Girls Volleyball news
With a new coach coming in, the players on the volleyball team are thrilled with how summer drills have gone in advance of the fall season.
Ottawa’s Olivia Evola has signed on to continue her education and volleyball career at Benedictine University.
Sophia Pence has signed to continue her education at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield and her volleyball career at the NJCAA level with the Loggers.
Ottawa’s Reese Burgwald has signed on to continue her education and volleyball career at Sauk Valley Community College.
Doug Wilbrandt, who has more than 40 years of coaching experience, was recently hired as the new volleyball coach at Marian Central.
Alex Muschong, a 2017 Woodstock graduate, was recently announced as the new head volleyball coach at McHenry.
Seneca's Faith Baker has signed on to continue her education at Lakeland University.
Lynney Tarnow, a 6-foot-5 rising junior middle hitter for defending state runner-up Benet and a Downers Grove resident, has made her verbal commitment to NCAA Division I powerhouse Wisconsin.
Belusa Volleyball club won the 18 Classic division title at the AAU national championships as Joliet West's Gabby Piazza was named MVP and Minooka's Ava Valentin was an all-tournament selection
Woodstock senior Hallie Steponaitis put together one of the area's most dominant seasons in volleyball with 565 kills and earned her third state medal in track and field. Steponaitis, who will play volleyball at Iowa, is the 2024 Northwest Herald Female Athlete of the Year.
At 5-foot-9, Richmond-Burton’s Elissa Furlan was unsure if it was realistic for her to play college volleyball at her natural position at outside hitter. Last week, the Rockets junior announced her commitment to NCAA Division-I Wright State University.
Woodstock's Julia Laidig took on an unfamiliar role for the Blue Streaks as the team's starting setter in the fall and set the team record for single-season assists. That versatility helped Laidig's recruitment. She recently announced her commitment to Southern Illinois.
Keith Foster said it was a hard decision, but the longtime volleyball coach at Genoa-Kingston who won a state title with the Cogs in 2022 left the program to coach at DeKalb.
Geneva placed third in Class 2A, St. Charles East was fourth in Class 3A, Burlington Central was sixth in 2A and St. Charles North seventh in 2A at the State Dance Championships in Bloomington.
Stefanie Otto has been Prairie Ridge's only volleyball coach since the school opened in 1997, recording more than 700 wins in her coaching career. After 27 seasons at Prairie Ridge, Otto will retire at the end of the school year.
Brooke Schwall of Joliet West is a modern-day rarity, playing and excelling in volleyball, basketball and softball for the Tigers. “To do what she does is amazing,” West basketball coach Bre Blackmon said.
The La Salle-Peru volleyball team recently handed out awards for the 2023 season.
Here are 30 of the best girls volleyball players across The Times coverage area, The Times All-Area Girls Volleyball Team.
Cheyenne Joachim’s all-around game helped this year’s Ottawa Pirates to a historically successful season, and also carried her to the honor of the 2023 Times Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
Meet the 2023 Sauk Valley Media All-Area girls volleyball team.
For her record-setting senior season that led the Rock Falls Rockets to a third-place finish at the Class 2A State Finals, outside hitter Claire Bickett is the 2023 Sauk Valley Media Volleyball Player of the Year.
For guiding the Rock Falls Rockets to a third-place finish at the Class 2A State Finals in the final season of her 26-year tenure, Sheila Pillars is the 2023 Sauk Valley Media Volleyball Coach of the Year.
The area's best on the volleyball court are highlighted
Ava Grevengoed became the first Joliet West player to reach 1,000 kills in a career and led the Tigers to back-to-back supersectional appearances
Meet the 2023 Northwest Herald All-Area girls volleyball team.
Woodstock third-year coach Jimmy Neill helped lead the Blue Streaks to a memorable season, including the program's first regional title since 2006. Neill is the 2023 Northwest Herald Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Woodstock senior outside hitter Hallie Steponaitis had one of best offensive seasons in McHenry County history, recording 565 kills and leading the Blue Streaks to their first regional title since 2006. Steponaitis is the 2023 Northwest Herald Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
Willowbrook senior and Marquette recruit Calli Kenny, who capped off a record-setting career by leading the Warriors to their first state tournament appearance and third place in Class 4A, is the Suburban Life girls volleyball Player of the Year.
Here is the 2023 Suburban Life newspaper All-Area girls volleyball team.
Oswego junior and Long Beach State recruit Sidney Hamaker, who led the Panthers to a program-record 29 wins and Oswego's first regional title since 2011, and smashed the single-season kill record, is the Record Newspapers girls volleyball Player of the Year.
Led by Player of the Year Sidney Hamaker, here is the Record Newspapers all-area girls volleyball team.
Janelle Allen, a Marian Central graduate, is off to a strong start for the Holy Cross women's basketball team and leads the Crusaders in scoring and rebounding. And more in this week's On Campus column.
Led by Player of the Year Addy Horner, here is the 2023 Kane County Chronicle all area girls volleyball team.
Junior setter and Wisconsin recruit Addy Horner, one of the prominent standouts for St. Francis' back-to-back state championship teams, is the 2023 Kane County Chronicle girls volleyball Player of the Year.
A look at the area's volleyball stat leaders in the NewsTribune area for the 2023 season.
A look at the top volleyball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2023 season.
Putnam County senior Maggie Richetta is the 2023 NewsTribune Volleyball Player of the Year after putting together a dominating all-around season.
Alayna Pierce said the No. 1 goal of her and her Genoa-Kingston teammates was to leave behind a legacy. After two regional crowns, two conference crowns, pretty much all the school records and a state championship, Pierce said it feels good knowing that legacy is cemented.
From big smashers and the setters that get them the ball to defensive dynamos sacrificing their bodies for a dig, we look at the top volleyball players in the area.
Woodstock North junior Devynn Schulze went on an official visit to Illinois State in Normal on Nov. 3 and left with a spot on the Redbirds' 2025 team. Schulze, a libero, led the Thunder this past season with 298 digs.
Mother McAuley added to its storied legacy, capturing its record 17th state championship late Saturday night with a three-set victory over Benet in the Class 4A state final at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
When you’ve been at one program for 26 years, you’re bound to coach members of the same family. For Rock Falls volleyball coach Sheila Pillars, the family ties run deep. This year’s team has six players who had older sisters play, and two more sisters playing together.
Calli Kenny put on a final dominating show with 17 kills, 15 assists, eight digs and three aces to power Willowbrook to a 25-20, 23-25, 25-17 win over Barrington in the third-place game.
Willowbrook faced Barrington in the Class 4A girls volleyball consolation game in Bloomington on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
“Who would’ve thought in the 26th season, the last one would’ve been the first time she’d gone to state? I think it was meant to be.” Rock Falls take third at state in retiring coach's last game.
Down 18-14 in the third set, St. Francis stormed back Saturday in the Class 3A state championship to knock off Lincoln for its second straight state title.
Rock Falls rallied from a big first-set deficit and bounced back from a second-set loss to defeat Carmi-White County and secure third place at the IHSA Class 2A girls volleyball state finals at CEFCU Arena in Normal on Saturday.
St. Francis girls volleyball faced Lincoln in the Class 3A state championship in Bloomington on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Breese Mater Dei relied on its length and defense to end IC Catholic’s dream of a state championship Saturday in the Class 2A state-title match.
Benet was pushed to the limit but pulled away in the third set for a thrilling victory over upstart Willowbrook on Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal.