2021 Northwest Herald girls volleyball team preview capsules

Fox Valley Conference

Cary-Grove

Coach: Patty Langanis (26th season)

Last season’s record: 28-11, 15-3 FVC (third), Class 4A regional champion

Top returners: Lauren Passaglia, sr., S; Julia Rice, sr., OH; Tricia Kennedy, so., MB

Key newcomers: Mya Bajramovic, jr., MB; Alexes Koenig, so., L; Paige Schiestel, sr., MB; Delaney Ruhland, sr., RS; Grace Eyrich, sr., L

Worth noting: The Trojans won their first regional title since 2015 and improved by nine wins, including seven more in the FVC. Their season ended with a 25-18, 27-25 loss to Libertyville in the Class 4A Warren Sectional final. … Jenna Splitt (202 kills, 304 assists, 271 digs, 65 blocks, 61 aces) graduated a semester early and is at NCAA Division I Iowa. She was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team pick in 2019. C-G also graduated outside hitter and team captain Evynn Layshock (D-II Northern Michigan). … Passaglia (D-II Hillsdale College) will be relied on heavily this year after posting 411 assists, 134 kills and 72 blocks as a junior. … “Losing [Splitt] was a big loss and we will miss her, but this team is strong and has depth at all positions,” Langanis said. “We have size, skill and experience, and we should be in contention for [an FVC] title.”

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Lisa Brunstrum (10th season)

Last season’s record: 35-4, 16-2 FVC (second), Class 3A regional champion

Top returners: Madeline Timmerman, sr., MB; Maddy McCormick, sr., OH; Karina Simatos, sr., L; McKenna Timmerman, jr., OH

Key newcomers: Lauren Klutke, jr., OPP; Mary Grace Gallagher, jr., MB; Corynne Hausler, fr., S; Paige Keller, jr., S; Ellen White, sr., DS

Worth noting: The Tigers won their fifth straight regional title and ended their season with a 13-25, 25-23, 25-21 loss to Belvidere North in the sectional finals. Central had 30 wins for the third straight season and is 99-14 (87.6% winning percentage) since the start of 2017. … The Tigers graduated many talented players who now are playing in college, including Camryn Hausler (D-I Wright State), Madde Blake (D-II Gannon University) and Olivia Anderson (NAIA Indiana Tech) along with setter Grace Levin. … McCormick was an All-Area first-team pick as a junior, recording a team-high 241 kills, 386 digs and 40 aces. She will play next year at D-I Colorado State. … Timmerman will play next year at D-I Eastern Michigan and posted 173 kills and a team-high 115 blocks last season, earning all All-Area honorable mention. … Simatos (team-high 449 digs, 56 aces) returns at libero and will play next year at D-I Bradley. She was an All-Area second-team pick last year. … McKenna Timmerman will play all six rotations this season. ... White will play next year at D-III University of Dubuque. … “We’ve been working really hard this first week during our practices as we get back into the swing of things,” Brunstrum said. “The girls are very excited to be able to play together and to have this opportunity.”

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Jorie Fontana (13th season)

Last season’s record: 20-16, 9-9 FVC (fifth)

Top returners: Megan Langdon, jr., MB; Mia Regillio, jr., MB; Sam Wesoly, sr., OH; Jessie Proszenyak, jr. OH

Key newcomers: Emma Stowasser, so., S; Alyssa Zagroba, jr., L; Morgan Jones, fr., OH; Gabby Wire, fr., OH

Worth noting: The Gators lost to crosstown rival Crystal Lake Central, 22-25, 25-12, 25-11, in the Class 3A Crystal Lake Central Regional final, ending their season in 2019. South last won a regional title in 2015, but the Gators’ 20 victories were their most in four years. ... South lost seven seniors to graduation. … Wesoly made the All-FVC team as a junior, recording a team-high 234 kills, along with 21 aces, 209 digs and 42 blocks. ... Fontana sees the 10-team FVC being wide open this season. … “We are excited to be able to come together this season with a solid mix of players with varsity experience and new players heading out for the first time,” Fontana said. “I expect the girls to battle each match, have fun and make the most out of each opportunity.”

