Oswego will rely on a pair of experienced seniors while also welcoming aboard a transfer from Class 4A state powerhouse Benet.
Top 10 Teams
1. Oswego (24-13): Senior outside hitter Hannah Herrick (Dayton) will be one of the area’s top players. Senior libero Amelia Mosley (Illinois College) also returns. The Panthers, who graduated seven seniors, got a boost when sophomore middle hitter Hadley Engler transferred from Benet.
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2. Geneva (22-17): The Vikings won their first regional title since 2016 behind junior outside hitter Emma Peterson (Dayton), who had 378 kills last season. She’s joined by Zori Malone on the outside. Senior setter Ally Stevenson (St. Norbert) is back to run the show.
3. Burlington Central (20-16): Ainsley Wilson (Dayton), a 6-foot-4 junior middle hitter, anchors things after the Rockets reached the sectional final for the first time since 2013 and now move up to Class 4A. Track star LaRaiya Cunningham-Duncan holds down the outside.
4. South Elgin (24-10): Sophomore outside hitter Camryn Boyd, one of the area’s most explosive players, looks to build on an impressive debut that saw her produce 291 kills and 178 digs. Seniors Brianna Decheva and Kate Fenner also return, with Decheva moving from the outside to libero.
5. St. Charles North (34-4): Senior libero Addison Kashuba is a headliner for the North Stars, who graduated several Division I players including Haley Burgdorf, the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year who’s now at Penn State. Brynn Hopkins and Ellie Sutter look to step into starring roles.
6. Newark (32-5): The Norsemen are looking to make a deep run in 1A, with the Carlson sisters leading the way. Junior outside hitter Rylie Carlson and sophomore middle hitter Zoey Carlson will team up with senior setter Taylor Jeffers, who has 1,158 career assists. All three were all-state picks last year.
7. Waubonsie Valley (22-16): The Warriors graduated four seniors, but they’re still loaded in the front row. Anna Axelsen, Belle Black, Addilyn Candrian and Zoe Kraslen all return to the front line for a team that lost in the sectional semifinals to Lockport, which ended up taking third in Class 3A.
8. Dundee-Crown (18-18): The Chargers, who improved from 10 wins in 2024, look to make a similar jump and return serious firepower in junior outside hitters Erin Bruce (262 kills) and Kate Graham (164 kills). Junior setter Tori Brents comes off an impressive year with 476 assists.
9. Yorkville (19-18): Despite graduating six seniors, the Foxes return veteran group. The leader is junior middle hitter Sophia Blank (Loyola). Camryn Carter, a two-time all-conference pick, led the team in kills. Junior setter Emma Martin makes the move to varsity.
10. Aurora Christian (28-5): The Eagles graduated six seniors off a team that won its first regional title since 2017. The only senior returnees are outside hitter Katie Maddox and middle hitter Chloe Meyer. Setter Mary Kendall and libero Madison Wagner, both juniors, also are back.
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The 25 Players to Watch
• Sophia Blank, Yorkville, junior, middle hitter.
• Camryn Boyd, South Elgin, sophomore, outside hitter.
• Tori Brents, Dundee-Crown, junior, setter.
• Erin Bruce, Dundee-Crown, junior, outside hitter.
• Rylie Carlson, Newark, junior, outside hitter.
• Zoe Carlson, Newark, sophomore, middle hitter.
• Camryn Carter, Yorkville, senior, outside hitter.
• Scarlett Dickerson, St. Charles East, senior, outside hitter.
• Hadley Engler, Oswego, sophomore, middle hitter.
• Layla Fredrick, Hampshire, sophomore, middle hitter.
• Hannah Herrick, Oswego, senior, outside hitter.
• Taylor Jeffers, Newark, senior, setter.
• Addison Kashuba, St. Charles North, senior, libero.
• Zori Malone, Geneva, junior, outside hitter.
• Natalie Mitchell, West Aurora, senior, outside hitter.
• Amelia Mosley, Oswego, senior, libero.
• Camila Nunez, Plano, senior, setter/right side hitter.
• Emma Peterson, Geneva, junior, outside hitter.
• Morgan Raiser, Batavia, senior, setter/right side hitter.
• Natalie Remsen, Kaneland, sophomore, middle hitter.
• Ally Stevenson, Geneva, senior, setter.
• Katie Wagner, Metea Valley, junior, outside hitter.
• Ainsley Wilson, Burlington Central, senior, middle hitter.
• Sophie Wojtkiewicz, Batavia, sophomore, outside hitter.
• Natalie Zepeda, Yorkville, senior, libero.