Girls volleyball: Lake County all-area team

Ashley August Carmel

August did not perform like a player in her first season at a new position. August, a senior whose previous varsity experience was at defensive specialist and libero, made a seamless transition to setter. "We moved her because of her speed and intelligence on the court," coach Bill Szczesniak said. "She understands how to read defenses. We liked the way she (competed) and we wanted that out of our setter. This gave her more touches on the ball and her hands got really good."

Mallory Boich Mundelein

Boich did everything better in her senior season. She had 86 kills, 32 solo blocks, 74 digs. Boich did not serve as a junior, but this year she developed into one of the Mustangs' top servers (22 aces). As the year progressed, Mundelein increasingly began to count on Boich for big kills and tough serving. "She stepped forward and became a true team leader," coach George Dressen Jr. said. "The team looked to her for encouragement. She played with enthusiasm every time."

Lisa Butzen Lake Zurich

Butzen, a senior in her third varsity season, was moved back to the middle from the right side. Clearly, her blocking never lost a beat. She had 60 solo blocks and assisted on 123 additional blocks. "She could be a devastating blocker at times," coach Matt Aiello said. She also contributed 126 kills. "She didn't do more than she was capable of," Aiello said. "She was (great) about letting our defensive players know where to set up. She's a smart player."

Lindsay Callanan Antioch

Callanan played bigger than her 5-foot-6 frame would indicate. The senior right side had 96 kills and 22 solo blocks. She was perhaps most valuable in the back row. She led Antioch in serve-receive average and digs (130). The Sequoits could expect a solid match from Callanan every time out. "She was a security blanket for my setter," coach Glen Heitman said. "She was the player that held the team together in tough matches. You could count on her to make the big play when needed."

Jenny Caren Libertyville

Talk about making the most of your only varsity season. Caren, a senior, emerged as one of the conference's best defensive specialists. She contributed 189 digs and was 276 for 294 on serve-receive. She also helped Libertyville to several long runs at the service-line (37 aces). "She has a tremendous ability to dig hard spikes," coach Chris Trzyna said. "She was a huge asset at the service line and just has a passion to play the game. She enjoys being out on the court."

Missey Ceisel Warren

Ceisel, a senior, was called up to varsity late in her sophomore season for Warren's run to the sectional title. She learned a lot from that experience and played well the last two seasons as Warren's setter. She led Warren in assists (196) and also was a threat as a hitter (41 kills). On defense, she contributed 81 digs. "Her ability to play all the way around was impressive," coach Julie Filippo said.

Shannon Curtis Grayslake Central

Curtis, a junior outside hitter, is probably best known for her serve, a wicked jump-float that produced 51 aces. But Curtis's game is about a lot more than serving. She had 128 kills and 122 digs. "She was our most versatile and consistent player," coach Jason Janczak said. "She's a very smart hitter who sees the floor. On defense, she has a strong desire to get to every ball." Curtis provided solid leadership throughout the conference season. "We play a tough schedule, but her attitude was (always) positive," Janczak said.

Erin DeMarco Libertyville

DeMarco made a name for herself as a junior with a tremendous performance in last year's sectional title match against Stevenson. She only enhanced her reputation as a senior. DeMarco compiled 745 assists this season, and was always a threat to dump or tip the ball over the net (87 kills). She added 63 digs on defense. "She's one of the best gamers I've ever coached," Libertyville's Chris Trzyna said. "She utilizes all her hitters and her passing is pretty exceptional. She's 100 percent steady on the floor."

Megan Falk Grayslake North

In the first two years of Grayslake North volleyball, no one was more synonymous with the program than Falk. "She was our rock," coach Nikki Kirchway said. "Her high stands, hard work and great attitude have left a big mark on our program." Falk, a senior outside hitter, had a team-high 183 kills and also led the Knights in digs. Going into the season, Kirchway expected a lot from Falk on offense. Falk's play on defense was a pleasant surprise. "The biggest improvement this season was her ability to dig balls," Kirchway said. "Her intensity for defense was amazing."

Amanda Fleischman Stevenson

Fleischman, a two-year starter at middle blocker, contributed 169 kills and 79 solo blocks in her senior season. "We were a difficult team to beat, and she had a lot to do with our success," coach Tim Crow said. "Her energy and enthusiasm were contagious." Fleischman hit for a high percentage and her play was almost always consistent. "She's very calm when dealing with adversity, and she's one of the lower-maintenance players I've coached. You didn't have to worry too much about her. You could tell her something once and it would be done. It was nice to have that stability."

Ali Haws Libertyville

Haws is the captain of the Daily Herald's all-area volleyball team. After coming off the bench as a junior, she blossomed throughout her senior season. She was at her best in the playoffs; her performance in the supersectional against Maine South helped Libertyville secure its first state-tournament appearance. For the season, she had 223 kills, 73 blocks and 31 aces. "She has truly dominated in the state playoffs," coach Chris Trzyna said.

Kaitlyn Howard Carmel

Howard, a middle, took her blocking to the next level as a senior. "That was her really big push this year," coach Bill Szczesniak said. "There were a couple of times where she had 7 or 8 solo blocks." Howard's hitting and her approach to volleyball were constants for Carmel. "She's a smart player and she always had the same level of intensity," Szczesniak said. "She was still able to put the ball away against some of the big girls in our conference."