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Rich Panitch (first season)

Last season’s record: 12-23, 4-14 FVC (eighth)

Top returners: Jenna Brown, sr., S; MacKenzie Field, sr., MB; Tealyn Kamp, jr., RS; Mia Seaton, sr., L; Natalia Smiech, sr., OH; Makena Wesol, jr., OH

Worth noting: The Chargers won four FVC matches after going winless in 2019 with wins against Jacobs, Prairie Ridge, Burlington Central and Hampshire. … Brown, who is committed to D-I Georgia State, is approaching program records in assists and aces. She tallied 554 assists, 45 aces and 149 digs last season. … D-C returns its top three attackers in Field (234 kills), Wesol (221) and Smiech (162). Field added 44 aces, and Smiech had 39. Seaton recorded a team-high 251 digs. … “The girls know each other and their collective tendencies,” Panitch said. “Our setter is amazing; we have very strong hitters. We really need to focus on our passing. The more we stay in system, the better we will be.”

Hampshire

Coach: William Benenhaley (second season)

Last seasons’s record: 10-25-1, 2-16 FVC (tied for ninth)

Top returners: Juliana Barrientos, sr., S; Hayley O’Reilly, sr., OH; Jacey Lambert, jr., MB

Key newcomers: Lexi Kolakowski, sr., S; Gabi Peter, so., MB; Ainsley Dowling, jr., OH

Worth noting: Benenhaley is entering his second year as varsity coach at Hampshire. Last year he split duties with Kim Millard. … The Whips had one all-conference selection last year: Kielee Tondryk (NAIA Michigan-Dearborn), who has graduated. … Lambert played in 81 of 82 sets for the Whips, recording 152 kills. O’Reilly had 106 kills and led the team with 217 digs. Barrientos (D-III Lake Forest College) had 197 digs and a team-high 343 assists. Kolakowski is committed to D-III Concordia University Chicago. … “Our strengths will be our serving, as a lot of these athletes have worked on being very aggressive but also staying consistent,” Benenhaley said. “[Lambert and Peter] have trained really hard and can make people’s heads turn.”

Huntley

Coach: Karen Naymola (ninth season)

Last season’s record: 34-6, 17-1 FVC (first), FVC champion, Class 4A sectional champion

Top returners: Emma Konie, sr., OH; Avary DeBlieck, so., MB; Ally Panzloff, so., OH; Maggie Duyos, so., S; Luma Acevedo, so., L; Martyna Strzelecki, sr., MB

Key newcomers: Emily Willis, jr., MB; Lauren Bauer, jr., OH; Avery Robertson, jr., OH; Elizabeth Williams, fr., OH; Madelyn Moran, so., OH

Worth noting: The Red Raiders won their second FVC title in four years and won their first sectional title since 2001, beating St. Charles East, 25-13, 25-15, in the Class 4A Dundee-Crown Sectional final. Huntley’s season ended with a 26-24, 25-23 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South at supersectionals. The Raiders have won four straight regional titles and six in the past seven seasons. Their 34 wins also were their most since 2001. … Huntley will have a new captain after four-time All-Area first-team pick Taylor Jakubowski (D-I Seton Hall), the 2019 Northwest Herald Volleyball Player of the Year, graduated with 3,556 career assists, second most in state history. Josie Schmitendorf (D-I Eastern Kentucky), the program’s all-time leader in digs (1,165) also graduated, along with middle blockers’ Ashley Konecki (D-III Carroll University) and Katelyn Bower (D-III Elmhurst University) and outside hitter Kylie Jenkins. … Konie, who will play next year at D-II Illinois-Springfield, was an All-Area second-team pick, leading the team with 333 kills, along with 49 aces and 210 digs. … “In this quick season, I am excited to see how fast we can come together and how much we can improve,” Naymola said. “We are a young team but a team that knows each other well and has played with each other for a while.”

