Lake Co. All-Area Girls Volleyball Team

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Megan Barron MundeleinBarron was thrown a curve ball early in the season, and she proceeded to hit it out of the park. Check that; she set it out of the park. Barron, a junior right side, was moved to setter in the second week of the season after Kelsey Sullivan sustained an injury. "She was real energetic about it from the get go," coach George Dressen Jr. said. "Her attitude was phenomenal and we didn't skip a beat." Barron (274 assists) played setter until Sullivan returned at the end of the season. "She had good set selection right away," Dressen said. "Her ability to spread the ball around was one of the reasons so many of our hitters had similar numbers." Although setting was her main responsibility, Barron still finished with 74 kills, 46 aces and 163 digs. She is a big reason why Mundelein will be one of the favorites for next year's NSC title.

Lydia Bauer Lake ZurichBauer, a senior setter, is captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County All-Area Team. Bauer contributed 481 assists, 115 kills, 132 digs, 63 blocks and 61 aces. Her ability to attack from the setter position was instrumental in the Bears' 33-4 season.

Becky Breakfield WaucondaBreakfield, a senior outside hitter, helped Wauconda to its best season in program history. The Bulldogs played for the NSC championship after easily winning the Prairie Division. Breakfield compiled 243 kills and possessed one of the area's tougher serves. After starting her varsity career as a middle blocker, she made a seamless transition the last two years to outside hitter. She played all the way around this season, giving her a chance to show off her passing. "She was a good, versatile player," coach Jonathan Grandt said. "She did a lot for us." Breakfield's contributions were not limited to practices and matches. "She helped out with coaching at the middle school, and she worked with the lower levels at summer camp," Grandt said. "She was a good representative for the volleyball program."

Anne Bruce AntiochAntioch coach Glen Heitman joked that he wished Bruce had been allowed to touch the ball continuously. "If she could have bumped and set to herself, we would have won a few more games," he said. Although the Sequoits struggled at times, you never would have known by watching the way Bruce, a senior libero, carried herself. "She was always positive," Heitman said. "I never heard a negative word." Bruce had team highs in digs (163) and aces (39).

Amy Choi Vernon HillsChoi, a junior libero, went for every ball she could this season. Which was exactly what coach Abbie Gutzmer wanted. "We told her this year to be a selfish defender," Gutzmer said. "Toward the middle and end of the season she wanted to (take) every ball." Choi finished with a team-high 291 digs and handled 820 serves. Choi also became more vocal, directing Vernon Hills' defense on serve-receive. Choi never believed a point was over until the ball actually hit the court. "She was willing to throw herself all over the floor," Gutzmer said. "She has a lot of fun trying to get to everything she can."

Shannon Curtis Grayslake CentralWhen coach Jason Janczak reflects on Grayslake Central's breakthrough season, he said the contribution of Curtis cannot be overstated. "Her work ethic drove this team," he said. "She's a gym rat at heart. Her (willingness) to work improved the level of the players around her. She (helped) ignite our transformation over the last three years." Curtis, a senior outside hitter, had a knack for making smart plays. "She can do the things you never coach; she has natural volleyball (instincts)," he said. She finished with 122 digs, 86 kills and a team-high 57 aces. Her jump-float was a major weapon all season. "She refined it over the summer," Janczak said. "The bottom would just drop out of it."

Tory Dohm Grayslake CentralUnlike baseball, radar guns are not used in volleyball to measure speed. So coach Jason Janczak relies on a different metric to gauge the power of Dohm. "She hits it hard enough to knock some kids over," he said. A powerful kill by Dohm provided a jolt of energy to the Rams. "When she would connect, it motivated the entire team," Janczak said. Dohm, a senior middle blocker, led the Rams in kills (204), blocks (59) and digs (149). She also contributed 49 aces. Janczak loved the way she embraced the leadership challenge that comes with being a senior. "She knew she would be leading a special team and she took ownership of it," he said.

