All-area team profiles: Northwest

Christina Brinkman St. Viator

Brinkman played a steady role for the Lions, helping them to a school-record 25 wins in the regular season. The 5-foot 10 three-year varsity outside hitter recorded 33 aces to go along with her 91 percent serving. She also collected 163 kills, 169 digs and 24 blocks. Brinkman is second on the team with 2.29 kills per game. "Christina is our captain on the floor at all times," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin. "She does everything asked of her and even more. She is an excellent all-around player and a great role model for everyone on the team."

Jessica Condon Elk Grove

A three-year varsity member, the 5-foot-8 Condon moved into the role as Elk Grove's only setter this fall. "She has done a fantastic job of running the offense," said Grens coach Joe DiSilvio of the junior. "Jessica strives to make our hitters better and saves a lot of balls that could otherwise result in points for the other team." Condon has dished out 462 assists on the year and 897 for her career which has put her in first place on the all-time assists list ahead of Marissa Mortensen. "Jess is one of our captains and has a unique personality that fits well with the sport of volleyball," DiSilvio said. "She works hard and always strives to be one of the top setters in the area."

Tess Dinterman Fremd

Give her a basketball, softball or volleyball and Dinterman will give you 100 percent. An all-area center fielder for the Vikings' softball team, Dinterman (144 kills, 58 digs, 28 blocks and 11 aces) now has all-area status in volleyball. "She was voted our captain so her leadership qualities were recognized right away," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "The most impressive thing about Tess is that she is a three-sport athlete and does a great job in the middle for us. She was one of our players who other teams had to key on to stop us."

Jenny Dolan Schaumburg

Dolan, a 5-foot-7 co-captain for Schaumburg who collected 306 digs and made 530 passes for a 90.75 percent serve receiving ratio, was definitely a back row ace. "Jenny is captain of the back court in every sense of the word - she covers two thirds of the court in both passing and digging," said Schaumburg coach Jeanette Pancratz. "She is a nightmare for the opposing team's servers and hitters who try to avoid her." Dolan also contributed 42 aces while serving for 149 points (2.13 efficiency). "Jenny plays and practices with heart and love - she is passionate and courageous - she knows that winning comes from the heart no matter what the score," Pancratz added. "Her commitment to personal excellence makes everyone around her better. She values and believes in the team."

Alysa Feld Buffalo Grove

Feld's game emerged this fall while starting for the second straight season as a middle blocker. She put down 130 kills in 28 matches. "It is not the number of kills that makes her outstanding but the timing of them," said Bison coach Marianne O'Shea of the 6-foot senior. "At crucial points in the game, we turn to Alysa and she delivers. She is our most consistent server at 94 percent with 17 aces. She works hard all of the time and has made great strides over the four years to become an elite player."

Hannah Guth Palatine

Guth, whose 159 kills were second best on the team, will take her game to Seton Hall University next fall. The 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker led the Pirates with 82 blocks and was second with 34 aces. "Hannah was, without a doubt, our vocal leader," said Pirates coach Dan Gavin. "Whether the chips were up or down, Hannah was always talking and always positive. Physically, she's always had great size but she worked extremely hard to improve her skills and athleticism. She's a tremendously high-character kid who truly deserves all the success that comes her way and then some."

Becca Haraf Hersey

Haraf, a three-year varsity libero, is the anchor of the Huskies defense, collecting 425 digs this fall. The 5-foot-5 senior is also the Huskies' top serve receiver, passing at a 2.43 ratio which is outstanding on any level. "She is the best serve receiver of any player I've coached at Hersey," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. Haraf is second on the team with her 48 aces, and serves at a 92 percent clip.

Emily Harris Barrington

Whether it was a block or kill, the 6-foot-1 Harris has the capability to turn a match into Barrington's favor. "Emily is the kind of kid who can just take over a match," said Fillies coach Chris Bronke. "As a middle hitter she is unstoppable." Harris put down 168 kills with 78 blocks, 34 aces and 103 digs. "Emily's combination of speed and her vertical make her a force that even the best teams struggle with," Bronke added. "As a person, she is as sweet as they come. The most impressive thing this year has been the development of her overall skill set. She has great ball control, plays tough defense, sets a great ball, and is one of the best servers on the team. Overall, an impressive combination of skill, athleticism, and character."

JoAnna Hoffmann Hersey

One of the top setters in the area, Hoffman's game has helped Hersey to one of its finest seasons in school history. Hoffman was able to deliver 768 assists from 2,446 sets. The 5-foot-8 senior also provided the Huskies with a versatile attack that is rare in a setter. Hoffman produced 108 kills with a .366 hitting efficiency. She also led the Mid-Suburban League champs with 59 aces. "JoAnna was at the center of our success this year," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "She was able to run our offense while at the same time keeping our opponents honest with her potent left-handed attack."

Rachel Hunt Prospect

There wasn't much question as to who was the Knights go-to player on offense. Rachel Hunt, a 6-foot senior outside hitter, leads the team in kills (206), hitting efficiency (. 341) and aces (32). She is second in digs. "Over the past three years on varsity, Rachel has worked very hard to make herself a better player," said Knights coach Mike Riedy. "She is a smart player who is able to hit with power and accuracy. She is a pleasure to coach and a great role model for younger players."

