Girls Volleyball Capsules

FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE

VALLEY DIVISION

Cary-Grove

Coach: Patti Langanis, 13th season

Last season’s finish: 29-9 overall, 10-0 FVC Valley

Top returners: Danielle Smith, sr., OH; Breanna Smith, sr., MB; Erin Wahl, sr., L; Jamie Kuhl, sr., MB; Abbey Heredia, soph., S; Allison Straumann, jr., OH

Key newcomers: Tori Sandstrom, jr., MB; Kelly Lamberti, fr., OH

Something to know: Langanis says this team is a talented squad with great depth at every position. She figures it’s one of the most well-rounded teams Langanis has coached.

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Laura Jensen, 11th season

Last season’s finish: 7-3 FVC Valley

Top returners: Erin Johnson, jr., MH; Morgan Kilberger, sr., RSH; Katie Trayser, jr, OH

Key newcomers: Jordan Guida, jr., S; Ali Meyers, sr., DS

Something to know: Jensen’s team has a lot of chemistry with core players getting stronger every year. Passing might be a weakness because the Gators aren’t very tall, but Jensen says a lot of the potential kinks can be worked through.

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Tracy Williams, 13th season

Last season’s finish: 24-16 overall, 4-6 FVC Valley

Top returners: Amanda Lutzow, sr., OH; Kathleen Collingbourne, sr., OH; Alex Thompson, sr., MB; Stephanie Thorson, jr., MB

Key newcomers: Kelsi Cook, jr., RSH; Katie Cutinello, soph., S, Tara Muscat, sr., L

Something to know: Because Cutinello is new to varsity, setting might be an issue early, but Williams is certain the athletic and coachable Cutinello will grasp her new role quickly. Williams is expecting her squad to be filled with powerful hitters and shouldn’t lack for depth in many positions.

Jacobs

Coach: Lisa Dwyer, third season

Last season’s finish: 20-17 overall, 3-7 FVC Valley

Top returners: Lauren Pigatto, jr., MH; Amy Cavanaugh, RSH, jr.; Erica Liss, jr., S; Carly Schwabe, jr, S/DS; Sammie Schwabe, jr., DS; Brittaney Mascola, sr., L.

Key newcomers: Stacie Weinert, jr., OH; Keri Bultman, jr., MH; Sam Vojtsek, jr., OH.

Something to know: Dwyer’s team’s biggest strength will be its defense. She’s returning a young, but experienced, squad. The team will be junior-laden but was tested last season and should be much improved.

Woodstock

Coach: Jeff Kaufmann, eighth season

Last season’s finish: 28-10 overall, 6-4 FVC Valley

Top returners: Breanna Benda, sr., OH; Sarah Drennen, sr., OH; Becky Stoltz, sr., MH; Sarah Labaz, sr., L; Mary Sugden, jr., MH.

Key newcomers: Arielle Penza, jr., S; Jackie Weith, sr., RSH

Something to know: All of Kaufmann’s top returners are three-year varsity players with a lot of experience. The key for the Blue Streaks will be staying consistent.

FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE

FOX DIVISION

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Doug Blundy, 24th season

Last season’s finish: 35-3 overall, 9-1 FVC Fox

Top returners: Kelly Farrell, sr., S; Carly Hayes, sr., OH; Kathryn Crystal, sr., MH; Rachael Thornquist, sr., MH; Jillian Henneman, sr., DS; Paige Economos, sr., DS; Kelly Friel, sr., OH; Stephanie Dunkel, sr., S/DS; Cori Cooper, jr., RSH; Lindsay Anderson, so., MH; Sam Johnson, jr., MH; Julie Jeziorowski, so., DS

Something to know: Bludy returns nine of his 11 top players from last year’s three-loss team. Of those nine, eight are seniors with a lot of varsity experience. Blundy expects the Tigers to be good, provided everyone stays healthy.

Grayslake Central

Coach: Jason Janczak, second season

Last season’s finish: 9-24 overall, 2-8 FVC Fox

Top returners: Shannopn Curtis, jr., OH; Tory Dohn, jr., MH

Key newcomers: Anna Dlesk, jr., MH; Bri Anderson, sr., OH

Something to know: Janczak said his team’s attitude this year is much improved, and he’s seen a more driven and serious side to them that perhaps lacked at times last year. The Rams had a strong, summer and Janczak said they know what it takes “to play volleyball at the higher level.”

Grayslake North

Coach: Nikki Kirchway, second season

Last season’s finish: 5-27 overall, 0-10 FVC Fox

Top returners: Megan Falk, sr., OH; Elizabeth Phillips, sr., RSH; Alex Lowry, sr., MH

Key newcomers: Taylor York, jr., RSH; Rosey Vergara, jr., DS

Something to know: The Knights are simply grateful to have seniors in the program and have the extra leadership this year that they lacked last season. Defensively the Knights should be solid, but there are some offensive keys Kirchway and the girls are still ironing out.

Huntley

Coach: Michelle Jakubowski, second season

Last season’s finish: 21-18 overall, 6-4 FVC Fox

Top returners: Krissy Bergquist, sr., OH; Taylor Karns, sr., L; Allyson Stellmach, jr., RSH

Key newcomers: Toni Jaehnig, so., OH; Stephanie Aroworade, sr., MH; Amanda Carroll, so., S

Something to know: Jakubowski says she’s got a good mix of sophomores and upperclassmen, and the team’s chemistry is strong. The Red Raiders are serving well and hitting well, although defensively things are still coming around.