Jacobs

Coach: Gary Granell (first season)

Last season’s record: 16-19, 7-11 FVC (seventh)

Top returners: Maggie Wallenberger, sr., OH; Jaclyn Poirier, jr., MB; Ireland Van Stone, jr., OH; Rachel Kaczorowski, jr., S; Meredith Giustino, jr., L; Amanda Schaffer, jr., S; Sara Wasner, so., OH

Worth noting: Granell takes over on an interim basis for Lisa Dwyer, who led the Golden Eagles the past 14 seasons. Colleen Smith, a Class 4A state champion as a player at C-G in 2009, was hired to replace Dwyer in June, but she resigned from the position before the start of the season. … Wallenberger, who is Jacobs’ only senior, was an All-Area second-team and all-conference pick last season, smashing a team-high 333 kills. She will play next year at D-I Southern Illinois. … Jacobs won seven FVC matches for the second straight year after winning four combined over the previous two. … “We have a good mix of returning and new players, and I think we will be strong at all positions,” Granell said.

McHenry

Coach: Hilary Agnello (third season)

Last season’s record: 24-13, 8-10 FVC (sixth)

Top returners: Savannah Coats, sr., OH; Elizabeth Hying, sr., RS-S; Abbie Honkala, jr., MB; Kylie Borck, sr., MB; Andrea Barajas, sr., L; Lauren Sena, sr., OH; Aspen O’Brien, jr., S

Key newcomers: Ella Boland, fr., OH

Worth noting: The Warriors’ 24 wins were their most in 22 years, when they went 29-9 and earned their last regional title (1997). ... McHenry lost to Lake Forest, 25-22, 28-26, in a Class 4A McHenry Regional final. The Warriors won five more FVC matches last season than in 2018. … Coats is committed to D-II Colorado State University-Pueblo and Borck will play at D-III Blackburn College. ... McHenry graduated two-time captain Dunja Masic, now at Daemen College (New York), and Sara Boelkens (Indiana University of Pennsylvania). … Agnello likes her team’s versatility, with many players capable of playing in many spots. … “This group is very competitive and comfortable with each other – having been playing together since their sophomore years,” Agnello said. “They have moved from the bottom of the FVC to the middle and are determined to be one of the top teams.”

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Stefanie Otto (24th season)

Last season’s record: 20-17, 10-8 FVC (fourth)

Top returners: Claire Emery, sr., MB; Olivia Jost, sr., DS-OH; Kaylin Mitchell, sr., OH-MB; Ansley Morlock, jr.; OH

Key newcomers: Sammy Johnson, sr., S; Katya Flaugher, so., OH

Worth noting: The Wolves ended their season with a 26-24, 25-22 loss to Kaneland at the Class 3A Wauconda Regional final, but not before they secured their eighth straight season with 20 or more wins. Their regional final defeat snapped a string of four straight regional titles. … Jost is committed to D-II Winona State and recorded a team-high 331 digs as a junior, along with 18 aces. … Prairie Ridge lost its top attacker (Trinity Sheridan, D-I UNLV) and setter (Hannah Baudin, McHenry County College) to graduation. Both were All-Area second-team selections. Sheridan was among the area leaders with 358 kills, and Baudin led the Wolves with 629 assists, tallying 117 kills. … Morlock is back after posting 149 kills and 37 aces. Mitchell led the team with 53 aces and 53 blocks. … “We’re excited to play this season, even if it’s shortened,” Otto said. “This year, we have a balanced all-around team. We have a group that is versatile and can contribute in multiple ways.”

Kishwaukee River Conference

Harvard

Coach: Megan Nolen (seventh season)

Last season’s record: 3-32, 0-10 KRC (sixth)

Top returners: Alex Cooke, sr.; Michaela Froehlich, sr.; Asha Billstrand, so.

