Girls volleyball: Young St. Viator hoping to improve

After chalking up 16 wins a year ago, St. Viator girls volleyball coach Charlie Curtin is hoping to see his team hit the 20-win mark this fall.

The Lions (16-20 and 1-6 in the East Suburban Catholic a year ago), return Erin Aldana, Danielle Panzeca, Katherine Drab, Ella Kull, Lauren Allaire, Lilly LaFleur, Marie Torosian, Gretchen Brauer, Vicky Gorny and Gianna Saverino.

"We are a very young team that is going to need strong senior leadership at the beginning of the season," said the veteran Curtin. "Our strength will be in ball control and our presence at the net. Many of our young players have varsity experience and a strong club season under their belts."

Leyden coach Danielle Kowalkowski also watched her team register 16 wins a year ago, (16-19, 2-4 in the WSC).

Back from that squad are Jocelyn Escamilla (Sr. S), Kinga Nowacyk (Sr. MH) and Summer Mohammad (Sr. RS). "We are looking toward Jocelyn to run a quicker offense and to step up as a leader this year," Kowalkowski said. "We also have a few very strong personalities on the court, with Summer and Kinga. I believe these two will have a huge impact on our success this season."

Christian Liberty coach Natalie Salsgiver graduated seven of her 11 players from last year's team which went 7-2 in the Northeastern Athletic Conference. Back are Megan Ng, Lydia Bennett, Brianna Hudson and Caroline Chung.

"Our team will focus on our defense this year," Salsgiver said. "We will be strong in the back row. Thanks to the talent of our setters, our offense will do a good job getting the ball down."

First-year Maine West coach Nora Feyerer's Warriors are young and full of potential.

Co-captain Krysta Block is a leader on and off the court and will serve as go-to player while sophomore Vivianna Ramirez is expected to bring a big block to the front row. Jaclyn Reidl (OH) and Daria Szcepura (L) are promising freshmen.

"We are in a rebuilding year," Feyerer said. "This group of hard-working girls is expected to make huge growth."

Maine South coach Kathleen Durkin says that while some may believe this is a rebuilding year, the Hawks can still compete well with high level teams due to their senior leadership this year.

Seniors Greta Miller, Keelin Kelly, Meghan Quigley, Anna Schmeltz and junior Ana Birkett are returners from last year's 22-13 team (7-3 in the CSL South).

In his first year at Maine East, coach Rintu Philip's Blue Demons were 16-20. Back from that team are Mary Kolodziejski, Chisavagi Kostsifas, Emilika Matic, Azra Murati, Colleen Oribello and Tara Vallo.

"This summer we set a program-wide motto," Philip said. "Nobody works harder than East. And the motto is two-fold. It is the mentality we take into every conditioning session and every practice."