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DePue
Coach: Diana Lopez (second season of second stint, fifth overall)
Last year: 0-24
Top returners: Alyssa Lopez, Jr., S; Azucena Villagomez, Jr., MH; Emily Marquez, So.
Key newcomers: Veronica Fitzgerald, Fr.
Worth noting: The Lady Giants have limited numbers with just seven players in the program. … DePue makes the move to the Little Ten Conference this season after previously competing in the Tri-County Conference. “We are a small and young team,” Lopez said. “We are learning and growing as we go. We’re in a new conference this year, which is something we look forward to.” … Lopez moves from libero last year to setter this season to help fill a void. … Marquez is only a sophomore, but Lopez said she provides leadership. “I don’t have any seniors this year and I lost three juniors, but Emily definitely stepped up as a leader,” Lopez said. “She has improved so much from last year. Her attacks on the net are more powerful and strategic this year.” … Lopez said Fitzgerald isn’t afraid to attack the net. “She is so eager to learn and grow,” Lopez said. “I look forward to watching her grow in the coming years. She’s a very coachable player.”
Earlville Coach: Tonya Scherer (20th season) Last season: 17-19, 5-3 (fourth in Little Ten) Top returners: Emma Benson, jr.; Alexis Olson jr.; Brynn Guelde, jr.; Elizabeth Browder, jr.; Hailey Kuter, jr. Worth noting: Although the Lady Red Raiders lost a pair of big hitters in Kylie Koontz and Jadyn Pickert to graduation, Scherer returns five juniors who all recorded solid minutes as underclassmen. ... Earlville’s offense will be guided by Benson (457 assists, 39 aces, 173 digs) at setter and the defense by libero Kuter (131 digs), while Olson (74 kills, 24 aces, 13 blocks) and Guelde (68 kills, 30 aces) will be asked to step up from the outside and middle hitting spots. ... “The girls are excited to be back,” said Scherer. “I can’t wait to see what they can accomplish on the court.”
Fieldcrest
Coach: Cathy Sanders (third season of second stint, ninth overall)
Last season: 21-11
Top returners: Gracie Schultz, Sr., MH; Caroline Holland, Sr., DS; Ashlyn May, So., OH; Ella Goodrich, Jr., OH; Kaya Buchanan, Jr., MH; Zoey Dye, So., OH; Carolyn Megow, So., OH/DS.
Key newcomers: Elianna Ludwig, jr., DS; Kristyn Schwartz, jr., S; Morgan Gerdes, so., S/OH; Kaitlyn White, fr., S/OH; Bella Fortner, fr., S/DS; Kaylin Reints, fr., M/OH; Allie Wiesenhofer, fr. OH.
Worth noting: Between girls basketball and dance, there’s a lot of positive feeling going around FHS right now. Sanders is counting on Schultz (HOI first team, Times 2nd team, 271 kills, 59 blocks, 23 aces), Holland and May to provide guidance to a younger squad … That includes the eldest setter Schwartz, who has looked good in workouts so far, though Gerdes, Fortner and White are also solid candidates. Megow, a hustler who can hit, may be the libero ... “I’m looking for their leadership to bring the younger players along, to push them to step up their play, and so far that’s happening,” said Sanders. “The girls know that they’re competing for these positions and they’re all stepping up. If you had felt the energy in our gym the past few days in terms of the girls working hard and talking and staying upbeat, it’s just a real pleasure to see. Those are the intangibles you hope they bring and they’re bringing them. They’ve waited a long time for their season and the girls are taking ownership of that.”
Henry-Senachwine
Coach: Rita Self (fourth season of second stint, 13th overall)
Last season: 10-21, 2-7 (Tri-County)
Top returners: Hope Self, Jr. S; Nakeita Kessling, Jr., OH; Sayge Wiedman, Sr., S; Tandyn Van Etten, Jr.
Key newcomers: Shayla Moberg, Jr., OH; Nadia Kessling, Sr., MH; Brooke Ulm, Jr., L; Braden Schock, Sr.; Elda Salihu, Sr.; Carlee Hoffstater, Sr.
Worth noting: The Lady Mallards return a solid core in Hope Self (334 assists, 140 digs, 33 aces in 2019), Nakeita Kessling (125 digs, 103 kills), Wiedman (178 assists, 67 digs) and Van Etten (54 kills, 22 blocks). … Moberg is expected to play a key role as an outside hitter, while Nadia Kessling will contribute as middle hitter. Ulm takes over as libero. … “Our strengths will definitely be our energy and teamwork,” Rita Self said. … Rita Self is concerned about the long layoff from competition, especially with no players who compete in club volleyball. “We had not been on the court for an entire year,” Rita Self said. “I’m hoping other teams are in the same position. We did not have any players active in offseason club programs, so that may hurt us this year. We will definitely be working on finding the right mix of talent to give us the best chance of competing each night.” … Rita Self said the team’s goal is to finish with a winning record.
LaMoille-Ohio
Coach: Nicole Cromwell (third season) 2019 record: 6-23 (3-5 Little Ten) Top returners: Ella Cherry, So., S; Bella Drummer, So., MH; Kylee Brown, Sr., OH/S; Meghan Davis, Sr., MH/OH; Leah Williams, Jr., OH; Ki’Ayana Moore, Jr., MH
Key newcomers: McKenna Klein Jr., L; Grace Wojcik Fr., S; Trinity Wheeler So., OH/L; Sarah Henrikson So., OH Worth noting: The Lady Lions have three players — Brown, Davis and Moore — who are playing their third year on varsity, which gives L-O some great experience, Cromwell said. “We only have one senior (Davis) but we are returning a decent amount of girls that played in multiple varsity games last year. I am hoping all the varsity experience will give us some confidence, especially since our setters are a freshman and sophomore. We are small in numbers this year but I am looking forward to a great season,” Cromwell said. … Due to low numbers, L-O will only be playing a varsity schedule. ... The Lady Lions fell to Somonauk in their first match at home Tuesday, 25-21, 25-22.