Key newcomers: Abby Perkins, jr., Montana Brincks, sr.

Worth noting: The Hornets won three matches for the second season in a row and have gone winless in the KRC in all three seasons. … Harvard had one All-KRC selection last season, graduate Desiree Brady, and lost seven players to graduation overall. … The Hornets ended their season with a 25-17, 25-15, loss to Boylan in the Class 3A Woodstock Regional.

Johnsburg

Coach: Abby Bruns (first season)

Last season’s record: 10-26, 4-6 KRC (fourth)

Top returners: Kate Linkletter, sr., OH; Alexandra Burke, jr., OH

Key newcomer: Delaney Stern, fr., S

Worth noting: The Skyhawks had their first losing season in the KRC after going 20-4 in conference matches over the previous two seasons, including a KRC championship in 2018. Johnsburg ended its season with a 25-15, 25-21 loss to St. Edward in the Class 2A Marian Central Regional semifinals. … Both of Johnsburg’s all-conference selections from last year, Makayla Huff and Hayley Schmidt, graduated. … Bruns takes over an entirely new coaching staff and replaces Jackie Barnette, who led the Skyhawks for the past four seasons. … “Our motto this season is to focus on the little things,” Bruns said. “This season is not about wins for us. It is about building a new system and getting the girls playing time. ... As coaches, we are grateful and excited to have the girls back in the gym and working hard.”

Marengo

Coach: Rayne Hoey (first season)

Last season’s record: 21-12-4, 6-4 KRC (third)

Top returners: Lilly Johnson, sr., S; Alexis Kunde, sr., OH; Jenna Turner, sr., DS-L; Bella Simonini, jr., RS-OPP; Mia Lulinski, so., MB; Abby Rohe, jr., MB

Key newcomers: Gianna Almeida, so., OH-OPP-DS; Michaela Almeida, so., OH; Alexandra Brackmann, so., DS-L; Courtney Jasinski, jr., DS-L; Alexa Stallings, sr., DS-L; Beth Webster, jr., MB-OPP

Worth noting: Hoey takes over for Meg Dobbertin, who led the Indians for 14 seasons. … Marengo ended its season with a 25-21, 25-19 loss to Rockford Lutheran in the Class 2A Winnebago Regional final. The Indians recorded 20 wins for the first time since going 20-12 in 2005. … Marengo lost Lillie Simons (D-I South Alabama), an All-Area second-team pick, to graduation. She set the school’s single-season kills record last year with 280, adding 67 blocks and 41 aces, and holds the program’s career record in both kills and blocks. Simons and libero Katelyn Jeschke, who also graduated, were the team’s only two All-KRC picks. Johnson and Kunde were starters on Marengo’s KRC championship basketball team. … “As a new coach, I’m excited to get started this season,” Hoey said. “We’ve been working hard throughout the summer, fall and spring, and we’re ready. We are thankful for the ability to play and the ability to show our progress throughout the year.”

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Mike Kamholz (first season)

Last season’s record: 8-27, 3-7 KRC (fifth)

Top returners: Jesse Klicker, sr., S; Jordyn Duncan, sr., OH

Key newcomers: Maggie Uhwat, fr., OH;. Kaitlyn Lehecka, so., OPP

Worth noting: The Rockets lost to Marian Central, 30-28, 22-25, 25-18, in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal. … Klicker and Duncan were named to the All-KRC team as juniors. Duncan will play next year at D-II Bluefield State College. … Kamholz takes over for Kaycee Kaywood, who coached the Rockets for 12 seasons, which included a Class 3A state tournament runner-up finish and 35-7 record in 2012. … “Like many schools, this team has had to be extremely flexible as many of our players play multiple sports,” Kamholz said. “The girls work hard and strive for excellence in whatever they do. We have some very strong players at the pins and a setter that has a great attitude. I feel that our offense will be one of our greatest strengths.”

