DuPage County 2007 All-Area girls volleyball team

Megan Barnicle St. Francis

Smoothly patrolling the net with authority, the 6-foot senior middle hitter totaled 275 kills, 80 solo blocks and 53 block assists for the Class 3A Final Four team. Two-time all-Suburban Catholic Conference. All-tourney at the Nike Effingham Crossroads Classic. Will play for Notre Dame. "She makes jumping look effortless," Spartans coach Peg Kopec said. "She hang glides when she's hitting and blocking. She doesn't look like she's trying. She just bounds up there."

Erica Behm Downers Grove North

The 5-foot-10 senior's 3,028 career assists rank third in state history, according to the IHSA. This year she had 781 assists, 71 kills, 53 blocks, 24 aces and 267 digs in setting the Trojans to a third straight West Suburban Silver title. Four-time all-WSS. All-tourney at Waubonsie Valley, DuPage Area and Downers North. Will play for North Carolina. "Erica is such an all-around player," Trojans coach Laura Johnwick said. "She's the best setter to come through Downers Grove North."

Christine Bowe Downers Grove South

A ball of competitive fire, the 5-foot-8 junior outside hitter hit 248 kills to go along with 33 aces, 14 blocks and 218 digs for the West Suburban Gold champion. Three-time all-WSG. All-tourney at Rich East and the Nike Challenge. "She's just a very aggressive volleyball player," Mustangs coach Colleen Reagan said. "At practices she throws herself on the ground. She dives and she's bleeding and she wants another one. She's one of those tough, special kids. She's a fighter."

Catherine Culligan St. Francis

The fearless 5-foot-6 senior libero notched 271 digs and served 247 points with 70 aces for the Class 3A Final Four team. Two-time all-Suburban Catholic Conference. All-tourney at the Nike Effingham Crossroads Classic. "She's one of the toughest people I've ever seen, and that's what a libero has to be," Spartans coach Peg Kopec said. "She's one of the top athletes we've ever had in the program, and she has a great deal of confidence, not cockiness. She goes after things."

Joslyn Drew Waubonsie Valley

A jumping bean who could take over a match with her blasts, the 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter powered the Warriors to a share of the Upstate Eight Conference title, their first since 1996. Drew registered 278 kills on a .389 hitting percentage to go along with 28 blocks. Two-time all-UEC. All-tourney at Waubonsie Valley and Benet. "She's been an impact player for us the whole year," Warriors coach Kristen Stuart said. "She's just such a tremendous fighter."

Joanna Giampoli Hinsdale South

Powerful and versatile, the 6-foot-1 senior middle hitter came up with 311 kills, 76 solo blocks, 175 digs and 52 aces. Three-time all-West Suburban Gold. All-tourney at Waubonsie Valley. Plans to walk on at Iowa. "Her competitive drive is, I think, the best thing about her," Hornets coach Lisa Jablonski said. "She's been around the game a long time and she sees the court well. She knows what it takes to play at an elite level. I think she was just always a step above."

Rebecca Heath Naperville Central

Equally at home in the front row or the back, the 6-foot senior outside hitter collected 356 kills, 41 blocks, 23 aces and 272 digs for the Class 4A Final Four team. All-DuPage Valley Conference. Will play for American University.

"She is very physical," Redhawks coach Brie Isaacson said. "When she gets ahold of that ball, obviously you don't want to be in the way of it. She gives us as consistent of a front row as she does a back row with her passing and defense."

Jessica Jendryk Benet

Agile along the net, the 6-foot-1 junior middle hitter produced 244 kills on a .410 hitting percentage with 112 blocks and 41 aces for the East Suburban Catholic Conference co-champion. Two-time all-ESCC. All-tourney at Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Glenbard West, Benet and Autumnfest. Has already committed to Illinois. "She's extremely quick on blocking pin to pin," Redwings coach Brad Baker said. "She's the best I've seen so far blocking, and she hits extremely smart."

Maggie Johnson Wheaton Academy

A hard hitter and precise passer, the 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter pounded 407 kills to go with 71 blocks, 78 aces and 316 digs. Three-time all-Private School League. All-tourney at Benet. Will play for Belmont University. "She just stepped up her game all the way around," Warriors coach D.A. Nichols said. "I've been really impressed with her leadership. I've even heard the other girls say how they live and feed off her energy. She takes charge and keeps everybody on track."

Michelle Kocher St. Francis

Dubbed "The Ice Princess" by St. Francis coach Peg Kopec for keeping cool under pressure, the 5-foot-10 senior setter tallied 1,021 assists, 89 kills, 46 aces, 34 blocks and 147 digs. Co-Player of the Year in the Suburban Catholic Conference. Three-time all-SCC. MVP of the Nike Effingham Crossroads Classic. Will play for Texas. "She's grace under pressure," Kopec said. "She'll be very difficult to replace. She's a very good setter and a great person who's very mature for her age."

