Northwest suburban All-Area Girls Volleyball Team

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Stephanie Alesia FremdThe co-Mid-Suburban West Player of the Year helped lead the Vikings to a 30-plus win season. She led the team in attack (220 kills) during the regular season and was in the top four of every team category except setting. For her career, she has 380 kills, 100 aces and 500 digs. "Stephanie has had an unbelievable year," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "I have marveled at times on how she was able to get to balls that I thought no one had a chance to touch, let alone pass to the setter. When I thought that there can be nothing else new from her, Stephanie found a way to make me say again, 'what an unbelievable play.'"

Natalie Bruck FremdA two-year starter, the Vikings' team captain played a key role in directing the Fremd offense with 409 assists from 1,036 sets in the regular season. Bruck also served 32 aces (100 career) and collected 299 digs (500 career). "She was one of the people who we could not have succeeded without," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "She brought leadership but more than that she brought respect. The players respected her work ethic and determination. In return, Natalie gave everything she had to better the team. She helped to bring along a younger setter and forged a bond between her and the rest of the team that will never be broken. She will be greatly missed."

Ann Carroll HerseyCarroll provided the Mid-Suburban League champs with another fall of power hitting and dominant blocking. The senior middle hitter led the Huskies with 90 blocks during the regular season and was second on the team with 192 kills. She also led the team with her .327 hitting efficiency. "Ann was just a dominant force at the net," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "She is definitely one of the best blockers I've ever coached at Hersey."

Jenna Depa Maine WestDepa's defense was as solid as a rock for the three-time defending CSL North champs. She was on the floor for 2,596 rallies, resulting in 742 team kills. Only 34 of her passes cost the Warriors a point. "Jenna was the heart of our floor defense," said coach Randy Tiller. "She learned new drills this year and became skilled at digging everything hit deep into the court. Without Jenna's passing, we would not have had our hitting success this season."

McKenzie Forbes HerseyForbes made a great transformation from being an all-conference middle hitter to an outside hitter. "And she did it a short amount of time," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "What a versatile player she has been for us for four years." Forbes' 142 kills were third-best while she led the team with her 97 percent serving and 42 aces. "For the first year ever playing back row, McKenzie did a great job and showed that she could do it with the best of them," Lill said. "She was one of our primary passers."

Liz Freeman Maine WestFreeman masterfully engineered the Warriors' offense, handing out 642 assists in the regular season. "Liz knew how to give everyone a great set,' said West coach Randy Tiller, who also received 88 kills, 70 aces and 12 blocks from the senior. "She had 6 hitters in double figures. She is incredibly perceptive, seeing openings on the opponent's floor. She is deceptive in not giving away her intentions and precise in sending the ball right to the opening. She has matured and became a strong leader."

Becky Gilbert Hoffman EstatesGilbert, a three-year varsity player for the Hawks, enjoyed a stellar senior year with 270 assists during the regular season. She was 945-of-955 setting and also 233-of-240 serving with 8 aces. Gilbert also helped spark the Hawks' back row with 183 digs. "Becky is a great leader on and off the court," said Hawks coach Dan Hutton of his co-captain. "She always stays positive and motivates her teammates to reach their full potential."

Becca Haraf HerseyHaraf, who has anchored the Huskies' back row defense, emerged as one of the finest liberos in the MSL this fall. She led the Huskies in the regular season with 319 digs and an outstanding 2.25 serve receive rating. Haraf also helped the Huskies with her 94 percent serving that included 30 aces. "Becca's strength is her serve receive," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "She could handle just about anything on the court with ease."

Emily Harris BarringtonHarris made a huge impact for the Fillies, switching from the middle to outside and leading the team in kills ( 218), kills per game (3.76) and kill efficiency (. 300). "Perhaps one of the more gifted athletes I have ever coached, Emily had a great season playing as an outside hitter for the first time in her career," said Fillies coach Christopher Bronke. "Not only did she make the switch well, but she excelled. While that was good, she is dedicated to only getting better and should have a monster year next season."

Tracy Hefferan ProspectA three-year varsity starter, Hefferan makes her second straight all-area appearance. The senior right-side hitter ended the regular season with a team-high hitting efficiency of .260 and 161 kills. She complemented her powerful attack with 27 blocks. "As a senior, Tracy stepped into a leadership role for the team and offered guidance to many of the younger players," said Knights coach Mike Riedy. "She was always a fierce competitor and she will be hard to replace."

Kathleen Hudson ProspectWhen it came to defense, Hudson was the Knights' standout for the past two years. The senior libero led the club this fall with her team-high 328 digs, 62 aces (jump serving) and she received the majority of serves. "Kathleen was really an athlete on the floor," said Knights coach Mike Riedy. "She was aggressive, and a fierce competitor. Kathleen's team leadership will be sorely missed."