Sarah Hunt Prospect

If her sister Rachel wasn't putting down the kills, chances were pretty good Sarah might have been. The 6-foot-3 junior middle hitter had 142 kills, 53 blocks and 29 aces in the regular season. "Sarah has done a great job in the middle this year," said Knights coach Mike Riedy. "She is a rarity in that she is an accomplished back row player but with Maureen O'Keefe as a libero we don't use Sarah in the back row. As a junior her skills will continue to improve. I would expect her to be one of the top players in the MSL next year."

Lauren LaMasse Hoffman Estates

A two-year starter and co-captain this fall, LaMasse has served as the Hawks' leader in kills. "She has helped keep our team together through some rough patches in our season and has helped us regroup as we approach regionals," said Hoffman Estates coach Dan Hutton. "Her outgoing personality brings much needed excitement and laughter to our program."

Emily Leazer St. Viator

When it came to kills and aces, Leazer was the Lions' leader. The 5-foot-9 junior outside hitter, in her second year on the varsity, leads the team in aces (53) and kills (216) with a kill per game ratio of 2.95. She is second on the team in digs (221) and has recorded 21 blocks. "Emily can single-handedly take over a game," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin. "She has one of the more dominant jump serves I have seen. When she puts this together with her hard-hitting attack, Emily is a great offensive weapon."

Kelly McConnell St. Viator

McConnell made her mark as the all-time leading blocker in St. Viator girls history. A three-year varsity middle hitter, the 5-foot-11 McConnell ended the regular season with the single-season school record of 73. She has the all-time record of 167. This season she has 44 aces, 149 kills, a .329 hitting percentage, which is first on the team, and 60 digs. "Kelly is co-captain of our team this year and shows leadership both on and off the court," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin. "She gets fired up to play everyone and it shows with her extreme intensity. Kelly runs a very diversified middle attack that keeps the opponents guessing."

Alex Messner Fremd

If you watched Fremd girls volleyball this fall, you saw a lot of Messner. The junior outside hitter never left the floor for the Mid-Suburban League West champs and led the team with 195 kills. She also collected 77 digs (second most on the team), 16 blocks, 12 aces and was 226-of-250 serve receiving. "Her offensive skills kept us in a lot of games," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "She was someone who other teams looked to stop. Her work ethic has been inspirational throughout the season."

Tanya Mookerji Barrington

Despite playing a position that doesn't always get the recognition equal to the big attackers or smooth setters, the 5-foot-5 Mookerji was honored as the Mid-Suburban West Player of the Year after a standout regular season as the Fillies' libero. "Tanya was the heart and soul of our team this year," said Barrington coach Chris Bronke. "She had a season of epic proportions. Statistically, she was just off the charts." Mookerji led the team with 377 digs (5.4 per set) while serving 98.5 percent with 20 aces. She had a 95.6 serve receive percentage with a score of 2.30. "However, her biggest contributions came from her work ethic," Bronke added. "Honestly, there was never a single second of any practice or match in which she wasn't working 100 percent. The best example is that in a tournament match for last place, she recorded 24 digs in a two-game match. Her commitment to excellence in everything she does makes her the kind of kid that is an inspiration to everyone."

Maureen O'Keefe Prospect

O'Keefe was the controlling factor in the back row for Prospect. The scrappy 5-foot-5 senior libero led the team with 220 digs, including a match-high 21 against MSL champ Hersey two weeks ago. "Maureen has done an incredible job of running our defense this year," said Knights coach Mike Riedy. "She can be counted on to cover all 900 square feet of the court during every second of play. She has frustrated many a server and hitter all season long. Maureen is one of our hardest workers."

Kristin Perschon Conant

Perschon gave the Cougars a formidable attack in the middle as she finished the regular season with 147 kills and 53 blocks. The 6-foot senior middle blocker will continue her volleyball career at Northwood University in Michigan. "Kristin strived to be a force in the middle for us," said Cougars Hall of Fame coach Peggy Scholten. "Her strong performances were seen throughout the season as she excelled in both middle blocking and hitting. Kristin's strong presence in the middle will be missed by the Cougars next season."

Kayla Price Fremd

Only a junior, Price's talents caught the eyes of college recruiters and she has already made a commitment to Milwaukee-Wisconsin. She directs the show for the Mid-Suburban League West champs, handing out 443 assists (1,225-of-1,248) in the regular season. Price also collected 28 blocks, 30 digs and a team-high 28 aces. "Obviously, Kayla was the person we ran the entire team through," said Vikings coach Curt Pinley. "She never came off the floor. Her abilities put us in a position to be divisions champs this season."

Olivia Roback Elk Grove

Also a guard in basketball and softball standout, Roback became quite a libero for having never played the sport at the club level. "As a three-sport athlete and someone who does not play club, Olivia has done an amazing job improving on her ball control year after year," said Grenadiers coach Joe DiSilvio. "She is a weapon at the service line and plays amazing defense. Olivia reads well on defense and puts herself in the best possible position to dig." Roback, a 5-foot-5 senior co-captain, will finish her career as both the all-time digs leader (more than 700) and has broken the record for most digs in a season with 409.

