DuPage County girls volleyball notes: Benet clinches conference crown; Wheaton North hits 20 wins for first time in 8 years

The Benet Academy girls volleyball team has made the most of the final year of the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

By defeating Joliet Catholic on Tuesday, the Redwings became the final ESCC champion. The ESCC is combining with the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference next season.

The win pushed Benet to 32-2 overall.

The Redwings also recently won the Autumnfest tournament at Glenbard East where Brooklynne Brass was named tournament MVP and Lynney Tarnow earned all-tournament honors.

Addison Trail update: Coach Katie Inzinga said senior defensive specialist Gianna Uribe has been focused on her serve-receive, while junior middle Frankie Rohlfing (87 kills, 57 total blocks) has been diversifying her hitting options. Junior outside Giuliano Gallo (217 kills, 182 digs) and junior defensive specialist Olivia Varghese (38 aces) also have been important players for the Blazers (12-19, 3-3 West Suburban Gold), who are gearing up to host a Class 4A regional.

Glenbard South update: Callie Hardtke (222 kills), Alayna Krabec (331 assists, 50 aces), Emma Full (164 digs) and Molly Purse (29 blocks) are excelling for the Raiders (18-15, 3-3 Upstate Eight East). Coach Chad Grant said Hardtke has developed into a needed go-to hitter, while Makenna Minkley has improved greatly at libero.

Glenbard West update: The Hilltoppers, who started play this week at 24-9 and 2-3 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division action, are hoping to win a tough Class 4A regional that features Addison Trail, Wheaton North and Glenbard North, coach Dan Scott said.

Naperville Central update: The Redhawks (20-12, 6-2 DuPage Valley, first) are paced by captains Caroline Impey (225 kills, 36 aces) and Sophia Svingen (169 kills, 48 blocks, 38 aces). “Caroline and Sophia lead by example,” coach Eric Kaisling said.

Naperville North update: The Huskies (21-12, 6-2, tie first place DuPage Valley to start the week) have 4 players with 100 or more kills, including Joelle Pyle-Blanchard (191), Emma Chang (148), Jessica Dickow (110) and Cate Provenzano (104). Coach Nate Bornancin noted Dickow, a senior middle blocker and co-captain, has been particularly effective in clutch situations, while setter Grace Anderson, an all-tournament pick at St. Charles East, has run a “really balanced attack for us so far,” he said. Senior co-captain Elle Smith is second on the team with 189 digs despite playing 3 rotations.

Also of note, North is in a Class 4A regional with St. Francis, St. Charles East and Metea Valley. The Huskies are a No. 5 sectional seed.

Neuqua Valley update: A lot good happening with the Wildcats, including 4 sophomores contributing in the starting lineup in Tatum Kelly, Alex Dunkin, Ariana Owiti and Seanna Larbi. Kelly leads the team in assists, while Durkin is tops in kills. Ella Cole recently posted a 12-kill, 3-block game against Waubonsie Valley.

Neuqua (19-14, 5-3 to start the week) earned its highest playoff seed in 4 years, coach Jamie Buhnerkemper noted.

Wheaton Academy update: Coach Cody Nielsen had high praise for Addie VanderLugt’s recent play at the Chicagoland Christian Conference tournament, particularly her serve-receive, defense and being a go-to offensively. Nielsen added Ava Yaros has been lights out from the service line, while also being stellar on defense in the back row and as a middle blocker. Solymiya Stefurak leads the Warriors (16-15, 3-4 CCC) in hitting percentage and blocks, while Stephanie Thelen is tops in kills.

Wheaton North update: All sorts of Falcons notables of late. A win against Glenbard North Tuesday pushed North to 20-14 overall and 5-2 in DuKane Conference action. The Falcons finished in second in the league and logged their most conference wins since joining the DuKane. The 20 regular-season wins are the most since 2017, coach Justin Hineman noted.

Hineman has 6 hitters with more than 100 kills in Anna Marchis, Mary Kate Whittington, Haley Hanavan, Emily Rochford, Ava Schell and Hannah Van Denend. Abby Lee is closing in on 500 career digs (475), the second-most in program history. Sophia Ohashi is closing in on 500 career assists (471) and is averaging more than 5 assists a set in a 6-2 formation. Her 49 aces to start the week are 5 away from a program record (54 back in 2016).

Hanavan had 35 kills and hit .300 at Autumnfest last weekend. She also had 5 aces and the game-winning block against Geneva in the silver championship. Ohashi was all-tournament there.

Willowbrook update: The Warriors went 2-3 at the recent Lincoln-Way Central Autumn Knights tournament. In pool play, Willowbrook lost to Lincoln-Way West and Downers Grove South and defeated Crete Monee. In bracket play, the Warriors lost to Marian Catholic in 3 sets and defeated Romeoville in 3 sets. Tess Doyle was named to the all-tournament team for the Warriors (20-15, 4-2 West Suburban Gold).

York update: The Dukes (23-10) had Amalia Toliopoulos and Katie Day named to the Bloctober Fest all-tournament team at Plainfield Central recently. The Dukes were second in the tournament, beating Naperville North in the quarters, St. Francis in the semis and losing to Marist in the final.

Day leads the team in kills (242), while Lila Bennis (32 aces), Reese Timmerwilke (48 blocks), Madelene Baratheon (301 assists) and Eileen Carroll (193 digs) also have been key contributors.