Katherine Hozian ConantPlaying her third year on the Conant varsity, Hozian helped lead the Cougars to the MSL West title as she put down a team-high 270 kills during the regular season. "Katherine also learned what it takes to compete defensively at the varsity level this season (248 digs)," said Cougars coach Peggy Scholten. A varsity captain and the Mid-Suburban West co-Player of the Year, Hozian will continue her volleyball career at Olivet Nazarene University.

Rachel Hunt ProspectHunt, a two-year starter, has established herself as one of the more versatile players in the Mid-Suburban League. "The only thing she didn't do was set," said Knights coach Mike Riedy of his multi-talented athlete who also excels in basketball.Hunt led the Knights with 166 kills and a .203 efficiency. She served 92.2 percent with 48 aces, serve-received over 50 percent and also collected 212 digs. "She did everything," Riedy added. "She is establishing herself as one of the better players in Prospect history. Next year, she will lead the team on to great things."

Aleks Kostka SchaumburgA real warrior on the court, Kostka gave it her all in the backcourt where she collected 413 kills during the regular season and finished her career with more than 800. The three-year varsity player was 526-of-559 passing (94.1 percent) this fall and 976-for-1,023 (95.4 percent) for her career. This season she served as the team captain. "Aleks is a true ninja," said Schaumburg coach Jeanette Pancratz. "She is a blood and guts player who is passionate and excited to play the game every day. She sets our team in motion and rises the play of everyone around."

Georgie Kutrumanes ConantKutrumanes was able to power opponents with her strong attack (117 kills) and her ever-present block on the right side. "Georgie consistently takes teams out of their system by serving 93 percent in, and she hits zones with great accuracy," said Cougars coach Peggy Scholten. With 151 digs, the senior right side hitter also attacked out of the back row to often score points for the Mid-Suburban West co-champions.Mandy Larsen Conant The senior outside hitter and captain makes back-to-back appearances on the all-area team. A three-time varsity member, Larsen was outstanding in the front and back row as she registered 227 kills, 240 digs and an 86 percent mark on serve receive for the Mid-Suburban West co-champions. "She has been the steady and undeniable force behind Conant's success the past two seasons," said Cougars coach Peggy Scholten.

Emily Leazer St. ViatorOnly a sophomore, Leazer played like a seasoned veteran, leading the Lions with 213 kills and 39 aces while being named to the East Suburban Catholic all-conference team. She was also 218-of-283 serve receiving with 3.6 receptions per game, 16 total blocks and 167 digs. "Emily was one of our vocal leaders on the court despite being a sophomore," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin. "She was also one of our primary go-to hitters when we needed a kill. She is a very good all-around player that has a very bright future ahead of her."

Krystina Leazer Elk GroveA two-year varsity starter, Leazer finished No. 2 all time at Elk Grove in kills for a career and season behind Meghan Voelz. The senior, also a talented pitcher in softball, switched from the middle to the outside this fall and also served as the Grenadiers' team captain. "Krystina has showed what kind of athlete she is by changing positions from one year to the next and excelling at both," said Elk Grove coach Joe DiSilvio. "She is a three-sport athlete and does not play club so to make an impact offensively as she did is a huge accomplishment."

Katie Lill HerseyLill's athletic prowess made her the Huskies' top attacker this fall with 214 kills and a .308 hitting efficiency during the regular season. The 5 foot-10 outside hitter was also a major contributor with her back-row play, recording a strong 2.20 serve receive rating with 174 digs, third-best on the club. "Katie did a great job this year stepping into a primary hitter's role," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "She gave us strong all-around play."

Lynette Mueller ConantStanding only 5-foot-3, Mueller made a big impression in her first varsity season. The senior libero gave fits to all of the Cougars' opponents this year with her tenacious defense. Collecting 421 digs during the regular season, she is among the all-time leaders for that category in Conant history. "Lynette is also consistently aggressive from the serving line (94 percent) and in serve receive (90 percent)," said Cougars coach Peggy Scholten.

Shelly Mueller HerseyMueller capped off an excellent four-year varsity career by being named the Mid-Suburban East Player of the Year. The 5-foot-10 senior setter not only ran the show for the MSL champs as the setter, but also provided the team a strong leader. She collected 628 assists this regular season while putting up 1,845 sets for a .336 efficiency. She added 33 blocks and 27 aces. "Shelly is such an athlete," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "She contributed in every aspect of the game. She will be sorely missed."

Kaitlyn Pascus FremdPascus was all about consistency and intensity as she finished the regular season with 188 kills, 63 aces and 79 blocks for the MSL West co-champs. The Vikings' team captain put down 362 career kills. "It was no surprise that the whole team respected her," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "She has been a leader of the team for the past two years. She has been a force in the middle for us. Teams have to make adjustments for her during games. She is that person who can always be counted upon to deliver that decisive play against an opponent."

