June 30, 2025
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The Times Fall 2021 Volleyball All-Area Team: The best of the best on the court this past season

Champions Newark, Woodland, Earlville well-represented

By J.T. Pedelty

Newark sophomore setter Lauren Ulrich (14) sets the ball to a teammate during the Class 1A Serena Sectional semifinal game against Pearl City on Monday Nov. 1, 2021 at Serena. (Scott Anderson)

Here is The Times Fall 2021 Volleyball All-Area Team, 25 of the area’s best on the volleyball court this past season:

FIRST TEAM

Brynn Guelde, Earlville, OH, sr.

Earlville's Brynn Guelde (11) goes up for a kill against Newark during a Little Ten Conference championship volleyball match at Indian Creek High School in Shabbona on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (Sean King for Shaw Local)

The primary weapon of the 26-11, Little Ten Conference co-champion Red Raiders, Guelde slammed home 224 kills and served up 47 aces on her way to All-LTC and her first Times First Team appearance after being on last season’s Second Team.

Audrey Rome, Sandwich, OH, sr.

Sandwich's Audrey Rome (10) spikes the ball past L-P's Camryn Piscia (27) and Avery Urbanski (4) on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (Scott Anderson)

The Indians senior put down 270 kills and 41 stuff blocks this season on her way to Interstate Eight All-Conference honors. The UConn recruit was a member of The Times Second Team in 2019.

Ella Sibert, Woodland, MH, sr.

Woodland middle hitter Ella Sibert (1) spikes the ball past St. Bede's Lia Bosnich (21) during the Class 1A regional final on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 in Henry. (Scott Anderson)

Sibert’s statistics (153 kills, 55 stuff blocks, 22 ace serves) were impressive, but it was her energy and leadership on the court that made her stand out on her way to being chosen Tri-County Conference MVP and The Times Fall 2021 Volleyball Player of the Year. She was on our Spring 2021 Second Team and Honorable Mention in 2019.

Emma Smith, Seneca, MH, sr.

Seneca's Emma Smith returns a shot against Prairie Central in the Class 2A Coal City Regional. (Dan Voitik)

One of only three unanimous First Team choices on the Tri-County All-Conference First Team (Sibert was another), Smith was a dominant force, racking up 255 kills and 56 stuff blocks for the Irish. This is her first appearance on The Times All-Area Team.

Lauren Ulrich, Newark, S, so.

Newark's Lauren Ulrich (14) bumps the ball back to the Eastland side of the net in the Class 1A sectional final game on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Serena. (Scott Anderson)

Being a talented, next-level setter in a powerhouse program can lead to some monstrous statistics, and Ulrich did exactly that with 757 assists, 168 digs and 38 aces for the Little Ten co-champs and sectional champion Norsemen. This is her first Times All-Area honor.

Allie Wiesenhofer, Fieldcrest, OH, so.

Allie Wiesenhofer

You’ve got to be really good to be a unanimous First Team Heart of Illinois All-Conference pick as an underclassman. Wiesenhofer was this past fall, totaling 229 kills, 34 aces and 153 digs for the Knights and earning her first Times All-Area Team appearance.

Megan Williams, Newark, OH, sr.

Newark’s Megan Williams (11) serves during the Little Ten Conference Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (Sean King for Shaw Local)

The ultra-athletic Williams had a stellar high school finale, tallying 367 kills, 38 stuff blocks and 33 aces on her way to a fourth straight Little Ten All-Conference honor. She was a Times All-Area First Team choice in the spring of 2021, Third Team in 2019 and Second Team in 2018.

SECOND TEAM

Emma Benson, Earlville, S, sr.

Mallory Goerne, Streator, OH, sr.

Kortney Harms, Flanagan-Cornell, S, jr.

Cheyenne Joachim, Ottawa, MB, so.

Lindsey Kaufmann, Marquette, DS/OH, jr.

Kaylee Killelea, Marquette, S, jr.

Paige Sexton, Serena, OH, jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Claire Allen, Sandwich, MH, jr.

Katie Baker, Serena, S/OH, sr.

Elizabeth Browder, Earlville, OH, sr.

Clara Downey, Woodland, OH, jr.

Jena Easton, Woodland, S, sr.

Bella Fortner, Fieldcrest, S, so.

Zoe Hougas, Seneca, OH, sr.

Ashlyn May, Fieldcrest, OH, jr.

Eva McCallum, Marquette, OH, jr.

Madi Mino, Seneca, RS, sr.

Allie Snyder, Ottawa, MH, sr.