Girls volleyball notes: Glenbard West, Benet, Timothy Christian surging as season swings into high gear
The service line has been a best friend of the Glenbard West girls volleyball team of late.
The Hilltoppers recently registered 32 aces during a two-match span. “We’ve been serving extremely well lately,” said West coach Dan Scott, whose team stood at 19-2 to start the week.
Scott added another recent key has been the play of libero Grace Markey. “Grace has been doing a great job covering the court and bettering out-of-system balls,” he said.
Benet Academy update: Coach Brad Baker said sophomore outside Dina DiSanto continues to take big swings in the biggest moments. “It has been great to watch her confidence continue to grow as she gets better with each match,” he said. “Her willingness to stay aggressive and attack when it matters the most has been a huge part of her growth this season.”
Glenbard East update: Belle McDermott had 11 kills and five aces, while Abby Michelon had 10 digs, six assists and six kills in a recent nonconference match against Addison Trail. McDermott added eight kills, six digs and three blocks, Claire Bolda had five kills and Michelon had four aces and four digs in a win over Glenbard North. McDermott had nine kills and six digs against Metea Valley. “We have a young core group of athletes,” coach Brad Cardott said. “We are working to find consistency throughout matches.”
Glenbard South update: Eva Bogdanov (team-high 34 aces), Rebecca Johnston (team-best 128 kills) and Emma Full (team-high 149 digs) were leading the way for the Raiders, (9-6 through 15 matches), who got off to a 2-0 start in Upstate Eight East action. Coach Chad Grant noted Bogdanov stepped into a new role playing six rotations. “Eva has been strong as a setter, server and defensive player,” he said.
Grant added Makenna Minkley was leading the team in passer rating, while also adding 113 digs and 30 aces thus far. “We are exceeding expectations right now,” he said. “We have found a way to be competitive, despite a lack of front-row players.”
Naperville Central update: Redhawks coach Eric Kaisling noted the schedule has been slow in recent times with one contest (a win against Riverside-Brookfield) during a two-week timeframe. “We had a great match against a good R-B team,” he said. “It was a great defensive game for us.”
Naperville North update: The Huskies had a 4-1 mark in a recent nonconference run against the likes of Geneva, Wheaton Warrenville South, Batavia and West Aurora, while losing to Benet Academy. North took eighth at Fremd and fourth at Niles West. In both tournaments, senior outside and Division I Lipscomb University commit Joelle Pye-Blacknard was named to the all-tournament team, while Grace Anderson was an all-tournament pick at Niles West.
Pye-Blacknard, a team captain and four-year varsity player, leads the team in kills and passing average and is second on the team in digs behind senior libero Olivia Norris.
Coach Nate Borancin added junior pin hitter Jocelyn Jamrosz has stepped it up in recent weeks. She’s the team leader in blocks and is second in kills.
Neuqua Valley update: Junior setter and Illinois commit Tatum Kelly continues to lead the Wildcats, who have battled through numerous injuries and accompanying lineup adjustments. “Tatum is doing it all,” Neuqua coach Jamie Buhnerkemper said. “She has made a difference stepping into an attacking role for us.”
Sophomore libero Cece Rogers “is also making an impact on the back row with her consistency and leadership as a younger player on varsity,” Buhnerkemper added.
Timothy Christian update: Timothy was 17-4 after finishing second at Manteno over the weekend, concluding its run of weekend tournaments. Trojans coach Scott Piersma thought Kate Vogelzang was worthy of an all-tournament nod at Manteno. Last week, Vogelzang picked up 53 digs, eight aces and had just one error in reception. “Kate played really well last week,” he said. “She was stellar.”
Setter Sophie Kwak (439 assists) also has been notable. “Sophie has been a great leader for our offense,” Piersma noted. “Her athleticism and knowledge allows her to run a very efficient offense.”
Audrey Williams was hitting .447 to start the week, which leads all Class 3A players and ranks fifth in the state. Timothy is looking for a program-record fifth straight regional title.
Wheaton North update: With returning all-conference player and future UNC-Wilmington beach athlete Annalouisa Marchis going down with a season-ending injury in the fourth match of the season, the Falcons have had to make adjustments and work on creating a new identity, coach Justin Hineman noted.
North is led by four-year varsity player Emily Rochford, who is closing in on 1,000 career assists and a new role for DePaul commit Addison Clausing. “We are relying on our senior leadership and new talent to remain competitive in this heavily talented volleyball area,” Hineman said.
The Falcons were third in silver in their own Wheaton Classic (losing only to gold champ Lyons Township and silver champion Downers North). Wheaton North also took defending DuKane champion St. Charles North to three sets recently.
Also of note, Clausing already has registered more kills this season than in her first two years on varsity combined. Hineman also lauded the recent play of outside Kate Kluckman.
York update: York (12-4 through first 16 matches) has been battling injuries and still went 4-1 and took third at Niles West. Senior libero Emma Braathen and junior outside Eileen Carroll earned all-tournament honors. Braathen was leading York in aces and digs (153), while Ariella Villatoro Nevarez was tops in kills (112), Taylor Stepanich was leading in blocks and Maggie Lombardi was leading the team in assists. “This team works really hard at making changes and is up for any challenge and that’s all I can ask for as a coach,” coach Danny Piwowarczyk said. “They do a terrific job.”