Brittany Kucia Round Lake

The graduation of Kucia will mean this is the first time in four years Round Lake has had to worry about the setting position. Kucia was 805 for 819 setting. "She had the ability to know where the open spots would be which is a wonderful attribute to have," coach Amanda Allen said. "She could also tip it over on the second (touch). She stands 5-foot-5, but she had a good number of blocks." Kucia served at 96.2 percent clip. Allen loved Kucia's toughness. "She played through injuries," Allen said. "She never complained."

Katie Lonergan Antioch

In her four years on varsity, Lonergan has played wherever needed. After a move to setter last season, she was back playing her natural position, outside hitter. She came through with another banner season, collected 249 kills, 127 digs and 21 aces. "She was our best all-around player," coach Glen Heitman said. "She was one of our main defensive players, and her offensive game also improved. She developed a good off-speed shot and she learned to hit down the line as the season progressed."

Caitlin McKenna Vernon Hills

McKenna, a senior outside hitter, was the type of player who would make any team better. "She's one of those kids that just knows the game of volleyball," coach Abbie Gutzmer said. "It comes natural to her. She understands when she needs to swing away and when to roll shots. She knows where to be defensively, and she is a vocal leader ho calls out where the setter's hitters are." McKenna had 109 kills and 120 digs. "She was our best all-around player," Gutzmer said. "She did a little of everything."

Lauren Mead Wauconda

More and more, Mead is coming through with exclamation point kills. "She was definitely our hardest hitter," coach Jonathan Grandt said. "A big hit from her could spark our offense. She definitely made other teams when she was in the front row." Mead, a junior who also is a top-notch basketball player, moved from opposite to outside hitter this season. This resulted in more opportunities to attack, and she also played the back row for the first time. "It was a big switch for her, and she did a great job (responding)," Grandt said. "She took on a much bigger role this year."

Emma Melendez Libertyville

On a team filled with great defensive players, Melendez was the unquestioned leader. Melendez, a senior, frustrated opponents all season by digging up balls that seemed destined to be kills. "She reads the hitters extremely well and has the ability to direct the pass to our setter," coach Chris Trzyna said. Her 223 digs led the Wildcats. "She's a fun player to have on the team because she's always up and excited to play," Trzyna said. "She has fun on the floor, and this team has really thrived off that."

Melissa Miehlke Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich was loaded with hitters this season, but coach Matt Aiello was unsure who would anchor the defense. Enter Miehlke, who for the good of the team moved from outside hitter to libero. "She probably could have been an all-area player with her hitting, but we needed her to solidify our defense," Aiello said. Miehlke responded with a team-high 451 digs, and she took every ball she could in serve-receive. She also led the Bears in aces (56). "She was almost always upbeat," Aiello said. "She didn't get frustrated when we lost a point, and the kids took on that personality."

Margaret Salata Stevenson

All Salata, a senior middle blocker, did at Stevenson was win. Her varsity record over the last three years was 98-19. "In terms of matches won, she was probably the most successful kid I've coached at Stevenson," coach Tim Crow said. Salata totaled 230 kills and 100 solo blocks. Salata, a three-year varsity player and two-year starter, made it extremely hard for opposing teams to run offense through the middle. "I knew she would continue to block well, but her attack numbers went up a lot more than last year," Crow said. "Her intensity on the court wore off on the rest of the girls."

Brianna Skeens Vernon Hills

Skeens, a senior middle blocker, leaves Vernon Hills having maximized her abilities. "She is one of the hardest workers you will find," Vernon Hills coach Abbie Gutzmer said. "To be where she's at for a non club player is tremendous." Skeens, who also is on the basketball and track teams, had a team-high 124 kills and 35 blocks. "She found a nice balance and was able to mix up her hits," Gutzmer said. "A lot of her kills came from smart tips."

Jamie Swanson Grant

Swanson, a three-year starter, was at or near the top of just about every statistical category for Grant. Swanson, a senior outside hitter, contributed 156 kills and 47 assisted blocks. She also was the Bulldogs' best passer. "She led us on offense, but her defensive skills and court awareness were also huge attributes for us this season," coach Sue Thompson said. "She worked hard year after year to improve her game. She's a strong leader and she's usually the first one to point out to other players what they did well during the match."

Kathy Szczesniak Lakes

For the third consecutive season, Szczesniak provided Lakes with a coach on the floor type of presence at setter. "She sees the floor better than any kids I've coached," Lakes' Carla Thompson said. "She's grown up around volleyball and sees opening that maybe other kids don't see. She did a lot to help improve her teammates' (skills)." Lakes ran a 6-2 this season, so Szczesniak also had a chance to hit. Of course, her forte remains setting. "The other kids work harder because they know she's going to put the ball right there for them," Thompson said.

Megan Toczek Antioch

Toczek, a senior middle blocker, put it all together this year. She led Antioch in kills (264) and solo blocks (108). Toczek went from a shy player on the junior varsity as a sophomore to one of the area's most intimidating players. "When she was a sophomore she was almost apologetic when she blocked somebody," coach Glen Heitman said. "Now, the intensity in her face when she was blocking scared me sometimes. She was able to change what other teams wanted to do with her presence in the middle." Toczek also had a surprising 53 aces. "She had a killer serve," Heitman said.

Crystal Wright Lake Zurich

After an outstanding junior season, opposing teams knew they had to devote two blockers to Wright. So Wright, an outside hitter, responded by increasing her versatility as a hitter. "She played under control a lot more," coach Matt Aiello said. "She saw the court better and was able to go deep, tip or hit drop shots. She always wanted the ball and believes she would put it away." Wright wracked up 251 kills, 331 digs and 51 aces. "She became more of a complete player," Aiello said.