Top 10 teams and 25 players to watch for this season
Top 10 Teams
1. Marist (39-3): Some big names have moved on, including back-to-back Daily Southtown Player of the Year Camryn Hannah. This is far from a rebuild, however. Senior setter Nikki Jones (IPFW) has three tall, strong targets in the front row with 6-foot-2 senior Ellie Kurpeikis (Green Bay), 6-0 junior Mary Clare Brusek and 6-0 sophomore Kamryn Chaney. Senior libero Jillian Elsouso returns to anchor defense.
2. Mother McAuley (29-9): Ferris State recruit Connie LeBel leads way for Mighty Macs. LeBel, a 5-9 outside hitter, is joined by 6-0 outside Molly McDermott (Southern Utah), 6-3 middle Molly Boyd and 5-9 middle Abby Sarich. Anna Jaworowski (San Diego) and sophomore Gigi Navarette are top defenders.
3. Joliet Catholic (26-15): Jillian Gray (Georgia Southern) has battled through injuries, but when healthy is one of state’s best hitters. Emily Surin, Kristen Leuszler and Riley Hungate are all dependable targets for setter Ryan Hinshaw (SUNY Cortland). Look for junior transfers Alexis Mines (Joliet West) and 6-2 Crystal Galaviz (Romeoville) to make noise.
4. Sandburg (34-6): Seniors Keegan Carey and Ellie Watson and junior Sidona Rao bring back nearly 600 kills. On offense, Eagles are in experienced hands with junior setter Bianca May. Coach David Vales also has 6-1 varsity newcomers Allie Boertlein and Jenny Jensen.
5. Lincoln-Way East (27-10): Griffins coach Kris Fiore has four seniors with a combined eight seasons of varsity experience. St. Xavier recruit Kaleigh Ritter is a four-year starter at libero, while setter Ava Porada (Illinois Wesleyan), 6-3 middle Ali Sorenson (Gannon) and outside Cierra Gardner (Illinois Wesleyan) are among others to watch.
6. Providence (22-17): Celtics, a Class 3A
sectional finalist last season, have new coach in veteran Lee Rucinski. They return most of their starters, including setters Abby Lab (St. Francis) and Skye McGill (St. Norbert), junior outside Juliana Warfield, senior outside Gillian Peterson and senior libero Vittoria Conte.
7. Marian Catholic (25-11): Team MVP Briana Brown will look to lead Spartans back to contender status. Brown was one
of the kill leaders last season on the outside. Senior setter London Hatch (Lamar) will run the offense, while the middle should be protected by 6-0 senior Nnedi Okabuonye.
8. Lemont (30-8): Senior right-side hitter Amanda Rice (North Carolina State) takes team leadership reins from Amy Schwem. Paige Connolly, meanwhile, will take over Schwem’s setting duties. Senior middle Mary Kate Arundel is a three-year starter.
9. Chicago Christian (32-6): The Knights have one of the better sister acts in the Southland with Logan and Delanie Grevengoed. Logan, a 6-2 multipurpose player, was conference player of the year as a sophomore. Delanie, also 6-2, saw significant time as a freshman.
10. Shepard (26-11): Astros return two of their best as they seek to repeat as conference champions. Senior libero Leah Bylut is program’s record-holder in digs and aces. Senior outside hitter Katie Rohe led team in kills.
Top 25 Players
Francesca Bertucci, De La Salle, senior, libero; Briana Brown, Marian Catholic, senior, outside hitter; Mary Clare Brusek, Marist, junior, middle hitter; Leah Bylut, Shepard, senior, libero; Keegan Carey, Sandburg, senior, right-side hitter/ outside hitter; Kamryn Chaney, Marist, sophomore, outside hitter; Nadia Goich, Lockport, senior, right-side hitter/middle hitter; Jillian Gray, Joliet Catholic, senior, outside hitter; Logan Grevengoed, Chicago Christian, junior, middle hitter; Jasmine Heyward, Homewood-Flossmoor, junior, outside hitter; Ryan Hinshaw, Joliet Catholic, senior, setter; Nikki Jones, Marist, senior, setter; Abby Kiaupa, Andrew, senior, right-side hitter; Rachel Kolodziej, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, middle hitter/ right-side hitter; Connie LeBel, Mother McAuley, senior, outside hitter; Isabella LaCoco, De La Salle, senior, setter/rightside hitter; Molly McDermott, Mother McAuley, senior, outside hitter; Alexis Mines, Joliet Catholic, junior, outside hitter; Nnedi Okabuonye, Marian Catholic, senior, middle hitter; Ava Porada, Lincoln-Way East, senior, setter; Amanda Rice, Lemont, senior, right-side hitter; Kaleigh Ritter, Lincoln-Way East, senior, libero; Katie Rohe, Shepard, senior, outside hitter; Juliana Warfield, Providence, junior, outside hitter; Ellie Watson, Sandburg, senior, middle hitter.