Top 10 Teams
1. Mother McAuley (15-2): Mighty Macs will be strong at the net with big-time recruit in sophomore Ellie White at outside hitter and 6-foot-1 senior Heather Jiricek in the middle. Senior setter Caroline Macander also is aggressive offensively. Defense is led by Northwestern recruit Gigi Navarrete, a junior libero.
2. Marist (8-4): If junior outside Kamryn Chaney continues to climb potential ladder, RedHawks will be right there with McAuley as a Class 4A state title contender. Senior Mary Clare Brusek (Western Michigan) is stepping into a lead role at the net, while senior libero Chloe Arteaga is rock solid on defense. Junior right-side hitter Elise Ward is in her third varsity season.
3. Joliet Catholic (11-8): New coach Kisha Cameron has bevy of senior returnees. Angels are loaded with height in 6-2 outside Crystal Galaviz, 6-0 outside/right side Alexis Mines, 6-0 setter/right side Lily Ray, 5-11 setter/right side Samantha Horn and 5-11 outside Riley Hungate. Junior Lauren Cardwell will anchor the defense.
4. Lockport (9-3): Porters graduated just two players from successful spring team. Senior setter Cameryn DeBlecourt will have plenty of options in senior outside Eileen Ferriter, 6-1 senior middle Christian Bouie and junior outsides/right sides Aleksa Simkus and Grace Juergens. Look for 6-0 freshman Jenna Kolosta to emerge in the middle.
5. Sandburg (10-5): Eagles took a big loss with setter Bianca May (Illinois) suffering an ACL injury. But senior outsides Sidona Rao and Gabby Gasior will bring big-time offense, 6-1 senior Ally Boertlein will help on the right side, and 5-11 senior Sydney Vrdolyak will fill the middle.
6. Lincoln-Way East (13-0): With five starters graduating from an unbeaten spring team, coach Kris Fiore is looking for a new lineup. Ava Nepkin, a 6-2 junior outside, is ready to step forward and showcase her experience and leadership. Junior outside/right side Jada James is another returnee. Watch out for 6-5 sophomore Hayven Smith.
7. Chicago Christian (14-4): Knights can make a long run in 2A behind the sister combination of 6-3 senior Logan Grevengoed and 6-2 junior Delanie Grevengoed. Logan is a Western Kentucky commit. Other returnees include junior setter Keely Colyer and senior outside/libero Olivia Ingelse.
8. Marian Catholic (8-1): New coach Rich Panitch inherits a fair amount of returning players, but only one starter. Senior outside Sara Johnson is an exceptionally good one, however. Among the others who saw floor time in the spring include junior libero Milana Popovic, senior outside Lexi Jackson, senior setter Erica Sledge and senior middle Nyah Moustakas.
9. Andrew (5-7): Katie DeHaan, a high-energy, four-year varsity regular, returns at setter to run the offense. One of her favorite targets will be 6-0 junior middle Amber Gahse. Junior libero Brooke Haggerty will lead the defense.
10. Richards (13-1): Senior outside Tara Glynn, one of the top hitters in the Southland during the spring, will keep Bulldogs in the hunt for another conference title. She’ll have offensive help from senior outside/middle Abby Kenzinger. Junior middle/right side Julia Niemeyer is a newcomer to watch.
25 Players to Watch
Chloe Arteaga, Marist, senior, libero; Ally Boertlein, Sandburg, senior, right-side hitter; Christian Bouie, Lockport, senior, middle hitter; Mary Clare Brusek, Marist, senior, middle; Kamryn Chaney, Marist, junior, outside; Cameryn DeBlecourt, Lockport, senior, setter; Katie DeHaan, Andrew, senior, setter; Crystal Galaviz, Joliet Catholic, senior, outside; Tara Glynn, Richards, senior, outside; Delanie Grevengoed, Chicago Christian, junior, outside/right side; Logan Grevengoed, Chicago Christian, senior, outside/right side; Brooke Haggerty, Andrew, junior, libero; Jasmine Heyward, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, outside; Riley Hungate, Joliet Catholic, senior, outside; Ryanne Jasica, St. Laurence, junior, outside; Sara Johnson, Marian Catholic, senior, outside; Amayah Jones, De La Salle, senior, middle; Caroline Macander, Mother McAuley, senior, setter; Alexis Mines, Joliet Catholic, senior, outside/right side; Gigi Navarrete, Mother McAuley, junior, libero; Ava Nepkin, Lincoln-Way East, junior, outside; Sidona Rao, Sandburg, senior, outside; Leah Rizzo, Shepard, senior, outside/setter; Grace Ulatowski, Lemont, junior, outside; Ellie White, Mother McAuley, sophomore, outside.