mention selections Tara Bradley, who will make the switch from outside hitter to setter this season, and Genevieve Johnson. "We are looking strong in the middle," said coach Joni Melahn. "We will definitely be running a quicker offense this year because our serve/receive is much improved." While the Storm is spending a lot of practice time working on individual skills, this team is starting to function as a whole. "We are really starting to click as a team," said Melahn. "We're working out the kinks now." South Elgin anticipates every match with Upstate Eight opponents and Melahn is excited to open against Huntley. "We ended last season with Huntley at regionals, and we are really excited to open with them this year. We played our best game of last season against them despite the loss," Melahn said.
Streamwood Sabres
Coach: Kevin Kwon (fifth year)
Conference: Upstate Eight
2006 summary: 20-16; Lost in regional semifinal to Elk Grove
Top returning players: Katie Post (Sr., OH), Hue Le (Sr., OH), Amber Lightbourne (Sr., S), Dana Franklin (Sr, S/RS); Megan Earl (Sr., OH); Alyssa Maynard (Sr. OH/DS), Leslie Ramos (Jr., L), Erin Tienhaara (Sr., RS)
Top Newcomers: Betsy Holman (Jr., MH), Maxine Andren (Jr., MH)
Outlook: Teams that take Streamwood lightly will pay for that lack of respect. The Sabres were kicked around plenty in coach Kevin Kwon's first four seasons (99 losses). Now the shoe is on the other foot, thanks to a pipeline of talent that has the Sabres aiming high. Streamwood's was the only District U-46 program to post a winning record in 2006. There is plenty of reason this season for optimism with Ohio University-bound Katie Post (6-2) heading a host of returning talent. Post, a great offensive player who played up an age group this summer for her Sports Performance club team that went to nationals in Minnesota, will play whatever position Kwon asks. Le is a 5-6 outside hitter, but what she lacks in height she makes up for in consistent ball placement, according to her coach. Ramos is the returning libero and Tienhaara (5-9) is back on the right side. Lightbourne is competing with junior setter Adriana Salgado. With so much experience returning, the Sabres are ready to make waves. "I just want to compete against the teams we always get killed by, like the St. Charles schools and Neuqua Valley," Kwon said. "We should be better overall with the experience we have coming back from the last two years. The team graduated middles Amberle Trinder (Charleston Southern) and Angie Skonieczny (Harper), but Kwon says juniors Holman and Andren are ready to step up. The Sabres will take their 5-1 offense to tournaments at Glenbard East's AutumnFest, West Aurora and Mother McAuley
Bartlett
Coach: Jill Bergmann (first season)
Conference: Upstate Eight
2006 summary: 11-21; Lost to Batavia in regional semifinal.
Top returning players: Anna Dudkiewicz (Sr. MH), Emily Hayes (Jr., MH/OH), Carly Sahagian (So., OH)
Top Newcomers: Megan Mangahas (Sr., S)
Outlook: Bergmann, the Hawks' new coach, has the luxury of eight returning seniors and a pair of six-footers at the net in Dudkiewicz and Hayes. "We're going to take advantage of their long legs and move them around a lot," Bergmann said. The Hawks also return all-around talent, sophomore Carly Sahagian (6-0), on the outside. Sahagian is a volleyball junkie who took only four days off between nationals in Minnesota with her Sports Performance club team and Bartlett tryouts. Bergmann has known Sahagian since seventh grade, when she coached Carly's AAU basketball team. Mangahas set the varsity early last year in place of Katie Ehrlich before returning to the JV team. "She has taken to everything I have asked her to do," Bergmann said of Mangahas. "She's a quiet kid, but we'll break her out of her shell a little bit." Bergmann plans to run the libero off the left-back to give Sahagian and Hayes another opportunity to swing from the back row in an effort to force more shots cross court. "This team can do a lot if they put their minds to it," Bergmann said. "They've bonded really well, and they've already told me we're getting out of regionals this year. Setting goals for the sectional is fine by me, but let's get through our conference first."
Elgin
Coach: Keith Foster (first year)
Conference: Upstate Eight
2006 summary: 6-22; Lost to Larkin in regional play-in
Top returning players: Amanda Schwartz (Sr, S), Ellen Holton (Jr., MH)
Top newcomers: Kendall Martin (Fr, OH), Alex Smith (Jr., DS)
Season outlook: A new day is dawning for Elgin volleyball, which begins the season guided by enthusiastic young coach Keith Foster, who intends to build the program into a winner. An assistant last year, Foster has six girls in the program playing club volleyball in the off-season, which should be a big lift for the program down the road. "I can't wait for the opportunity to turn this program around," Foster said. "I have a lot of girls on this team that are looking forward to that and trying hard. Having a coach who provides stability and will be here for the long-term will help build this program from the ground up." Foster, who played volleyball at Lake Park and still plays volleyball competitively, hopes to get this group to play as a team first and foremost. That's goal No. 1. Goal No. 2 is to play the locals tough. "I think a safe goal is to compete with the other U-46 schools," says Foster, who has few returnees this season. Foster is ecstatic about the arrival of freshman Kendall Martin, who he says can be a force in area volleyball for the next four seasons.
