Scouting Tri-Cities area volleyball teams
Aurora Central
Coach: Jeanne Czipri.
Last year: 27-11; won SCC Gold (7-1), lost 25-10, 25-23 to Rosary in Class 3A ACC regional championship.
Top returners: Natalie Steinwart, sr., S; Rachel Miller, sr., MH/OH; Ashley Wilk, jr., OH; Victoria Swigart, jr., OH; Katherine Chandler, sr., L/DS; Erin Traczek, sr., OH; Kendall Adams, jr., MH/OH.
Newcomers to watch: Sam Koziol, jr., DS; Erin Canning, jr., DS; Ally Kane, so., DS; Emily Schroeder, jr., OH; Jackie Cardona, jr., OH; Katilyn Rosa, jr., OH/MH; Jill Huseman, jr., S.
Scouting report: After a 16-game improvement in her first year as coach, Czipri looks for more success this year and perhaps a longer stay in the postseason. The Chargers will have to replace five seniors including team MVP Vivian Fitzgerald and most improved Kendra Bradley. They also lost 5-foot-11 middle hitter Katie Herbig who tore her ACL during club volleyball. But there are four returning starters: Natalie Steinwart, Rachel Miller, Ashley Wilk and Victoria Swigart. "This core group is carrying over the momentum and mentality from last year's team and is hungry to build on last year's success and move even farther forward," Czipri said. Steinwart directs a well-balanced offense while being an offensive threat. "Steinwart is an incredibly smart competitor and uses all of her weapons to run an incredibly well-spread offense," Czipri said. Czipri likes the athleticism of Wilk and Swigart, who started as sophomores. Senior libero Chandler developed a great deal in the off-season and is able to lead a strong back row. Traczek looks to fill Fitzgerald's shoes as an offensive threat. The Eagles also add seven newcomers, who, other than the transfer Kane, were a part of last season's Chargers' SCC Gold Division sophomore team champions (7-1). "The team is solid all-around, with every player being strong in serve-receive, and good depth in each position adds a positive competition to challenge for time," Czipri said. The Chargers expect another battle with Immaculate Conception in their Gold division. "The program has made monstrous strides in the last year and over summer, and I look to continue that progress," Czipri said. "I feel that I have the right group of kids with a good chemistry who are ambitious to succeed as a group."
Batavia
Coach: Lori Trippi-Payne.
Last year: 21-15, 8-6 (third in Western Sun); lost 25-19, 25-11 to Geneva in Class 4A Addison Trail regional championship game.
Top returners: Mary Nilles, jr., S/RS; Meghan Fabian, jr., DS/L; Kristen Koncelik, so., MH; Caitlin Piechota, sr., OH; Mary Kate Bryant, jr., S/OH/RS; Stephanie Kinane, jr., L; Ellen Jaudon, sr., OH; Blaire Theuerkauf, sr. RS.
Newcomers to watch: Briahna Havis, so., OH/DS; Kaytlin St. Clair, jr., DS; Sami Johnson, jr., DS; Anysa Ocon, so., RS/MH/OH; Haleigh Theuerkauf, jr., RS.
Scouting report: In her 24th year at Batavia Trippi-Payne continues to run one of the best programs around. Batavia had 80 girls try out and kept 56. That includes six returning starters. Nilles is a returning all-conference player and third-year varsity player who committed to Marquette in February. Piechota also made all-conference last year while topping Batavia in attack and serve receive consistency. She has committed to Western Carolina. Koncelik led the Bulldogs in kill percentage as a freshman last year. Kinane returns after tying a school record with 294 digs last season and also grading out as the team's top server. While the Bulldogs have a lot of varsity experience and talent to build around, they do have to replace two three-year starters Kelsey Vandenborn and Katie Rueffer. "We need to be able to fill their blocking roles," Trippi-Payne said. "We have focused a lot on defense during the preseason." Without any 6-foot players on the roster, Trippi-Payne said she hopes the Bulldogs can "play bigger than we really are." As usual, Trippi-Payne has scheduled some difficult nonconference games like Sycamore and Huntley. She said the team's biggest challenge will be adjusting to the new schedule of only six conference matches. Trippi-Payne also hopes the adapting the team has done because of facility issues at the school will help them adapt to challenges that come up during the year. Batavia is hoping for a top-three finish in its first crack in the Upstate Eight. "We know there are a few strong programs in our division," Trippi-Payne said. "We hope to be able to be competitive with all of the teams in our division."
Geneva
Coach: KC Johnsen.
Last year: 35-3; won Western Sun Conference, won Class 4A Addison Trail regional, lost 19-25, 25-16, 25-16 to York in Class 4A Geneva sectional semifinals.