Kelsey Prochenski Elk GroveA two-year starter and setter in a 6-2 offense, Prochenski handed out 316 assists this fall and 635 for her career. She served as the team captain this fall. "Kelsey is very quick to the ball, reads well and plays solid defense which has made her such a key part of our team the past two years," said Grenadiers coach Joe DiSilvio. " She is a great competitor who is extremely tough on herself and has been playing through several different injuries."

Madeline Root BarringtonRoot showed her versatility this fall, serving the first half of the season as a setter and the second as a libero. She finished with 148 assists (36 percent), 272 digs and team-high 93 aces. " A great senior season for a great kid," said Barrington coach Christopher Bronke. "She spent the first part of the season leading us in assists as one of our two setters and then the second part of the season leading us in digs as our libero." Root also led the team in serving percentage and aces. "That's a rare and special combination," Bronke said. "She is a great kid who cares as much about winning as she does about her teammates which makes her a truly special person."

Kaley Sierawski PalatineOnly a sophomore, Sierawski was an invaluable member of the Pirates. She put down an impressive 200 kills (369-of-445) for 2.86 per game and a .279 hitting efficiency while also collecting 35 blocks. "When we needed a big kill, she was the person the girls looked to to make it happen," said Palatine coach Dan Gavin. "The fact that she's only a sophomore makes that even more impressive. I'm really looking forward to watching her continue to improve over the next two years."

Katie Stensland Rolling MeadowsStensland played a major role this fall as she set the Mustangs offense while also providing some key offensive play. "Katie is a hard worker and good leader," said Meadows coach Janet Opels "She had been primarily a hitter before this season so the biggest thing was having her change to a setter's mentality. You have to transition from offense to defense, especially when you're setting, and that is something she greatly improved on."

Jaclyn Sisi Buffalo GroveA four-year varsity player, Sisi has started the past two seasons and has been a versatile player doing whatever is necessary for the success of the Bison. She served as a defensive specialist, setter, right side and outside hitter as well as a consistent serving threat. This fall, Sisi battled injuries but still managed 91 kills, an .858 serving percentage, 19 aces and 140 digs. Coach Marianne Mendoza said her team captain was a role model in her work ethic.

Alise Tupuritis Maine WestThe Central Suburban North Player of the Year, Tupuritis was responsible for 44 percent (340 in regular season) of the Warriors' kills. "For the past three years (742 kills), she increased her kills and reduced her hitting errors," said West coach Randy Tiller. "Alise hit 'smarter' each year. She has matured and become a stronger leader. She showed her teammates how to play at the highest level." Tupuritis had also had 50 aces and 30 blocks this fall.

All-area roster

Player School Pos. Yr.

Stephanie Alesia Fremd OH Sr.

Natalie Bruck Fremd S Sr.

Ann Carroll Hersey MH Sr.

Jenna Depa Maine West S Sr.

McKenzie Forbes Hersey OH Sr.

Liz Freeman Maine West S Sr.

Becky Gilbert Hoffman Estates S Sr.

Becca Haraf Hersey L Jr.

Emily Harris Barrington OH Jr.

Tracy Hefferan Prospect OH Sr.

Katherine Hozian Conant OH Sr.

Kathleen Hudson Prospect L Sr.

Rachel Hunt Prospect OH Jr.

Aleks Kostka Schaumburg L Sr.

Georgie Kutrumanes Conant OH Sr.

Mandy Larsen Conant OH Sr.

Emily Leazer St. Viator OH So.

Krystina Leazer Elk Grove OH Sr.

Katie Lill Hersey OH Jr.

Lynette Mueller Conant L Sr.

*Shelly Mueller Hersey S Sr.

Kaitlyn Pascus Fremd MB Sr.

Kelsey Prochenski Elk Grove S Sr.

Madeline Root Barrington S Sr.

Kaley Sierawski Palatine S So.

Jaclyn Sisi Buffalo Grove S-RS Sr.

Katie Stensland Rolling Meadows S Sr.

Alise Tupuritis Maine West OH Sr.

* All-area captain

Special Mention

Megan Bernardoni (Hoffman Estates), Dana Demmert (Rolling Meadows), Amalia DeSardi (Palatine), Hannah Guth (Palatine), Victoria Ito (Buffalo Grove), Ellen Kostecki (Schaumburg), Tricia Kutrumanes (Conant), Katie Loos (Elk Grove), Sarah McGinn (Schaumburg), Alex Messner (Fremd), Jenni Mueller (Hersey), Kayla Price (Fremd), Olivia Roback (Elk Grove), Stephanie Rountree (St. Viator), Maria Rozo (Maine West), Stephanie Schwarz (Hoffman Estates), Kelly Sommers (Buffalo Grove), Sara Sompolski (Rolling Meadows), Jada Stotts (Hoffman Estates), Maddie Swan (Hersey), Kelly Travaglio (St. Viator), Michelle Waisgainis (Rolling Meadows), Sarah Welsh (Fremd), Jamie Welter (Hersey), Alex Wulbecker (Hoffman Estates), Emily Young (Schaumburg)

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