Woodstock

Coach: Jill Rokosik (third season)

Last season’s record: 30-7, 10-0 KRC (first), KRC champion

Top returners: Maddie Moan, jr., OH; Ella Wicker, so., L; Meghan Nixon; sr., OH; Maddie Wienke, jr., S

Key newcomers: Allie Wienke, so., RS; Hallie Steponaitis, fr., OH-RS

Worth noting: Woodstock had a memorable season, setting the team record for wins in a season and going undefeated in the KRC to win the conference championship, its first conference title since 1986. … The Blue Streaks will be without 2019 KRC Player of the Year Hanna Berry, now at D-II Truman State. Berry had 361 kills, 193 digs and 50 aces for Woodstock. … Ella Wicker was one of five All-KRC picks for the Blue Streaks, including Berry, Sophie Wicker, Lauryn Hahn and Emma Brand. Woodstock lost eight players to graduation overall. … Moan is committed to D-I Wisconsin-Milwaukee… “We are pretty young, but we have a great group of hardworking girls,” Rokosik said. “Losing eight seniors will take some adjustments but there are girls eager to the fill roles that were vacated.”

Woodstock North

Coach: Eric Schulze (fourth season)

Last season’s record: 20-18, 7-3 KRC (second), Class 3A regional champion

Top returners: Kylie Schulze, so., S; Alyssa Wickersheim, jr., OH; Cadence Klasek, jr., MB; Trinity Tillman, jr., MB; Kamryn Butenschoen, jr., MB; Avery Crabill, jr., OPP; Kaitlyn Wickersheim, so., OH

Key newcomers: Madison Miller, jr., L; Hannah Blaksley, jr., OPP; Faith Eddy, jr., OH; Makenzie Buss, so., L

Worth noting: The Thunder return perhaps the most experience in the KRC but will be without two-time All-Area first-team selection Brooke Amann (D-I South Dakota State), who led all area players for the third straight year with 457 kills, along with 326 digs and 52 aces. She finished with a program-record 1,356 kills. … North, which won 20 or more matches for the third straight year, captured back-to-back regional titles by upsetting crosstown rival Woodstock, 18-25, 25-17, 25-18, in the Class 3A Woodstock Regional final. North’s season came to an end with a loss to Crystal Lake Central in the sectional semifinals. … Kylie Schulze set the team record with 732 assists and was second in the area to only Huntley’s Taylor Jakubowski. She has a good chance at passing 1,000 career assists as a sophomore, even in a shortened season. … Alyssa Wickersheim has 330 career kills and is closing in on second most in program history. She and Kylie Schulze earned All-KRC honors last year. … “Our experience is our biggest strength,” Eric Schulze said. “Another is our players’ ability to play six rotations.”

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Marian Central

Coach: Robin Secrist (first season)

Last season’s record: 12-23, 0-7 ESCC (eighth)

Top returners: Grace Holian, sr., OH; Grace Kramer, sr., OH; Valle Leggett, jr., RS; Ingrid Reyes, sr., L

Key newcomers: Kaitlyn Mullen, so., S; Ella Conlon, fr., MB

Worth noting: Secrist enters her first season as varsity coach after Patty Brummond led the Hurricanes for the past three seasons. … Marian lost to Harvest Christian, 9-25, 25-10, 25-15, in the Class 2A regional semifinals to end its season. … The Hurricanes return their starting libero (Reyes), top two attackers (Holian, Kramer) and seven seniors in total, which should help them compete in the challenging ESCC, which features defending 4A state champion Benet (41-1), Marist (39-3), Carmel (33-6) and Nazareth (28-8). Secrist sees a promising group of underclassmen being main contributors this season. … “This group is special,” Secrist said. “I think they have the spark to give these teams a run for their money. This team has a fire that you can’t teach or force. They are ready to do whatever it takes to fight and leave their mark during this very unusual season.”