Tri-Cities All-Area Girls Volleyball
Erienne Barry
St. Charles East
One of the best stories of the 2011 season came at St. Charles East where Barry returned from a serious knee injury that sidelined her midway through the 2010 season. Set the Saints to a 29-6 regular season with flawless setter play. “She has done an amazing job getting herself back and ready to play,” Saints coach Jennie Kull said. “She played in Europe this summer. She works out extra. She has done everything she possibly can to get herself back on her feet. We couldn’t be more proud of her or happier with the way she is playing.”
Lauren Carlini
West Aurora
A two-time All-Area selection and two-time All-Area captain, the Wisconsin-bound junior was able to lead her team to heights not reached before. West Aurora went 12-2 in the DuPage Valley Conference, 24-12 overall, to win a share of their first title since joining in 1997. All-tournament at Benet and Autumnfest, she finished with 173 kills, 243 assists, 167 digs, 55 blocks and 35 aces. “Lauren sets an example with her intensity, motivation and skill for all her teammates,” West Aurora coach Kari Nicholson said. “That said, Lauren is an excellent teammate. She is the first one to encourage and suggest helpful strategies to her teammates. The first one to throw her hands up in the air to celebrate her or her teammates achievements. Lauren has had a wonderful season this year.”
Katy Dudzinski
Kaneland
An all-tournament selection at the Wheaton North and Bettendorf, Iowa invites, Dudzinski was one of the most powerful hitters around, Dudzinski pounded 291 kills during their 19-14 regular season. Also served 18 aces and had 51 blocks including 29 solos. “She’s meant a lot for us in regards to being an offensive threat, scoring points behind the serving line, blocking the best attacker against opposing teams, and of course again, being a go-to person when we really, really, really need a point,” Knights coach Todd Weimer said. “We’ve become a better program over the last few years and overall, we’re good in a lot of our positions. But Katy is over the top and is a legit offensive threat and huge block. We simply put her up against the best attackers as much as we can.” Will play college at Wichita State.
Brianna Flagg
Rosary
The junior outside hitter developed into one of the more dynamic players while making the all-tournament team at Waubonsie Valley. She had a 93 percent serving percentage with 27 aces. Also had 160 digs, 201 kills and 47 blocks. “Briana will be our go-to player next season,” Rosary coach Lisa Kasper said. “Though at times, she played that role this year. Her all-around game has improved this season and she is becoming one of the impact players in the area. Most teams are lucky to have one player who can put the ball away and I was lucky enough to have two.”
Melissa Hanika
Geneva
When Geneva needed someone to put a ball down this year the Vikings usually turned to this senior. The Vikings usually didn’t physically dominate opponents but competed with outstanding defensive play spearheaded by Ashleigh Shain, then looked to Hanika to come through at the net. Finished a 23-12 regular season with 192 kills, 60 blocks, 71 digs and a .504 kill percentage. “She’s had a really, really good year,” Geneva coach KC Johnsen said. “She comes through time after time and plays so hard and wants the ball and wants to block their big hitters. Just a really impressive season. She has become our big gun.”
Kim Juriga
St. Charles North
The senior stepped up as a go-to hitter this fall for the 22-11 North Stars. She led the team with 197 kills and made the all-tournament team at the Wheaton Classic, Minooka Tournament and Plainfield North Invitational. “Not only is she a very skilled player, but she is also very smart and self-motivated,” North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. “She single-handedly has won a couple of matches for us, and it is hard for one player to dominate in high school volleyball. Despite having never played back row, Kim is probably one of our best defensive players, and I think it says a lot about not only her skill as a volleyball player, but also her character, that she was able to step up for our team this year and do something she has never done before, and do it phenomenally well.”
Stephanie Kinane
Batavia
A two-time All-Area selection Kinane finished her career for the 22-13 Bulldogs by putting her name in the record books a couple times. Kinane’s 389 digs during the regular season broke her own school record of 344. Also has a school-best 1,027 career digs while adding 22 kills, 31 aces, 217 points, 98.3 percent serving and 615 of 657 passing. Had 24 digs against Stagg; undecided on college but with good options. “She passes a 2-man for quite a few rotations, and can pass from anywhere on the floor,” Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said. “Defensively, she comes up with some plays that I have not seen any other libero in our conference make. She is going to go to a very good NCAA DI program.”