Samantha Rosinski Rolling Meadows

Rosinski's all-around game excelled as the senior outside hitter was among the Mustangs' leaders in kills and digs. "Samantha is a great leader who the other girls definitely look up to," said Meadows assistant coach Heidi Quast. "She motivates everyone to keep doing their best and keeps everyone heads-up." The 5-foot-9 Rosinski made great strides from her freshman to senior season. "She's a solid all-around player," Quast added. "Samantha has a lot of court sense. And she definitely knows how to anticipate where the ball is going."

Kaley Sierawski Palatine

Sierawski, only a junior, is already committed to Jacksonville State University. Her 228 kills were tops for the Pirates along with her kill efficiency (.340) and aces (37). She was second in blocks (46), serve receptions (188) and digs (147). "Kaley's offensive prowess has been evident since her freshman year (576 kills through her junior season)," said Pirates coach Dan Gavin of the 6-foot-2 outside hitter. "However, she's really set a goal to be a more complete, all-around player. She's such a talented kid and, with another off-season of training, I'm very excited to see what she can do to help our program accomplish her senior year."

Jada Stotts Hoffman Estates

A three-year starter in volleyball, Stotts was a force at the net all season. "Jada's athleticism on the court is seen and appreciated by all who watch her play," said Hawks coach Dan Hutton. "Her dedication and hard work really have paid off this season." Stotts was the Hawks' leader in blocks and kill efficiency. "Even though she is one of the few juniors on a senior-dominated team, Jada's experience still makes her one of our go-to athletes," Hutton added. "Jada is a great role model both on the court and in the classroom, challenging herself everyday. We look forward to her continuing to improve on her outstanding current skills."

Maddie Swan Hersey

If there were a "Most Improved Award" for players in the Mid-Suburban League, Swan would definitely be a leading candidate. The 6-foot senior middle hitter led the Huskies with 60 block kills and was second on the club with 212 kills (from 80 a year ago) while hitting an incredible .429. "Maddie had a huge impact on our success this year," Hersey coach Nancy Lill said. "She was like our x-factor. Last year, she was a right-side hitter who did a good job. This year, she was an impact player and huge part of our success."

Angie Topolewicz Maine West

Talk about improving your game during the season. That's exactly what Topolewicz did as she went from a back row player to a full-time contributor. "Angie started the season as a back row player," said Warriors coach Randy Tiller. "She plays floor defense with all her heart, throwing herself after every ball falling in bounds." Eighteen matches into the season, Topolewicz worked her way into a position in the front row. In 15 of the remaining 17 matches, she led the team in kills, and at the end of the season, had taken the lead (62) for the team. "Her enthusiasm was contagious and her performance on the court lifted that of her teammates," Tiller said.

Kelly Travaglio St. Viator

A second-year varsity starter, Travaglio's .302 hitting percentage and 30 blocks this season are both second best on the team. The 5-foot-10 senior middle blocker also has 125 kills. "Kelly has been an integral part to all of the success we have had this year," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin. "She is a co-captain and has lived up to all expectations of this responsibility. When on the court she utilizes her wide array of shots to always keep the defense off balance."

Emily Young Schaumburg

You name it, and Young can probably do it on the volleyball floor. "Emily does it all," said Schaumburg coach Jeanette Pancratz of the 6-foot outside hitter-setter. "She is a champion in all aspects of the game." Young combines skill, talent, a commitment to hard work and an enthusiastic attitude to achieve her success. Only a junior, the Saxons' co-captain put down 234 kills (.335 efficiency, 2.85 kills per game) while also handing out 256 assists (3.12 assist per game). She also served for 169 points (29 aces) from 299 serves (95.3% efficiency). Young made 127 passes and collected 177 digs. "It is a beautiful sight to watch her set a ball," Pancratz added. "It is equally exciting to witness her speed and jump when attacking. She makes the most difficult play look natural and elegant. She can take over a game by her attack, by her block, by her set, or her serve. She is one of the most focused, committed, eager, and unselfish all-around players to have played at SHS. She is a model for all girls to emulate."

Jamie Welter Hersey

A two-year varsity middle hitter, Welter was one of the most efficient hitters in the Mid-Suburban League. This fall, the 5-foot-11 senior led the Huskies with her .495 hitting efficiency and was also second on the team with 53 blocks and third with 167 kills. "Jamie was a consistent force at the net, offensively and defensively for us," said Huskies coach Nancy Lill. "She is one of the smartest and most savvy middle blockers in the league. Jamie can always find a way to get a good kill."

Taylor White Christian Liberty

A three-year starter and 5-foot-5 senior captain, White led Christian Liberty with 257 kills, 283 digs and 62 aces while playing all front and back row rotations. White helped lead the Chargers to a No. 1 sectional seed in their first appearance in the IHSA state tournament. "Taylor will be greatly missed," said CLA coach Natalie Salsgiver of her two-time all-conference selection. "She is a great leader on and off the court. She is solid on attacker and back row defense. And she has good hands, too."