Sports

Volleyball previews: Benet, Bolingbrook, Lisle set sights on state trips

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Bolingbrook's Megan Bielawski sets the ball Saturday in a match against St. Charles North at the Plainfield North Invite. The Raiders lost their top hitter from a year ago and move ahead with a diverse offense this season. (Larry W)

By JASON ROSSI

The first serve has gone up on the girls volleyball season, and teams across the state will eventually be vying for berths in the state finals Nov. 14 and 15 at Redbird Arena in Normal. Here’s the outlook for Benet, Bolingbrook and Lisle:

Benet Redwings

Coach: Brad Baker

Conference: East Suburban Catholic

2013 record: 36-6, 2nd in Class 4A

Top players

Name Year Pos.

Natalie Canulli sr. L

Tiffany Clark jr. OH

Maria Cyvas sr. MH

Rachael Fara sr. MH

Aileen Griffin sr. S

Dana Griffin sr. OH

Julianne Melby sr. DS

Sara Neilson so. S

Marissa Tassone sr. M

Meghan Weber sr. S/RS

Outlook: The Redwings graduated six starters from a team that made it to the state quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. Those kinds of losses might mean a rebuilding year for most programs, but Benet is not like most programs. The squad enters the season with six players who saw plenty of action last year.

Rachael Fara, last year’s kills leader, is back and is committed to play in college at Northwestern. Other players with college offers include Natalie Canulli (Penn State), Meghan Weber (Wright State) and Tiffany Clark (Michigan, second in digs last season), who plays libero in club but will switch to outside hitter for the Redwings. Sara Neilson, Maria Cyvas and Dana Griffin return after playing extensively last year.

A tough tournament schedule awaits the Redwings, but some of the stiffest competition may come in practice as players like Lauren Berto, Paige Hembrough, Lina Lietuvninkas, Lilly Johnson and Gretchen Rudel will be battling for varsity playing time.

“We have a very deep team with lots of girls that will be pushing each other,” head coach Brad Baker said. “This team is driven and motivated to have a successful season.”

Bolingbrook Raiders

Coach: Andrea Bercot

Conference: SouthWest Suburban Blue

2013 record: 16-19-2

Top players

Name Year Pos.

Megan Bielawski sr. OH

Nicole Gambon sr. S

Kayla Loeb sr. OPP

Juliana Wober jr. OH

Outlook: Bolingbrook moves forward this season without standout outside hitter Krissa Gearring, who graduated, but it still has plenty of talent back from a team that played in a regional semifinal last season.

Megan Bielawski, Nicole Gambon, Kayla Loeb and Juliana Wober are back to lead the offense while seniors and defensive specialists Nikole Kravish and Danielle Osterman are also back.

Head coach Andrea Bercot said finding balance on offense and improving serve receive passing will be areas to develop, but she likes the makeup of her team.

“We are very quick and scrappy,” the coach said.

In terms of schedule, the Raiders will play some of the best. They face perennial power Joliet Catholic on Tuesday, face a Sandburg team Oct. 2 that played in a sectional final last year and play in tough tournaments at Waubonsie Valley (Sept. 26 and 27) and Minooka (Oct. 17 and 18) in advance of the playoffs.

Lisle Lions

Coach: Matt Hrubesky

Conference: Interstate Eight

2013 record: 12-22

Top players

Name Year Pos.

Nina Breihan sr. MH

Catherine Coppin so. OH

Melissa Ericson jr. L

Robyn Griffin jr. MH

Hannah Kiesling sr. S

Hope Kiesling so. S

Nicolette Provenzano so. OH

Ally Wroble sr. MH

Outlook: The Lions may not have a standout go-to offensive threat, but what they do have is incredible balance that could make life tough on opposing defenses.

“I think we have great balance this year and have some options offensively,” head coach Matt Hrubesky said. “We have different combinations of athletes that we can put together.”

Hannah Kiesling and Hope Kiesling will handle the setting duties, and they will have a plethora of options to pass to. Catherine Coppin and Nicolette Provenzano will hit from the outside while Nina Breihan, Robyn Griffin and Ally Wroble will play the middle. Melissa Ericson will lead the defense as a libero.

Lisle started the season against defending state champion IC Catholic and lost in two games. Tournaments at Latin, Aurora Central Catholic, Rochelle and Ridgewood will help prepare the Lions for the postseason.

“I hope that we meld into one cohesive team and develop a more aggressive and loose demeanor on the court,” Hrubesky said.