Mollie Kolosky Wheaton Warrenville South

Maturing into a dominant player, the 6-foot-2 middle hitter registered 300 kills, 123 blocks and 63 aces in helping the Tigers win the DuPage Valley Conference for the first time in 10 years. All-DVC. "Best Blocker" at Mizuno Cup. Will play for Boston College. "Mollie is a girl who will do whatever it takes for the team," Tigers coach Bill Schreier said. "She was able to bring her experience as a right-side (to the middle) and it made her multidimensional as far as the attack was concerned."

Annie Luhrsen Wheaton Warrenville South

A multitalented threat, the 6-foot senior setter lofted 1,069 assists while collecting 141 kills, 66 blocks and 63 aces in leading the Tigers to their first DuPage Valley Conference title since 1997. Three-time all-DVC. All-tourney at DuPage Area. Will play for Connecticut. "She's a floor general," Tigers coach Bill Schreier said. "She forces the opponent to keep in consideration her offensive abilities when she's in the front row, so even though we're been running a 5-1, it's like a 6-2."

Ariana Mankus Benet

An exciting player to watch, the 5-foot-8 junior outside hitter landed 291 kills on a .360 hitting percentage, made 187 digs, passed at a 2.29 grade and served 42 aces for the East Suburban Catholic Conference co-champion. All-ESCC. Tourney MVP at Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin. "If you had to pick a most improved player in the area, she might be it," Redwings coach Brad Baker said. "With her hitting and serve receive, she had some matches where she was downright unbelievable."

Megan McMahon Naperville Central

A strong leader, the 5-foot-9 senior setter netted 654 assists, 27 blocks, 26 aces, 22 kills and 181 digs. Two-time all-DuPage Valley Conference. MVP of Autumnfest. Will play for Elon University. "McMahon can change the momentum of the game with her ability to see across the net and give our hitters the best possible matchup," Redhawks coach Brie Isaacson said. "For her to give (Rebecca) Heath and (Emily) McGee and (Megan) Bray and our middles the best matchup every swing is huge."

Emily McGee Naperville Central

A relentless attacker with nerves of steel in pressure situations, the 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter totaled 406 kills, 51 blocks, 28 aces and 300 digs for the Class 4A Final Four team. Two-time all-DuPage Valley Conference. MVP of the Mizuno Cup. All-tourney at DuPage Area and Autumnfest. "The thing about Emily that makes her so successful is she's absolutely fearless," Redhawks coach Brie Isaacson said. "When the game is on the line she is asking for the ball. Her confidence is contagious."

Amanda Peterson Glenbard East

Setting and also hitting out of necessity for her team, the 6-foot junior led a Rams resurgence. She tallied 321 kills with a .388 kill efficiency and registered 41 blocks, 32 aces and 170 assists. Two-time all-DuPage Valley Conference. All-tourney at Autumnfest. "She had to do it all for us this year," Rams coach Marci Maier said. "She has an extraordinary internal drive and work ethic. She's a very special player. She has all the tools to be successful at the next level."

Paige Stevens Neuqua Valley

Orchestrating the program's rise to prominence, the 6-foot-1 senior racked up 266 assists, 200 kills, 39 blocks, 25 aces and 140 digs while juggling her setting and hitting duties. Two-time all-Upstate Eight Conference. All-tourney at DuPage Area and Waubonsie Valley. Will play for Iowa. "She made a tremendous contribution to our program for the past three years," Wildcats coach Kelly Simon said. "We're really grateful for everything that she's contributed."

Colleen Ward Naperville North

A dominating attacker with a terrific all-around game, the 6-foot-2 senior hitter posted 457 kills, 46 blocks, 41 aces and 157 digs, while passing at a 2.3 grade. Her school record 1,551 career kills rank fifth in state history, according to the IHSA. Four-time all-DuPage Valley Conference. "Best Attacker" at Mizuno Cup. All-tourney at DuPage Area. "She's a special player," Huskies coach Jennifer Urban said. "Some college is going to be very lucky to get her."

Christine Wu Naperville North

With great quickness, anticipation and determination, the 5-foot-4 senior libero registered 350 digs, passed at a 2.24 grade and served 54 aces. School record holder for career digs with 993. Three-time all-DuPage Valley Conference. "Best Libero" at Mizuno Cup. All-tourney at DuPage Area. "Christine is a tremendous leader on and off the court," Huskies coach Jennifer Urban said. "She's certainly a player that everyone looks up to on the team. She goes after it."

Becca Zlabis Wheaton Warrenville South

A powerful force, the 6-foot senior outside hitter blasted 452 kills and bagged 55 blocks, 46 aces and 199 digs for the DuPage Valley Conference champion. Three-time all-DVC. All-tourney at DuPage Area and Autumnfest. Will play for Michigan State. "She's the prototypical go-to hitter," Tigers coach Bill Schreier said. "She's going to deliver. She does a great job of reading the block. That's the area that she's the most improved in, and she also improved her ball control."