Larkin
Coach: Gail Johnson (second year)
Conference: Upstate Eight
2006 summary: 9-27; Lost to St. Charles North in regional semifinal.
Top returning players: Claire Sherman (Jr. L); Jessica Harris, (Jr. OH); Jessica Garrity (Jr. MH, 5-9), Natalie Beaver (Jr. MH); Liza Smithberger (Jr. S)
Newcomers: Allesandra Castillo (Jr., S); Ashley Gazda (Sr., OPP); Bonnie Bielarz (Sr., MH)
Outlook: Larkin volleyball is in Year 2 of a transition following the graduation of Division-I stud Ruth Boscaljon and longtime coach Mary O'Brien. The Royals should take a step forward this year under second coach Gail Johnson (formerly Ortiz, who was married in the off-season). She expects the back row defense to keep the Royals in matches until the offense can get in sync. "The strength of this team is our back row," Johnson said. "We're scrappy and we'll get to a lot of balls out there. Our girls can read the ball pretty well and they are quick enough to get to them. Right now we're still growing and still learning, but I believe we're better off than we were when we started last year." Junior middle Natalie Beaver twisted an ankle in practice and will miss the upcoming week, possibly two. The Royals will open play next week at the Bartlett Tournament and will also compete this season at the Maine East Invite as well as tournaments at Waubonsie Valley and Schaumburg.
Westminster Christian
Coach: Guy Lum (Third year)
Conference: Private School League
2006 summary: 5-23; Lost to Rockford Lutheran in Class A semifinal
Top returning players: Jessica Benson (So., RS), Sarah Russell (Sr., S), Abby Stevenson (Jr., MH), Katie Webster (So., OH)
Top newcomers: Sarah Rodgers (So., OH), Hannah Graves (Fr. S)
Outlook: Don't worry, the Warriors don't have their sports mixed up -- but, yes, they did practice on a sand volleyball court all summer. "It was great for conditioning," said coach Guy Lum, who also coaches club volleyball in Buffalo Grove. "I think playing in the sand really helped our jumping and agility. A lot of that skill will carry over to the indoor court." Lum has been pleased with the improvement of this bunch, a group he says could top the .500 mark this season, now that the team has four upperclassmen with three years of varsity experience. Talented sophomore Jessica Benson returns on the right side, Abby Stevenson (5-8) at middle hitter and Katie Webster (5-4) is a leaper on the outside. The Warriors have a veteran at an important position: setter Sarah Russell (5-7), who directs Lum's 5-1 offense. Sarah Rodgers, a transfer student from Peoria, will add to the arsenal. Freshman setter Hannah Graves will set the JV team and will see time on the varsity, which should be much improved. The Warriors are the only team in the PSL slotted in Class 1A. "We're going to surprise a lot of teams," Lum said. "We'd like to move up at least one notch in the PSL and be at least a .500 team. That's what we're shooting for."
St. Charles North
Coach: Lindsay Trudell (fifth season.
Conference: Upstate Eight
2006 summary: 31-8 overall (new school record for wins), 9-1 in the Upstate Eight Conference (shared title with St. Charles East, won title for third consecutive season). Lost to Rockton Hononegah in Sweet 16.
Top returning players: Carla Tietz, sr., OH/DS; Elin Smith, jr., RSH; Gretchen Giesler, sr., MH; Caitlin Winkelman, sr., DS/L.
Top newcomers: Kelsey Smith, jr., M/RSH; Lindsay Williams, sr., OH/MH; Annie Stoermer, jr., S; Karlie Giesler, so., RSH/OH; Stephanie Johnson, sr., util.
Outlook: No big surprise -- St. Charles North is going to be awesome this year. Just like last year. And the year before that. The North Stars set a school record in wins and were one game away from qualifying for the state tournament last year. Will the third year be the charm? Tietz (Georgia) Gretchen Giesler (Kentucky) and Prairie Ridge transfer Williams (Western Kentucky) are all heading to Division-I schools next year and this is by far the tallest team Trudell has coached since she's been at St. Charles North. "It's insane," Trudell said, as she listed players with heights of 6-foot-3, 6-2 and 6-1. Height and natural athleticism will power these North Stars more toward offense than anything else. "We are very happy with the way things are going so far," Trudell said.