Girls volleyball roundup: Kaneland, Benet, Geneva, Glenbard West among regional champions

Kaneland girls volleyball coach Cyndi Violett said don’t let her team’s win-loss record fool you.

“Our competition is tough throughout the season,” she said. “We played ranked teams in Class 4A and 3A and we play No. 1 teams in the state to prepare for this (postseason). Our record doesn’t bother me, it gets us ready for this.”

And the Knights were ready Thursday, recording a hard-fought 25-22, 19-25, 25-19 win over Sterling to win the Class 3A Plano regional title. Kaneland (16-21), a No. 4 sub-sectional seed, has won three matches in a row.

Sophomore Eliza Bruhl and freshman Jaedyn Martz led the way offensively, while sophomore libero Lauren Sharp “was on fire digging the ball in that third set,” Violett noted. “It was great volleyball all around. We came out talking and communicating and believing we could win. We moved the ball around.”

Kaneland, which faces host Crystal Lake South Tuesday in one sectional semifinal, starts five sophomores, a freshman and a senior. “We are pretty young,” Violett said. “We have been getting ready. This is what we have been working on all season.”

Benet Academy d. Naperville Central: Benet, behind Sophia Youssef’s nine kills and Lizzie Rifenburg’s eight kills, defeated Naperville Central in three sets 25-17, 19-25, 25-20 to win the Class 4A Naperville Central regional title. It was Benet’s 19th regional title in a row. The Redwings, the No. 2 sectional seed, head to Glen Ellyn Tuesday to face No. 3 Downers Grove North at Glenbard West.

Huntley d. South Elgin: No. 1 sectional seed Huntley downed South Elgin 25-11, 25-12 to win the Class 4A Hononegah regional title in far northern Rockton. The Red Raiders (31-5 and winners of five of their last six) head to Burlington Central Tuesday to face No. 4 St. Charles North in the sectional semifinals.

“This championship is a reflection of the heart, trust and dedication this group has brought every day,” Huntley coach Karen Naymola said. “We knew if we wanted to win a regional title, we had to show up focused, execute our game plan and play for each other. I am so proud of how our players responded to the moment and represented our program.”

Naymola was particularly impressed with the play of freshman Kendall Malatia, who tallied four service aces. “Kendall served so well and had a couple huge digs to keep the momentum,” she said.

Geneva d. St. Francis: Emma Peterson had 13 kills, while Zori Malone added 10 kills to power Geneva to a 25-18, 25-22 win over St. Francis in the Class 3A Geneva regional final. Lexi Meives also was key defensively, Vikings coach Lauren Kosecki noted. The Vikings (27-10), a No. 3 sectional seed, face No. 2 Timothy Christian at St. Francis Tuesday .

IC Catholic Prep d. Regina: ICCP upended Regina Dominican 25-19, 25-18 to win the Class 2A Cristo Rey St. Martin regional title in Waukegan. The Knights (10-20-2) racked up seven service aces, eight blocks and 20 kills. Sophia Arranaga and Mia Mendel led at the service line, while Libby Phillips and Adrianna Miklowicz starred at the net, and Mary Hill, Jade Dimitrakos and Mendel excelled on the pins. Mia Leischner directed the offense with 20 assists. The Knights have a date with No. 1 sub-sectional seed Chicago Uplift Community Tuesday in Wilmette at the Class 2A Regina sectional.

Maine South d. Lake Park: Maine South defeated Lake Park 25-22, 25-21 to win its own Class 4A regional title in Park Ridge. Junior outside Makenna Townsend led Lake Park (21-12 after an 11-25 record in 2025) with six kills, while sophomore setter Evelyn Voytek had 18 assists. Sophomore libero Tatiana Salazar had 12 digs, while sophomore middle Lilah Cocat hit .750. “This match provided a valuable opportunity for our very young team to gain playoff experience and grow,” “We fought hard, but came up just short,” Lake Park coach Brett Anetsberger said. “Nearly our entire starting roster returns next season.”

Timothy Christian d. Glenbard South: Mia VanHekken and Audrey Williams each had nine kills to power Timothy Christian to a 25-17, 26-24 victory over Glenbard South in the title match of the Class 3A Glenbard South regional in Glen Ellyn. Maddie Rudman added eight kills, four aces and eight digs, while Sophie Kwak had 25 assists and seven digs for the Trojans (28-6), who have won five regional titles in a row for the first time in program history. Trojans coach Scott Piersma pointed out Williams scored 13 total points (nine kills on 12 swings, two aces and two blocks). “Audrey was phenomenal,” he said. “Glenbard South played a great game and was able to frustrate us with their unorthodox defensive setup but we were focused and mentally strong, allowing a comeback.” Timothy, which plays Geneva at St. Francis in Wheaton Tuesday, trailed 23-20 in the second set against South.