Johnsburg

Coach: Sue Feely, fifth season

Last season’s finish: 4-6 FVC Fox

Top returners: Sharon Freund, sr., OH; Michelle McDonald, sr., RSH; Anne Hindley, sr., MH

Key newcomers: Kelsey Nobilio, fr., L; Carly Schmitt, fr., RS/OH/MH

Something to know: Johnsburg’s team is changing, Feely said, and has “gotten down to basics”. The Skyhawks are focusing more on bonding with one another in the wake of teammate Sarah Kelly’s death last spring. “They are realizing the importance of being together and sharing this time in their lives together,” Feely said. “It’s a really different feeling than last year.”

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Stefanie Otto, 11th season

Last season’s finish: 31-8 overall, 9-1 FVC Fox

Top returners: Ashley Doherty, sr., MB; Sondra Parys, jr., MB; Taylor Brauneis, so., S; Meghan Gregus, sr., OH; Jessica Thompson, sr., L

Key newcomers: Jamie Damagio, jr., OH; Devyn Frank, jr.; Kari Rankin, sr.

Something to know: PR is starting to play well together and is having a lot of success keeping the ball alive, Otto said. The pride in the program has pushed the girls, Otto said, to stepping up and rising to meet that winning tradition.

Big Northern Conference East

Hampshire

Coach: Karen Liss, third season

Last season’s finish: 26-9 overall

Top returners: Jackie Clai, sr., MH; Amber Ladwig, sr., MH; Jenna Karkos, sr., OH; Jen Kondrat, sr., L; Amy Wehrs, sr., OH; Kara Wehrs, sr., S; Kim Kartheiser, sr., RSH

Key newcomers: Jackie Jeffries, jr., RSH; Cassie Dumoulin, sr., RS/MH

Something to know: The Whip-Purs are coming off a strong season and will feature a team heavy with seniors to lead the way. Liss is confident Hampshire will be at or near the top of the BNC East, but the Whip-Purs can’t take any team in the conference for granted. It also figures to be strong this year.

Harvard

Coach: Kelly Milborn, third season

Last season’s finish: 38-3 overall, third at the IHSA Class A State Tournament

Top returners: Megan Nolan, sr., OH;Stacey Weibner, sr., L; Karen Stricker, jr., DS

Key newcomers: Jenna Schultz, sr., MH; Erica Harrison, jr., MH; Brandy Isom, sr., S

Something to know: Harvard lost much of the nucleus that took the Hornets downstate and helped them finish third in Class A, but Milborn’s outside hitters, led by Nolan, should be strong. Milborn says the Hornets will be a good passing team, and, after the third-place state finish, the Hornets have all the motivation they need to make another postseason run.

Marengo

Coach: Meg Czysz, fifth season

Last season’s finish: 9-21 overall, fifth BNC East

Top returners: Melanie Zielke, jr., MH; Martin Brooks, sr., S; Ellen Borhart, sr., LSH

Something to know: Czysz said the team is full of heart, noting that the Indians might be able to win matches simply because of their no-quit attitude. The Indians return all but one starter.

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Edna Salazar, second season

Last season’s finish: 21-14 overall, fourth BNC East

Top returners: Danielle Oest, sr., L; Ariel Listbarger, jr., S/OH; Hailey Schleibinger, jr., OH

Key newcomers: Chloe Fiedler, fr., RSH; Tracy Holian, so., S

Something to know: While the Rockets won’t have as much experience as they have had in past years, Salazar is confident the group of girls she has is determined and hungers to learn. Salazar didn’t have to cut anyone this year. “The kids really want to be here,” she said.

Indian Trails Conference

Alden-Hebron

Coach: Naomie Kasper, second season

Top returners: Annlise Hanson, sr., MB; Jessalyn Fontana, jr., OH; Olivia Stephan, jr., MH; Jolene Fritsch, sr., OH

Something to know: The Giants are loaded on the outside and in the middle, and the team has been playing together for years, helping the cohesion. While there is plenty of experience, there still will be a few girls, Kasper said, who might have to get stronger as the season progresses.

Suburban Catholic Conference

Marian Central

Coach: Deb Rakers, ninth season

Last season’s finish: 30-8 overall, second SCC

Top returners: Amanda Steiger, sr., OH; Beth Steiger, sr., MB; Erin Broecker, sr., S

Key newcomers: Kim Bulaga, jr., OH; Kaitlin Thompson, jr., OH

Something to know: Rakers says her team is deep at every position, despite being heavy with juniors. The Hurricanes are likely to be successful in the SCC and are vying to finally take over the conference crown from perennial power St. Francis. “Our kids are strong and very driven,” Rakers said. “We’ll see how they handle the pressure of varsity and the fast-paced games.”

Note to readers: McHenry coach Jeff Brunstrum was not available for comment. McHenry’s capsule will be posted on McHenryCountySports.com in the “Preps 24/7” blog when it becomes available.

– Maureen Lynch

mlynch@nwnewsgroup.com