Top returners: Brooke Binette, sr., OH; Sarah Duever, sr., S/RS; Brooke Morphis, sr., S; Riley Sullivan, sr., OH; Holly Stimac, sr. DS/L; Ashley Boser, sr., M.
Key newcomers: Hannah Buck, so., OH; Ashleigh Shain, jr., DS/L; Andrea Urban, jr., M; Stephanie Earl, jr., S; Taylor Otto, so., M; Alexis Schilling, jr., RS; Melissa Hanika, jr., RS; Maddie Hazel, jr., M; Noelle Eveland, fr., M.
Scouting report: It's an almost entirely new look for Geneva from the last several years when Lauren Wicinski (NIU) and Kelsey Augustine (SIU-Edwardsville) were pounding down kills, controlling the net and making life miserable for opponents. Wicinski, last year's All-Area captain, four-year starter and the school's all-time kill leader, certainly gives Johnsen some big shoes to fill. But so far so good for the Vikings, who opened the season this week by beating one of the best programs in the old Western Sun - Sycamore - and then taking down one in their new Upstate Eight, Bartlett. Wicinski led Geneva in kills nearly every night, and it's been senior Riley Sullivan who has done that in both matches so far with 14 and 7, respectively. Look for more balance from this group. Binette saw plenty of action last year, as did Morphis who filled in admirably for injured setter Megan Odenthal. Morphis got the season off to a good start with 34 assists against Sycamore.
Kaneland
Coach: Todd Weimer.
Last year: 16-19, 6-8 in Western Sun; lost 25-20, 25-15 to DeKalb in Class 3A Burlington Central regional semifinals.
Top returners: Jessica Lubic, sr., S/RS; Taylor Bradbury, sr., S/DS; Mackenzie Curran, sr., MH; Katy Dudzinski, jr., RS/OH; Kylie Siebert, jr., L.
Newcomers to watch: Melanie Thompson, sr., DS; Grace Fabrizuis, jr., OH/RS; Kourtni Bingley, jr., OH/DS; Malory Groen, jr., MH; Lauren Banbury, so., MH; Lyndi Scholl, so., OH/RS.
Scouting report: The Knights have a couple Division I caliber players to build around, starting with Northern Illinois commit Lubic and also Dudzinski who is being recruited by Arizona among others. Dudzinski finished with 204 kills as a sophomore while Lubic - a four-year varsity player - had 58 kills, 56 aces, 463 assists and 56 blocks. Both were all-conference selections last year in the Western Sun. Kylie Siebert had 151 digs as a libero. Weimer said the loss of Mackenzie Curran to brain surgery in early March, has brought the team closer. (Curran is doing much better and Weimer has planned several fund-raisers.) "Our hardworking ethic, passion for the game, and the love for each other and the team is extremely strong and will be hard for teams to beat us," Weimer said. "We are physical at the net and will want to destroy anything that's in our path." Weimer said one concern is depth with only nine healthy players to start the year. The sixth-year coach Weimer, who also coaches St. Charles North's boys in the spring, said among the new Big 12 schools that LaSalle-Peru will be the toughest challenge followed by Sterling and Dixon. "We will do very well in our conference and nonconference schedule," said Weimer, who is looking forward to playing tournaments at Wheaton North, Bartlett and Bettendorf, Iowa in addition to their own Spikefest.
Rosary
Coach: Lisa Kasper.
Last year: 19-19 (tied for fourth in conference); won Class 3A ACC regional, lost 25-15, 25-16 to Joliet Catholic in Class 3A St. Francis sectional semifinals.
Top returners: Lindsey Juriga, sr., S; Haley Norris, sr., L; Breann Maryanski, sr., MH; Amelia Wegaman jr., LH; Abby Konovodoff jr., S.
Newcomers to watch: Emily Meyer, sr., MH; Kate Stefanski, so., LH; Jen Hewitt, so., MH/RH; Marissa Prochaska, so., RH; Briana Flagg, so., LH/DS; Mary Graham, jr., L/DS.
Scouting report: The Royals welcome back a three-year starter at setter, Juriga. Norris is another third-year starter who will anchor the back row. Maryanski and Wegaman should provide plenty of firepower; Wegaman made all-conference last year. Kasper said the team is looking to get back over 20 wins again, finish in the top three in conference and then peak in the postseason. Rosary got its season off to a great start Saturday by winning the Plainfield North tournament over over runner-up Hinsdale South.
St. Charles East
Coach: Jennie Kull.
Last year: 32-7; won Upstate Eight title, won Class 4A Schaumburg regional, won Class 4A Geneva sectional, lost 25-20, 25-13 to Cary-Grove in St. Charles East supersectional.
Top returners: Maisey Mulvey, jr., DS/L; Olivia Desormey, sr., OH/MH; Samantha Szarmach, sr., OH; Meghan Niski, jr., OH; Kathleen Dailey, sr., OH; Nicole Lambert, jr., MH; Erienne Barry, so., S.