Myra Edwards Round LakeThe opposition always had to account for Edwards, a senior outside hitter. This season, her game was more refined and she was able to use more than just her raw power at the net. "She was definitely our hardest hitter, but she found a way to utilize (different) shots," coach Amanda Allen said. "She made contact at the right spot on a more consistent basis." Although for most of the year she did not play back row, she had a matching number of kills (159) and digs (159). "She picked up some of the balls dumped in the middle," Allen said. "She was always where she was supposed to be."

Mandy Fischer LakesFischer, a junior middle blocker, always seemed to make the right decisions at the net. "She could read the court and see what was happening," coach Carla Thompson said. "She put it where the other team wasn't." Fischer put up a huge block in Lakes' season-ending loss to Antioch in the regional semifinals. If Lakes can pass better next year, Fischer will enjoy attacking opportunities. "She didn't get a ton of sets, but she finished the year very strong," Thompson said. "She's steady and a quiet leader."

Mary Kate Fritzsche StevensonWhen Fritzsche stepped on the volleyball court, she provided Stevenson with a tremendous risk-reward ratio. Her upside was substantial and her downside was limited. "She minimized her errors," coach Tim Crow said. "She was one of the most consistent kids I've coached." Fritzsche, a senior outside hitter, had 197 kills, 307 digs and 41 aces. In club volleyball, she's primarily a back-row player, so her defense has always been strong. This high school season, she emerged as a more aggressive hitter. "She put the ball away more," Crow said. "She did a good job of taking ownership of the team and being a good teammate to everyone on the court."

Alyssa Fritz MundeleinIf a ball was hit into Mundelein's back row, there was a good chance Fritz would make a play on it. Fritz, a junior, had 317 digs and handled 426 serves. A veteran club player, Fritz took control of Mundelein's defense in her first year as a libero. "She went after every single ball," coach George Dressen Jr. said. "She covered everywhere from one foot away to 30 feet. She was very aggressive and understood her role." She served at a 96 percent clip with 26 aces.

Lindsay Goad WarrenGoad, a senior setter, was a passer's best friend. "She was able to get a good set from anywhere on the court," coach Julie Filippo said. "She has great instincts and was always able to get to the ball." Goad's stat line includes 512 assists, 363 digs and 92 kills. Her ability to block on the right side allowed Warren to move from a 6-2 to a 5-1. "She blossomed this year," Filippo said. Over the summer, she organized a "Relay For Life" to benefit the American Cancer Society, and she also was a leader in "Volleyball For the Cure," a fundraiser for breast cancer research. "She was quiet last year, but she took her responsibility as a captain very seriously," Filippo said. "She was really adamant about bringing the team together."

Jenny Hamlin LibertyvilleOn her tiptoes, the senior libero stands 4-foot-11, and yet when you measure Libertyville's season Hamlin comes out standing tall. In her first full year on varsity, she was at the forefront of the Wildcats' typical scrappy defense. She led Libertyville with 434 digs. "She is very quick on the floor and got to a lot of balls that kept the momentum on our side," coach Chris Trzyna said. "She always had fun and loved to be out there." Hamlin also was a key contributor at the service line. She finished with 206 service points, 28 of which were aces. "She was pretty consistent as far as hitting to zones," Trzyna said. "In key games she sparked us a lot of times by having good service runs."

C.J. Hill GrantHill was not the type of outside hitter that could jump out of the gym. "We joked with her all the time that she's vertically challenged," coach Sue Thompson said. Opponents learned quickly that it was still a challenge to pass her powerful spikes. "She could hit right through the blocks," Thompson said. "When we needed points, we got the ball to C.J." Although softball is her main sport, Hill has a high volleyball IQ. "She was able to read the floor well and she was always in the right position to make a pass or a dig," Thompson said. Hill wracked up 164 kills and 170 digs. "She's quiet but the kids respected and looked up to her," Thompson said. "She got things done."

Kelley Jazdzewski CarmelJazdzewski, a senior middle blocker, drove the Corsairs in practices and matches. "She was so focused," coach Bill Szczesniak said. "She went along with whatever we did in practice. Anytime you asked her to do something, she would give her best." Jazdzewski led the Corsairs in blocks and was among the team leaders in kills. "Her blocking improved so much," he said. "She was much quicker and more aggressive." She also contributed at the service line. "You could call any zone and she would go after it," he said. Win or lose, Jazdzewski's attitude was a constant. "She helped our young setters and stayed positive."

