Presenting the Tri-Cities all-area girls volleyball team

Kelsey Augustine, Geneva

The senior middle has been a fixture in the Geneva lineup the last three years. She has improved her all-around game every year while maintaining her powerful spike in the middle that earned her a scholarship to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Finished with 247 kills, 62 blocks, 180 digs and 44 aces with a .692 kill percentage. "She really stepped up and emerged," Geneva coach KC Johnsen said. "She was one of our top serve-receivers, became a six-rotation player. She's one of those kids who you put a challenge in front of her and she gets after it."

Vivian Fitzgerald, Aurora Central

The Aurora Central volleyball program reached new heights under first-year coach Jeanne Czipri, and this transfer from St. Francis was a big reason why. Capped her year with a spot on the all-tournament team at Kaneland's Spikefest after helping the Chargers win a conference title - the Gold Division of the Suburban Christian Conference - for the first time. ACC won 25 games, a 14-game improvement from 2008, with Fitzgerald contributing 157 kills, 290 digs and 34 aces. "Probably my most consistent player and strongest leader (along with Natalie Steinwart)," Czipri said. "Also, biggest all-around contributor."

Karlie Giesler, St. Charles North

A three-year varsity player, Giesler was the North Stars' most consistent player on a 25-win team this year according to coach Lindsey Hawkins. She finished with 150 kills, 36 aces and 149 assists. The University of Central Arkansas commit has been named to the Minooka Invitational all-tournament team twice and has been unanimously voted an Upstate Eight all-conference player. She led the North Stars in kills this year and was one of the team's best servers while playing right side and setter. "Karlie is a true all-around player," Hawkins said.

Caroline Niski, St. Charles East

A three-year starter who reached state twice and supersectionals this year, Niski provided a little of everything - the ability to put away kills (182), serve tough (15 aces) and play outstanding defense (155 digs). A late-season ankle injury kept her from writing a storybook ending with a third trip to state, but she'll have plenty of volleyball in her future starting next fall at Maryland. "Caroline is my giver, she's our stabilizer," Saints coach Jennie Kull said. "With me too she keeps everything calm. She is a great athlete as well. She can do it all, she passes, plays defense, hits, the whole thing. She's a phenomenal player and an amazing person."

Meghan Niski, St. Charles East

Already a two-year starter as a sophomore, Niski has a chance to put her name with the best Saints by the time she's done. A powerful hitter all year, Niski picked her game up in the postseason when her sister Caroline was injured, leading the team in kills in the sectional championship and supersectional. Her 277 kills were second on the team and her 214 digs led the Saints. "She's a worker," Saints coach Jennie Kull said. "She works really hard to be the best she can be. She has natural ability similar to Jacqui (Seidel). She's a big-time athlete. And she has that mindset too. She is more reserved but I think that comes with being a sophomore. She's big when she needs to be big."

Caitlin Piechota, Batavia

The Bulldogs' junior left-handed outside hitter led Batavia in kills with 293 with a 39.7 kill percentage. Piechota also was the top passer on the team, had 36 aces and a digging percentage of 63.9. She led the team in serve-receive at 93.5 percent, missing the school record by one-tenth of one percent. She was second on the team in digs and made the Western Sun all-conference team, the all-tournament team at Plainfield North's Best of the West and the all-tournament team at Waubonsie Valley's Warrior Blast.

Jacqui Seidel, St. Charles East

This senior three-year starter will be setting next year at Ball State but she showed how versatile she is by moving to outside this year at St. Charles East when freshman Erienne Barry took control of the offense. Led the area in kills (432) while continuing to do everything (306 assists, 201 digs, 43 aces, 71 blocks) not to mention serving as the inspirational leader for a team that won another sectional championship and fell one win short of a third straight state trip. "She's the real deal," Saints coach Jennie Kull said. "They don't get better than that. She's one of the all-around best players I've ever coached. She's a stud. Her athletic mindset is hard to duplicate. That's not talk, that's just part of her."

Allie VanDril, St. Charles North

This senior could block even the best opposing hitters, averaging over a solo block a match for the North Stars while ranking fourth in kills, totaling 113. She also had 40 solo blocks and 25 aces. "She consistently brings a huge block to the game," St. Charles North coach Lindsey Hawkins said. VanDril also had a knack for coming up with her best shots when the team needed them the most. "Her kills come at key times for us it seems," Hawkins said. "She also is a very good server which you wouldn't expect from a middle. She keeps the ball in play."

Emily Weber, Rosary

Rosary's senior outside hitter led the team with 229 kills and 50 aces. She had a 90 percent serving average, 199 digs and 25 blocks for points for a Rosary team that won the Class 3A Aurora Central regional. "Emily has been the team leader for us," Royals coach Lisa Kasper said. "She not only sets examples for the varsity team but also our lower levels as well. She just doesn't lead with words, but with her actions on and off the court. I know she will be very successful wherever she goes to play beyond her high school career." Weber is still weighing her college options.

Lauren Wicinski, Geneva

The four-year starter leaves as Geneva's all-time leader in kills with 1,143 after putting away 356 this year. The Northern Illinois recruit also served 63 aces while leading her team to a 35-3 record and another Western Sun Conference championship. "She's about as good as anyone I've ever been involved with," Geneva coach KC Johnsen said. "She does it all. She passes, she serves, she blocks, she hits like nobody we've had. I know she's going to go and do great things in college."