Benet
Last year: 37-3, Lost to St. Francis in Class 4A supersectional.
Outlook: Tiffany Clark, the Naperville Sun Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, has moved on to Michigan but the cupboard is hardly bare. Senior setter Sara Nielsen, a Minnesota recruit, and Missouri State-bound senior right-side hitter Veronica Snelling are three-year starters. Minnesota-bound libero Lauren Barnes and outsides Gretchen Rudel and Lilly Johnson also return.
Metea Valley
Last year: 19-16, Lost to Waubonsie Valley in 4A regional semifinal.
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Outlook: Georgia Tech-bound junior outside Mikaila Dowd and libero Claire Rothenberger, who set a program dig record as a junior, lead the Mustangs team. Other starting returnees include defensive specialist Maggie Petersen, who’s committed to Army, setters Miranda Cada and Sydney Aitchison and middle Kailee Bass.
Naperville Central
Last year: 11-25, lost to St. Charles East in 4A regional semifinal.
Outlook: Junior outside Sarah Schank, going into her third varsity season, leads a group of five returning starters. Others include outsides Molly Stock and Maddie Goblet, middle Olivia Richter, right-side hitter Johana Havenaar. Hannah O’Connor, a 6-foot-3 junior middle, is a newcomer to watch.
Naperville North
Last year: 28-11, lost to St. Francis in 4A sectional final.
Outlook: The Huskies, fresh off a big playoff run, are poised to maintain that momentum behind returning outsides Ariana Budnik and Sarah Kushner. Senior libero Rachel Shuty is a three-year letterwinner who provides leadership. Other returners include junior middle Sarah Wastek and sophomore right-side Kayla Griesbach.
Neuqua Valley
Last year: 29-9, lost to St. Francis in 4A sectional semifinal.
Outlook: Wichita State recruit Kora Kauling and Indiana-bound libero Nora Meehan lead six returners from a Wildcats team that set a program record for wins and took first regional title. Also returning are senior outside Lauren Coffman, senior middle Cailynn Berg, junior Maria Mayhew, who moves to setter, and junior Rachel Pu.
Waubonsie Valley
Last year: 23-11, Lost to St. Charles North in 4A regional final.
Outlook: Kari Galen, a 2009 Waubonsie graduate who played in college at Bowling Green, inherits a young team that graduated four starters. Sophomore setter Cadyn Linden ran a 6-2 offense last year and sophomore outside Cassie Chinn also played up as a freshman. Waubonsie replaces most of its hitters, but senior Briana Webb is back at outside.
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.