Kaitlyn Klausner Grayslake NorthKlausner, a senior setter/right side, was asked to do a little bit of everything for the Knights. Klausner's versatility was on display all season for Grayslake North. She scored a unique daily double by leading her team in kills and assists. "She was able to do it all," coach Nikki Kirchway said. "Without her, we wouldn't have been in a lot of matches." Klausner, also the team's top defender, was a quick study as a hitter. "She definitely has a knack for reading blockers," Kirchway said. "She has some hops and she was very aggressive in her approach. She can place the ball anywhere and she had some amazing line shots." Kirchway appreciated most Klausner's passion for the game. "She's a hard-working kid who always wanted to (get) better," Kirchway said. "It was evident how much she loved the sport."

Emma Mach LibertyvilleMach, an outside hitter, was the only player this year who made major contributions to last season's state-tournament team. In her senior year, she picked up right where she left off. She accumulated a team-high 252 kills and also had 50 blocks. "When we needed to put a ball away, she came through for us," coach Chris Trzyna said. This was the first year she played in the back row, and she had a high percentage on serve-receive. "She became a very good passer," Trzyna said. "We could rely on her to get the job done."

Lauren Mead WaucondaMead, a senior outside hitter, has garnered more attention for her skill on the basketball court. Until this year, that is. After three solid years on the varsity, Mead emerged as one of the area's top outside hitters (309 kills). Although she does not play club volleyball, Mead is all about the sport during the high school season. "She's physically fit from basketball and she can step right in and be effective," coach Jonathan Grandt said. "She has so much athleticism that she can hit over most of the blocks. She has real good vision and could hit cross or line."

Amber Miehlke Lake ZurichOn a team full of powerful hitters, Miehlke stood out right away. Her performance in an early-season victory over Prairie Ridge set the stage for a breakout senior season. She led the Bears with 221 kills and had 51 blocks. "She let people know how good she really is," coach Matt Aiello said. "She wanted to prove some stuff this year. Nobody was really able to stop her. At times, she was able to dominate some Division I athletes. She got her biggest kills in our big matches." When Miehlke did make a hitting error, she had an intuitive sense of how to correct it. She also contributed 218 digs and 45 aces.

Melissa Miehlke Lake ZurichMiehlke is a natural volleyball player. Although she could have played the whole season as a hitter, coach Matt Aiello slid her into the libero spot for most of the year. "She's one of the best fundamental players that I've coached," Aiello said. "She has great reactions and court sense. She grew into one of the best liberos in the whole area." Miehlke (372 digs), a junior, displayed her versatility at the end of the season when she logged time as an outside hitter. The move was necessitated after an ankle injury to Jennifer Grunden. Aiello wanted to keep Grunden on the outside, so he switched her with Miehlke. "Melissa hits with surprising power," Aiello said. "She's not flashy, but she's been kind of our glue the last two years."

Sarah Myles WarrenWhen Myles was at the service line, she tended to stay there. Myles, a senior outside hitter, had one match in which she served 12 consecutive service points. "She was able to zone a lot better; she was real consistent," coach Julie Filippo said. Myles had 151 kills and 19 solo blocks. "She was a very confident outside hitter," Filippo said. "She was able to place the ball." Myles also contributed with her passing. "She covered (the floor) well," Filippo said. Myles' vocal leadership and drive helped the Blue Devils. "She was always open for constructive criticism," Filippo said. "She was eager to get better."

Rachael Ramsey Vernon HillsRamsey's desire to succeed rubbed off on her teammates. "What I'll remember most about her is that she was such a strong competitor," coach Abbie Gutzmer said. "She had a will to win that you don't see all the time." Ramsey's hitting (234 kills) and blocking (74 blocks) were known quantities coming into the season, and she did not disappoint. "She could get kill after kill when we needed her to," Gutzmer said. "She could figure out what a hitter's tendencies were and adjust. She had a real sense of timing." Ramsey flashed some surprising defensive ability (145 digs) in her first season playing every rotation. "She took it upon herself to do everything well," Gutzmer said.

