Fox Valley girls volleyball notes: Freshman Fuentes making dazzling debut at Bartlett; Seniors step up for Jacobs
Bartlett girls volleyball freshman outside hitter Loriley Fuentes is turning heads with her outstanding play.
Through late last week, Fuentes was leading the Hawks in kills with 145 (despite missing an entire tournament), kill efficiency and service aces (38). She was also second on the team in serve-receive (1.66) and digs (129).
“I think she is already a star and will only continue to improve over the next three seasons,” Bartlett coach Bob Schwantz said. “I think she will 100% be going to a Division I school and is already receiving interest from multiple schools.”
Fuentes plays club for Sports Performance out of Lombard.
Huntley update: Izzy Whitehouse (team-high 186 kills and 25 aces), Jordyn Borkowski (team-best 180 digs), Mia Jacobelli (tied for the team lead in aces with 25), Lucy Watson (team-high 34 total blocks) and Izzy Deleon (team-high 385 assists) continue to lead the Red Raiders, who sat atop the Fox Valley Conference standings at week’s start.
Coach Karen Naymola noted sophomore Maddie Marlow has stepped up in some big moments for Huntley by providing a spark off the bench and a pass when the team needs it.
Speaking of Jacobelli, she recently committed to Colorado Mesa for beach volleyball joining teammate Whitehouse on the beach circuit. Whitehouse is headed to Boise.
“So both outsides are beach commits and Boise and Colorado Mesa will play against each other next year in beach,” Naymola said. “Izzy and Mia will go from teammates to competitors — ha ha.”
Whitehouse also has a FVC beach connection. Her beach partner at the Team One club is Logan Georgy from Crystal Lake South.
Burlington Central update: Senior libero Alexia Yanez recorded a career-high 19 digs in a recent Fox Valley Conference win against Prairie Ridge, while senior setter Gabriella Alesi had 16 assists in that same match.
Rockets coach Julia Smagacz, who noted her team is looking forward to its first postseason competing in Class 4A, has watched senior middle and University of Dayton commit Ainsley Wilson (.388 hitting, 49 blocks, both team highs) be a key presence at the net along with freshman outside Lani Akenten, who was leading the team in kills with 273.
Jacobs update: Golden Eagles coach Mike Depa said seniors Rachelle Zieba and Violet Rebacz have been playing well of late.
“Rachelle is one of our outsides and plays all six rotations,” he pointed out. “Most nights, she leads our team in kills and she is getting them in the front row and out of the back row. Rachelle’s defense has been getting better the last few weeks.”
Rebacz, one of Jacobs’ right-side hitters, was 7 of 10 hitting in a win against McHenry and added five more kills in a three-set loss to St. Charles North.
“Rachelle and Violet’s play and the team’s play has been getting better these last couple weeks and we have been playing some of our best volleyball of the season, which is a good sign as we are getting closer to the postseason,” Depa said.
Kaneland update: Eliza Bruhl was leading the team in kills (136) and aces (16), while Lauren Sharp was tops in digs with 249 and Natalie Remsen was the Knights’ team leader in blocks with 15. In addition to Bruhl, Kaneland coach Cynthia Violett said freshman Jaedyn Martz also has been playing well.
South Elgin update: Storm coach Jesse Bossenga noted Ashley Kleczewski is back after dealing with an early-season injury.
“It’s great to have Ashley back on the court,” Bossenga said. “She gives us another option as an attacker on the outside with the ability to score points. Hopefully, we will see her grow into a strong contributor as she returns to form.”
Bossenga added Maeve Callahan has proven to be a versatile defender, filling in at all three back row spots throughout the season thus far.
“Maeve’s serving and defensive have helped us create scoring runs to extend leads and give us some breathing room against our opponents,” Bossenga said. “The ability to be consistent no matter where she is asked to play is a huge asset for our team as we navigate the ups and downs of a long season.”
Sophomore setter Gracyn Dovichi had 288 assists through the halfway point of South Elgin’s schedule and Bossenga wouldn’t be surprised if that number pushes 500 by the end of the season.
River Valley Christian update: River Valley Christian defeated Hononegah and Sycamore at the recent Huntley invitational to improve to 14-11 overall. River Valley also was off to a strong 6-0 start in Northeastern Athletic Conference action. Karis Meeker had 40 kills, 29 digs and five aces in the tournament, while Jessica Vambute had 31 kills and 34 digs. Zoe Nwole had 19 kills, 14 digs and seven blocks. Bethlyn Fahrenwald had 75 assists and 16 digs, while Amelia Herther had 55 digs. Giulianna Kurtz had 23 digs.
Notable postseason seeds: The top five seeds in the upcoming Class 4A Burlington Central sectional are all local teams with Huntley the No. 1 seed, followed by Central, St. Charles East, St. Charles North and Hampshire.
In Class 1A, Aurora Christian is the No. 2 seed in its own sectional.