Nicole Lambert
St. Charles East
Stepped up her game as much as any player this fall, giving the Saints an imposing force in the middle to go with Meghan Niski on the outside. Made all-tournament at the Mizuno Cup. Had a whopping .533 hitting percentage while finishing the regular season with 181 kills including a season-high 10 against St. Francis. Also had 40 solo blocks and 51 assist blocks. “She’s made leaps and bounds this year,” Saints coach Jennie Kull said. “Her enthusiasm, her drive, her leadership have been beyond expectations. She has really blossomed into and an amazing player, amazing kid and an amazing teammate.” Will play college at Radford.
Mary Niles
Batavia
What a legacy Niles leaves at Batavia, capping her four years with 67 kills, a 41.4 kill percentage, 59 blocks, 24 aces, 184 points, 141 digs, 629 assists with 97% setting through a 22-13 regular season. All-tournament at Plainfield North. named to the AVCA High School all-American watch list and committed to Marquette. Bottom line with Niles — she’s a winner, doing whatever it takes on every point to make sure her team was the one celebrating. “Mary will finish her career as having the most career varsity wins of any player to come through our program, which is saying a lot,” Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said.
Meghan Niski
St. Charles East
Nobody can sky for a kill like this dynamic four-year starter who began her career as a freshman helping the Saints win a state title and ending it as a senior leader on the UEC champions. All-tournament at both the Mizuno Cup and Autumnfest. Had 15 double-digit kill games during the regular season finishing with 328 total plus 149 digs, 30 aces and 19 solo blocks. Will play college at James Madison. “She is one of the top players (ever at SCE), absolutely,” Kull said. “Her ability, it seems effortless when she plays. She’s an amazing athlete. I can’t say enough about her. She’s the total package. I’m sad she’s a senior but I know the four years I’ve been lucky to have her.”
Jill Stolzenburg
St. Charles North
Committed to St. Leo University in Florida and a two-time All-Area selection, this senior middle tied for her team lead with 43 blocks while finishing second with 165 kills and topping her team with 29 aces. Made the all-tournament team at both Wheaton and Plainfield North. “I have gotten to watch her grow since she was a sophomore and I am so proud of the player and person she has become,” North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. “She has been one of the leaders on our team since her sophomore year as far as volleyball skills go, but it is so nice to see her become a vocal leader for her team now as a senior. She is a very versatile player and a great athlete.”
Amelia Wegman
Rosary
The University of Houston commit capped a stellar high school career by going over the 1,000-kill mark, just the second player ever to do so at Rosary. During the Royals’ 24-12 regular season she had 255 kills, 44 blocks, 179 digs, 31 aces and served 98 percent. Made the all-tournament teams at Wheaton Warrenville South and Waubonsie Valley. “Amelia did a fantastic job as our team leader this season,” Rosary coach Lisa Kasper said. “She kept the girls up when the going got tough. It is going to be very hard to replace her next season, which will be the shoes (junior teammate) Briana (Flagg) has to fill.”
2011 Volleyball All-area roster
Player School Pos. Yr.
Erienne Barry St. Charles East S Jr.
*Lauren Carlini West Aurora S/RS Jr.
Katy Dudzinski Kaneland OH Sr.
Brianna Flagg Rosary OH Jr.
Melissa Hanika Geneva RS Sr.
Kim Juriga St. Charles North RS Sr.
Stephanie Kinane Batavia L Sr.
Nichole Lambert St. Charles East MH Sr.
Mary Nilles Batavia S Sr.
Meghan Niski St. Charles East OH Sr.
Jill Stolzenburg St. Charles North MH Sr.
Amelia Wegman Rosary OH Sr.
* — Honorary captain
Special mention
Kristen Koncelik, Jr., Batavia, MH; Maisey Mulvey, Sr., St. Charles East, L; Ashleigh Shain, Sr., Geneva, L; Kylie Siebert, Sr., Kaneland, L; Ashley Wilk Sr, Aurora Central, OH.
Honorable mention
Kendall Adams, Sr., Aurora Central, OH; Katie Baki, Jr., Rosary, L; Hannah Buck, Jr., Geneva, OH; Kathleen Dailey, Sr., St. Charles East; Grace Fabrizius, Sr., Kaneland, OH/MH; Mary Graham, Sr., Rosary, DS; Abby Konovodoff, Sr., Rosary, S; Taylor Krage, So., St. Charles North, OH; Lauren Madziarczyk, Sr, St. Charles North, OH; Peyton McKenzie, Jr., West Aurora, OH: Kelsey Richmond, Sr., West Aurora, OH; Kate Stefanski, Jr., Rosary, M/RS; Lauren Wilson, Sr., West Aurora, MH; Nicole Woods, Jr., St. Charles East, OH/MH.
The winners
Conference champions
St. Charles East, West Aurora
The future
Teams to watch in 2012
Rosary, West Aurora