Izzy Shaindlin StevensonIn two years as a starter, Shaindlin established a school record for digs (1,021). Shaindlin, a senior libero, had 492 digs as a senior. "She did a great job of reading hitters and judging where the ball was going to be," coach Tim Crow said. "She knew we were trying to force other teams to hit the ball to her and she was able to take pretty much every ball." Shaindlin's love of volleyball and positive personality were on display all season. "She has a lot of energy and is a fun girl to be around," Crow said.

Maria Skillman StevensonSkillman, a senior middle blocker, has an extensive background in dance. No wonder, coach Tim Crow described her style as graceful. "It was (fun) to watch her play," Crow said. Skillman had 117 kills and 33 solo blocks and 58 assisted blocks. Skillman backed up two senior middles last year, and this season she took full advantage of her opportunity. "She made a lot of strides from last year," Crow said. "She was always a good leaper, but she (improved) at reading the setter and closing out the block. She performed her best in the bigger matches against Lake Zurich and Wauconda."

All-area roster

Player School

Megan Barron Mundelein

*Lydia Bauer Lake Zurich

Becky Breakfield Wauconda

Anne Bruce Antioch

Amy Choi Vernon Hills

Shannon Curtis Grayslake Central

Tory Dohm Grayslake Central

Myra Edwards Round Lake

Mandy Fischer Lakes

Alyssa Fritz Mundelein

Mary Kate Fritzsche Stevenson

Lindsay Goad Warren

Jenny Hamlin Libertyville

C.J. Hill Grant

Kelley Jazdzewski Carmel

Kaitlyn Klausner Grayslake North

Emma Mach Libertyville

Lauren Mead Wauconda

Amber Miehlke Lake Zurich

Melissa Miehlke Lake Zurich

Sarah Myles Warren

Rachael Ramsey Vernon Hills

Izzy Shaindlin Stevenson

Maria Skillman Stevenson

*Honorary captain

Honorable mention

Martha Arntson, sr., Antioch; Audrey Bauer, jr., Lake Zurich; Amber Benko, sr., Grayslake Central; Sarah Caren, sr., Libertyville; Alanna Connors, jr., Libertyville; Jennifer Davis, sr., Mundelein; Anna Dlesk, sr., Grayslake Central; Carly Dobryman, jr., Libertyville; Annelise Docel, sr., Stevenson; Mary Doupis, soph., Lakes; Steffanie Fisher, sr., Lakes; Michelle Fleishman, sr., Stevenson; Megan Friedman, jr., Libertyville; Reiley Gliva, jr., Lakes; Stephanie Glogovsky, jr., Carmel; Lauren Grant, jr., Antioch; Jen Grunden, sr., Lake Zurich; Stephanie Infante, jr., Round Lake; Brittany Jones, jr., Mundelein; Morgan Liles, jr., Grant; Areli Lopez, sr., Grayslake North; Erica Lubkeman, jr., Antioch; Maggie Lundstrom, jr., Stevenson; Sami Mack, sr., Libertyville; Laura Mendoza, sr., Grayslake North; Sarah Milligan, sr., Vernon Hills; Emily Mohapp, sr., Warren; Brittany Murawski, jr., Lake Zurich; Shelby Myers, jr., Warren; Lauren Novak, sr., Grayslake Central; Michelle Parssinen, jr., Mundelein; Erin Paterkiewicz, jr., Carmel; Kinsey Siler, frosh., Grayslake North; Amber Phillips, sr., Round Lake; Jenna Przybyla, soph., Stevenson; Emily Rediger, jr., Warren; Laura Scheck, sr., Warren; Kelsey Sullivan, jr., Mundelein; Kerstin Taylor, sr., Libertyville; Karrah Toby, jr., Carmel; Sarah Walker, jr., Grayslake North; Brigid Walsh, jr., Vernon Hills; Kristy Waltenburg, sr., Wauconda; Maddie Westman, jr., Wauconda; Becca White, soph., Grant; Taylor York, sr., Grayslake North

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