Tri-Cities girls volleyball all-area team

Claire Anderson, St. Charles North

The junior elevated her game and became a big reason why the North Stars won 27 games with a team-high 252 kills in the regular season. Also had 28 aces and 30 blocks. "She's one of those kids that is extremely versatile," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "We started her freshman year in the middle, then right side and now she's on the outside. She's very athletic. She can run so many different things. She has just really expanded her game a ton. She was not a passer before and now she's stepped into that role and her blocking is amazing. She gets those big swings that give you momentum."

Ellie Dunn, Kaneland

This Ball State-bound outside hitter delivered a smashing senior season, leading the 24-9 Knights with 313 kills. She slammed 15 of them in a win at Yorkville to close out the regular season, a victory that tied the Knights for the conference title. Not just a big hitter, Dunn was a tremendous back-row player who led the Knights in digs with 248. "She's our leader," Kaneland coach Cynthia Violett said of the repeat all-area pick. "She came out from off-season of club playing really well in club. She's already committed to Ball State so she easily could have said, 'I don't care, I'm already committed' but that's not Ellie. She's here to play with the team and she has further goals."

Riley Hannula, Kaneland

It had been 33 years since the last time Kaneland won a conference championship. The Knights got there in large part because of the play of Hannula in the middle of the Kaneland attack. The senior led the Knights in blocks with 49 while also putting away 148 kills, second-best on a Kaneland team that went 24-9. Her .386 hitting percentage led the team. "She's really starting to swing and hit the pins from anywhere in the middle," Kaneland coach Cynthia Violett said. "Coming off the serve-receive and doing the slide, she's been doing really good at that."

Maddie Jaudon, Batavia

Committed to play at Division I Elon, Jaudon leaves Batavia second all-time with 842 career digs and ranking in the top five top serve-receive. Named all-tournament at Waubonsie Valley, she only missed 3 of 291 serves while leading Batavia in points (155), a school-record 95 serve-receive percentage and digs (405). "Maddie is a huge reason why we have been competitive," Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said. "She has matched many other great players dig for dig. She calls shots for our hitters and she helps our blockers adjust their block accordingly for our defense to be effective. She passes half the court for us. Our strength in our offense was our middle attack, and we were able to use our middles effectively all season because of how well Maddie has passed the ball. We are really going to miss her competitiveness, her love of the game, her leadership on the court, and her ability to push our players to their limit."

Martha Konovodoff, Rosary

Only a sophomore, Konovodoff has developed into an elite libero. She finished with 509 digs while passing 2.19 and served 59 aces. All-tournament at Wheaton and Waubonsie Valley. Her coach Rachel Hartmann sure is glad to have Konovodoff on the Rosary side of the net. "Martha is just a phenomenal player," Hartmann said. "She doesn't get as much attention from me as the other players because she does such a good job doing her job. She's the kind of player you just let her go out and play. You can tell her adjustments in the game and she'll just go do it. When she starts to struggle she just needs herself to pick herself back up. Very good player."

Daley Krage, St. Charles North

A Northwestern-commit, Krage put the ball away with the best of them this year for the Upstate Eight River co-champions. Krage finished with 233 kills, 18 aces and 24 blocks in the regular season. "She's extremely smart with the ball," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "She can see more things on the court than most people her age. She's always reading the defense and trying to better understand what they are doing to better understand where to put the ball. If she was on any other team she would be playing all-around. We've just got such great defensive specialists we let her focus on the front row. Next year Daley will be in back row. She's tall, she has great body control and provides a really solid block for us."

Grace Loberg, Geneva

Already committed to Wisconsin before her sophomore season, Loberg earned her second straight spot on the All-Area team by leading the Vikings with 330 kills, plus 215 digs, 42 aces and 27 blocks. "She's just a fantastic player," Geneva coach Annie Seitelman said. "She comes in, she works hard. Last year she flew a little more under the radar and surprised some people. This year knowing she would have a target on her back I feel like she has handled that really well. She has maintained that composure and showed maturity beyond a 16-year-old. Some of those big points you can rely on her. She wants the ball, she's taking big swings, staying aggressive. I can't say enough and I'm excited to have her a few more years."

Mikalea Mosquera, St. Charles East

The Saints' senior middle made an impressive return to the court after seeing her junior season derailed by a concussion. Mosquera could dominate a match in the middle putting away a quick set or putting up a powerful block. Through regional action had 218 kills, 98 blocks and served 29 aces for the River and regional champs. Unanimous all-conference. "She's done an outstanding job," St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull said. "Coming off that last season disappointment with injuries and coming into this season she has led and she has worked hard every practice, every game. She truly is a winner. She goes after it every time. She can do it all."

Megan Schildmeyer, St. Charles East

A three-year varsity starter and two-time All-Area selection, Schildmeyer saved her best for last. An outside hitter last year, Schildmeyer transitioned to setter - where she plays during the club season - and shined, leading the Saints to a share of the conference title and a ninth straight regional crown. Entered sectionals with 207 kills, 54 aces, 24 blocks, 180 digs, a 2.1 passer rating and 425 assists. "She's had some great games," Saints coach Jennie Kull said. "She's the only player that never comes off. She's our heart and soul. She makes it go. When she's on we're going. She's been a real quarterback and makes it happen. There's no emotional up and down with her, she just gets the job done. She works so hard and makes us get better."

Jaclyn Taylor, St. Charles North

The only six-rotation player for the 27-10 North Stars, Taylor did a little bit of everything and did it well. Stepped into a setting role with 238 assists in the regular season while showing her all-around skills with 124 kills, 17 aces and 149 digs. "She's our most consistent player by far," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "We've asked her to step into the role of setting which she has never done before. That's amazing she is doing that so well. She is a calming presence on the court. And I would say she is the best blocker in the conference. People are going to see her really peak in college. People are starting to realize she has a huge ceiling."

Kelsey Wicinski, Geneva

This Maryland-bound senior went out the way she came in - a winner. A year after being a big part of the Vikings' first sectional championship team, Wicinski totaled 397 digs, 37 aces and 55 assists for a Geneva team that won a share of the Upstate Eight Conference River Division, and a regional title. "I've pretty much given her control of that back court," Geneva coach Annie Seitelman said. "She takes charge of serve-receive. On defense I'm giving her full reign on that especially to help get her prepared for next year. Vocal leadership she's done a really nice job. She's definitely going to be missed next year."