Girls volleyball Lake County notes: Grit, intensity sparks Lakes’ 10-match win streak; Carmel playing well despite adversity

What a difference 10 matches makes.

The Lakes girls volleyball team brought a 10-match winning streak into the week, now standing at 12-4 overall and 3-0 in early Northern Lake County Conference action. Lakes started the season 2-4.

“I’m excited about the intensity we are bringing to every match,” Lakes coach Sarah Yeager said. “A 10-match winning streak is not an easy feat, especially given the strength of our schedule. I love the grit our team is showing right now.”

Isabel Stauber is leading Lakes in kills with 77, while Lovelyn Zamora is tops in digs with 122, while junior setter Sammi Madsen is leading the way in setting assists (182) and aces (33).

“Sammi is really tearing it up right now,” Yeager said. “She leads the team in both assists and aces, while running a quick tempo and keeping our offense balanced. She’s making smart decisions and working hard to get everyone involved.”

Yeager added Stauber, a junior outside hitter, has been an effective leader on and off the court, “and her ability to make plays on any balls makes her a real force in our offense,” she said.

Antioch update: Coach Jimmy Lallaman has been pleased with the growth of Mia Alanis (26 kills, 92 assists) and Payton Burris so far this season. “Mia has been getting smarter with her setting decisions and is putting maximum effort into every point,” he said. “Peyton has been playing aggressive defense and is starting to lead the back row in scrappy matches and plays.”

Mikayla Haskell has amassed 63 kills, while Nora Ultsch is right behind her with 62 for the Sequoits (4-11, 1-2 Northern Lake County).

“I’m impressed with the amount of growth happening with the amount of young players on the team,” Lallaman said. “They are constantly evolving and having a lot of matches where they are putting a big fight into every point.”

Carmel Catholic update: After a third-place finish at Grayslake Central, Carmel (12-5, 0-2 East Suburban Catholic) faced the Rams for a third time this season, beating them in 3 sets in a nonconference match (Carmel is 2-1 against Central this season).

Sophomore setter Charlotte Shepherd started the season recovering from an injury suffered over the summer. Coach David Pazely explained Carmel still ran a 6-2 when Shepherd returned, “but Charlotte started connecting with our hitters better and better and we made the switch to a 5-1 with her,” he said. “When she was cleared for full participation, it made an immediate impact. When Charlotte plays well, the whole team benefits.”

Freshman middle Liv Johnson, like Shepherd, was a key cog in recent wins against Central and Lake Forest. “Liv is an exceptional athlete, not just as a volleyball player, and it shows with many of the plays she’s able to make,” Pazely said. “Her net presence has been outstanding on both sides of the ball. She brings a combination of speed and physicality that sets her apart. She is finding better rhythm with her setter and we have been able to work the ball to Liv more, resulting in some momentum-swinging kills.”

Johnson leads the team in kills (74) and blocks (41), while Shepherd has 177 assists. Sophomore libero Beca Arreola has a team-high 107 digs, while senior setter Suzy Traznadel has a team-best 35 aces. The Corsairs also received a recent boost from sophomore right side-outside Brailyn Albanese, who on little notice before a match, moved to the outside after sophomore outside Peyton Teipel was injured in warmups.

“Brailyn is primarily a right side for us,” Pazely noted. “She made the move to the outside with only a few minutes to prepare and racked up 4 kills that night in a winning effort. The way this team has been handling adversity is commendable. We have experimented with multiple lineups and the players have adjusted well throughout that process and it has brought us to our current record. As team chemistry continues to build, I know this group will be able to reach even greater heights.”

Grayslake Central update: Junior middle blocker Amiyah Miller has been building momentum of late for the Rams (12-6, 3-0 Northern Lake County). Miller leads the Rams in hitting percentage and blocks and is second in kills.

“Amiyah is coming on strong,” Central coach Arian Colton said. “Her blocking has been so instrumental in the success we have had over the last 2 weeks. She has been making great choices offensively.”

Senior libero Madalene Meckl leads the team in digs, while senior outside Ella LaPorte is tops in kills.

“Our team has been showing the ability to fight, time and time again,” Colton said. “They have found themselves down in a number of sets, but have been able to rally back. We were not doing this at the beginning of the season and I am excited to see us trending in this direction.”

Lake Zurich update: The Bears (10-6, 1-1 North Suburban) are led by Emerson Smith (71 kills, 33 aces), Sage Olson (150 kills, 78 digs, 132 assists), Arisa Bisofa (49 kills), Malia McManus (75 digs) and Ella Elsen (188 assists).

Coach Rachel Wiatrowski noted sophomore McManus, originally an outside hitter, moved into the libero position this season and hasn’t missed a beat.

“Malia has proven that versatility and heart can redefine a player’s impact,” she said. “Malia embraced a major role change and is thriving. She hasn’t just adapted, she’s excelled. Malia is the kind of player who never backs down from a challenge. She tackles adversity with a smile and brings positivity to every point. Malia is hardworking, coachable and fearless.”

Smith, a junior, has been another key for the Bears from the outside. “Emerson brings a cool-headed intensity to the court that’s been impossible to ignore over the last 2 weeks,” Wiatrowski said. “She is quickly becoming one of the most reliable and explosive players on the roster. Her ability to stay composed under pressure and make smart, impactful plays has elevated to just her game, but the entire team’s momentum. Emerson is the kind of player you trust with the ball when it matters. She puts in the work, makes smart decisions and leads by example. As the team gears up for the second half of the season, Emerson is proving she’s more than ready for the spotlight. She’s a steady force and a serious threat on the outside.”

Libertyville update: The Wildcats (16-5, 2-0 North Suburban) finished sixth out of 24 at the recent Crossroads Classic in downstate Effingham where junior libero Charlie Fleegle earned all-tournament honors.

Coach Greg Loika’s group brought a 10-2 mark in its last 12 matches coming into this week, including a road North Suburban win against Lake Zurich.

Fleegle leads Libertyville in digs with 180, while Brynn Colton has 33 aces and 229 setting assists. Claire Evans leads the Wildcats in kills with 141, while Vivian Lang and Ella Sazy lead the team in blocks with 35 and 28, respectively.

Loika said Elle Knight has turned things up of late as well. “Elle has been hitting smartly, getting big kills when we need it, and setting an ice block on opposing teams’ outside hitters,” he said. “She’s bringing tremendous energy to the team, which is huge for us.”

Sophomore outside hitter Emerson Zovistoski hit in the .300s at Effingham and, as Loika put it, “a whopping .486 against Lake Zurich,” he said. “Emerson had a great last week. She’s found a nice groove offensively, which brings even more balance to our offense.”

Also of statistical note, Loika pointed out Libertyville is holding opponents to under .100 hitting thus far. “And that has certainly linked to our success,” he said. “We’ve seen a steady improvement in our blocking scheme and defense. Our trip to Effingham was good to really help us bond as a team and clarify our goals and our team mission.”

Stevenson update: Abby Inman leads the short-handed Patriots (8-7, 1-1 North Suburban) in kills with 115, while Zuzanna Wal is tops in digs with 138. Audri Linnane notched a career-high 11 kills in a match against Mundelein, while Wal had a career-best 24 digs against York.

“The girls really have done a nice job with serve-receive over the past 2 weeks,” Stevenson coach Tim Crow said.

Crow said Stevenson hopes to get key players Cate Taborek (middle) and Lexi Randel EL (libero-defensive specialist) back from injuries in the next few weeks.