Rebecca Johnston had 10 kills, Makenna Minkley added 12 digs and Eva Bogdanov finished with nine assists, six digs and two aces for the Raiders (22-15).

Lyons Township d. York: Lyons Township recorded a 25-18, 25-16 victory over York to win the Class 4A Oak Lawn Community regional title. York coach Danny Piwowarczyk noted the Dukes will graduate five key starters from this year’s squad, including twins Emma (libero) and Madelene (setter) Braathen, outside Ariella Villatoro Nevarez, middle Taylor Stepanich and setter Maggie Lombardi. The Dukes finished 22-15.

Burlington Central d. Dundee-Crown: The Rockets avenged a loss to Dundee-Crown with this 25-20, 21-25, 27-25 win against the Chargers in the title match of the Class 4A Dundee-Crown regional in Carpentersville. Central moved to 29-7 with the win.

Freshman Lani Akenten had 11 kills, 11 digs and two aces, while senior Tiernan Naus had 15 assists, seven digs and four aces. Senior Gabriella Alesi also had a double-double with 10 assists and 12 digs, while senior Ainsley Wilson had 10 kills. Junior Lexi Pineda had eight kills and two aces for the Rockets, who won a regional title in their first year in the Class 4A postseason (and third regional crown in a row).

St. Charles East d. Rockford Guilford: The Saints (26-11) left little doubt in a 25-14, 25-12 win against Rockford Guilford in the final of the Class 4A Auburn regional in Rockford. East won its first regional title since 2022. Franki Fevold notched her 1,000th career assist during the second set. Saints coach Jessa Henry pointed out East doubled its win total from a year ago. "It's a really special group," the first-year Saints coach said.

St. Charles North d. Hampshire: St. Charles North (23-14) outlasted Hampshire 25-19, 23-25, 25-19 to win its own Class 4A regional title in a battle of 4 and 5 sectional seeds. No. 4 North, which plays sectional top seed Huntley Tuesday at Burlington Central, has won four of its last five and placed a regional title in the trophy case for the fourth time in the last five years.

Crystal Lake South d. Crystal Lake Central: Logan Georgy had nine kills and seven digs and Sahara Okirika had seven kills and two blocks to help the Gators down crosstown foe Crystal Lake Central 25-23, 28-26 in the Class 3A Woodstock North regional final. Bobbi Wire had five kills and eight digs, while Peyton Ziegler added 22 assists and two aces and Layla Addison finished with nine digs for South. South, a No. 2 sub-sectional seed, returns home Tuesday to face No. 4 Kaneland in sectional action.

Glenbard West d. Downers Grove South: The No. 1 sectional seed Hilltoppers upended Downers Grove South 25-18, 25-10 to win the Class 4A Downers Grove South regional title and move to 31-6 on the season. West outscored its two regional opponents by a combined 46 points in four sets.

Ella Rowe hit .500 with 11 kills on 22 swings with no errors, while Farryn Burridge had seven kills. Cara Herbert dished out 23 assists, Grace Markey had 10 digs and Maddy O’Connell added eight digs for West, which won its fifth regional crown in six seasons. The Hilltoppers held an 8-0 blocks advantage, racked up a 65.5 side-out percentage and a 63.3 point-scoring percentage. West squares off at home Tuesday against No. 4 sectional seed Oswego.

Wheaton Academy d. Batavia: Wheaton Academy came back from a 19-14 third-set deficit to record a 14-25, 27-25, 29-27 win over Batavia to win its own Class 3A regional title in West Chicago. Wheaton Academy coach Cody Nielsen noted Penny Park’s serving broke five Batavia match points to get the Warriors back into the third set.

Montini d. Fenwick: The Broncos won the Class 3A Trinity regional title via a 25-21, 25-19 victory against Fenwick in River Forest. Montini (27-10), the No. 1 seed in the St. Francis sectional, faces Wheaton Academy Tuesday. The Broncos have won three regional crowns in a row.

Gardner-South Wilmington d. Aurora Christian: Senior outside Katie Maddox had seven kills and junior libero Madi Wagner had 20 receptions for Aurora Christian, which lost 25-22, 25-19 in a Class 1A regional final to host Gardner-South Wilmington in Gardner.