Key newcomers: Nicole Woods, so., OH/MH; Sarah Dugan, jr., MH; Stephanie Camper, jr., S; Allison Manley, jr., OH
Scouting report: Despite graduating a pair of Division I players - Jacqui Seidel and Caroline Niski - this Saints team is stacked with talent once again. They've already knocked off Benet as part of a 2-0 opening week. Meghan Niski and Mulvey were key parts of their 2008 state champion team, while Szarmach has been one of the most improved players so far. "Sam has stepped up greatly on the outside," Kull said. "That has been fantastic." The offense is in good hands with Barry back for her second year setting. "She has really settled in, more confident, the experience she got over the club season is outstanding. She's a lot more confident," Kull said. Desormey, one of just two seniors, has committed to Seton Hall. Kull said the motto for the Saints this year is "On a Mission." While the mission might naturally seem to be a return to state after losing in the supersectional last year, Kull said it's more basic than that. "We're on a mission to improve every match," Kull said. "This is going to be a season where our goal is to keep improving throughout the season." Kull certainly likes the attitude she has seen. "We're having a blast, I'm very blessed, every single kid has bought into what we are trying to do. I've got a great coaching staff. It's fun to go in the gym and be around this group." As for the new Upstate Eight, Kull has mixed emotions. She's glad to play Batavia and Geneva but is going to miss competing against Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Lake Park and others for a title. "It will be nice to play teams that are closer to home, it brings a big fan base in, you get home at a decent hour," Kull said. "Geneva and Batavia have had great programs and we'll be lucky enough to play them now and have it matter." But as for splitting into two divisions and having two different champions, Kull said: "I don't know about that. We still play them (the UEC Valley teams), I'm glad about that, but that is the downside, that is one of negatives that there's not an out-and-out champion."
St. Charles North
Coach: Lindsey Hawkins.
Last year: 25-12; won Class 4A St. Charles North regional, lost 25-16, 25-17 to St. Charles East in Class 4A Geneva sectional semifinals.
Top returners: Katie Fuerst, sr., OH; Jill Stolzenburg, jr., MB; Miranda Coello, sr., L; Sarah Clarkson, sr., S; Ashley Krage, sr., RS; Kim Juriga, jr., RS.
Key newcomers: Lauren Madiarczyk, jr., OH; Jacey Bell, jr., MB.
Scouting report: The North Stars have to replace five seniors who played key roles in Hawkins' first year in 2009. Stolzenburg and Juriga are juniors who gained valuable varsity playing time as sophomores last year and will be key players to this year's success, along with a deep senior class that includes Fuerst, Coello, Clarkson and Krage. "We are expecting to build on last year's success and its failures this year," Hawkins said. "Many of my returners remember what it felt like to lose that last playoff game and they don't want that feeling this year, so they are working really hard to instill a great team chemistry, a mental toughness, and a drive to win within the rest of their teammates." St. Charles North will find out a lot about itself early including a tournament at Plainfield North this weekend (they finished sixth) and an upcoming match against Benet. "We like to start out that way because it will let us know how far we've come and what more we need to work on," Hawkins said. The North Stars only lost two games in the Upstate Eight last year and are looking forward to the new division this year. "The Upstate Eight is going to be exciting this year, specifically our division of the conference - we've got some great teams and I'm really excited we added Geneva and Batavia to add to the competitive nature of the conference," Hawkins said. "They are both great programs and we are lucky to now play them on a regular basis."
West Aurora
Coach: Kari Nicholson
Last year: 14-20, 6-8 in the DVC; lost 25-18, 25-11 to Neuqua Valley in Class 4A Neuqua Valley regional semifinals.
Top returners: Lauren Carlini, so., RS/S; Kelsey Richmond, jr., LS; Cynthia Franco, sr., DS.
Key newcomers: Peyton McKenzie, so., MH; Kaitlyn Richter, so., MH; Dazmine Chaney, jr., DS; Lauren Wilson, jr., MH; Katie Ruhl, sr., LS; Rhea McGill, sr., RS
Scouting report: The Blackhawks have about the best building block around in the sophomore Carlini who has already committed to Wisconsin. She made an immediate impact last year as a freshman helping West Aurora make a better showing than usual in the DVC. "We were more competitive last year than previous years and beat teams that previously had beat us," Nicholson said, pointing to wins over Naperville Central and WW South. That type of success along with a good group of newcomers have Nicholson excited about what the season can bring. "We have a positive outlook for this 2010 season," Nicholson said. "We have a team that looks to be very competitive. We would like to continue with our philosophy from last year, to be competitive in the DVC. Our goal is to play to our potential and surprise people with West Aurora volleyball. We are excited for the season and believe we have a good team."
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