December 25, 2024
Girls Volleyball

High school girls volleyball: Lyons Township hit by graduation, Riverside Brookfield has pieces in place

By DAN SANTAROMITA
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Lyons Township's Kelsey Sheehan (right) bumps the ball on Sept. 4 as libero Madisen Babich looks on in a match against Sandburg. The Lions graduated some key players from last year's team but expect to remain competitive this season. (Bill Ackerman)

The high girls volleyball season culminates at the state finals on Nov. 14, and teams from the across the state harbor dreams of reaching Redbird Arena in Normal to play for a title. Here's the outlook this season for Lyons Township, Riverside Brookfield and other area teams.

Fenwick Friars

Coach: Kathleen O'Laughlin

Conference: Girls Catholic Athletic Conference

Top players

Kerry Best sr. MB/RS

Kathleen Carpenter sr. RS

Mary Marzo jr. S

Annie Ryan sr. OH

Annie Trucco sr. MB

Outlook: The Friars are led by all-conference returning hitter Kathleen Carpenter, but they also have a number of other varsity returners.

Seniors Annie Ryan, Annie Trucco and Kerry Best and junior setter Mary Marzo have multiple years of varsity experience. Carpenter, Trucco and Ryan, all hitters, are four-year varsity players.

That group will help lead the team into a conference move. Fenwick was in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, but is now in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference. After non-conference wins against Willowbrook (25-18, 25-13) and Addison Trail (17-25, 25-18, 25-21) the Friars lost the GCAC opener against St. Ignatius 22-25, 25-20, 21-25 on Sept. 1.

Lyons Township Lions

Coach: Joann Pyritz

Conference: West Suburban Silver

Top players

Madisen Babich sr. L

Shalyn Brady sr. OH

Marina Gonzalez sr. S

Meg Kern sr. S

Outlook: The talent Lyons Township lost from last year is staggering, although LT usually doesn't drop off too far in girls volleyball.

Four seniors on last year's 34-5 sectional finalist team committed to Division I programs. Among those, setter Hannah Juley was a first-team All-American, Cori Hansen graduated as the program's all-time blocks leader and Toni Saracco holds both the single season and career digs records.

It's safe to say there's going to be a much different look this season. Seniors Madisen Babich and Marina Gonzalez have multiple years of experience. Babich will lead the defense and Gonzalez moves back to setter, where she played when Juley was hurt during her junior year. Shalyn Grady will likely lead the attack after seeing some time as a junior. Senior returner Meg Kern will also play at setter.

Morton Mustangs

Coach: Jeanine Yepez

Conference: West Suburban Gold

Top players

Name Year Pos.

Gianna Cairo jr. L

Maria Capone sr. OH

Michelle Kosinski jr. MH

Tamera Mosley jr. MH

Claudia Rodriguez jr. S/RS

Outlook: The Mustangs opened with wins against Argo (25-10, 25-13) and Elmwood Park (25-19, 23-25, 25-18), which is a strong start despite the youth on the team.

Morton has just two seniors on the roster, and of the two only outside hitter Maria Capone is a regular starter. The rest of the team is largely juniors with sophomore Nely Baeza and freshman Maria Gutierrez also on the varsity roster.

"We are young," coach Jeanine Yepez said. "I am looking to gain the experience for next season and work on the girls' communication and leadership skills. I have seen some good things so far this season. We have been playing well."

Nazareth Roadrunners

Coaches: Wayne Saunders

Conference: East Suburban Catholic

Top players

Karli Chambers sr. OH

Emma Decker sr. S

Maeve Grimes sr. S

Troi Sharpp sr. OH

Outlook: The Roadrunners only had three seniors on last year's regional winning team, but they were all key seniors.

Emma Decker, a two-time all-conference setter and Villanova recruit, leads the way along with Ferris State recruit and fellow setter Maeve Grimes. Seniors Karli Chambers and Troi Sharpp are returners at outside hitter.

Four sophomores are on the roster, including returners Kelsi Chambers (outside hitter) and Bridget Holly (setter/defensive specialist).

"We are young in the middle, but we have a lot of experience in the other positions," coach Wayne Saunders said. "We expect to be competitive in the conference and hope to go farther in the playoffs than we did last year."

Riverside Brookfield Bulldogs

Coach: Dan Bonarigo

Conference: Metro Suburban West

Top players

Selena Anaya sr. L

Gia Cinkay jr. MH

Olivia Gyssler sr. S

Nicole LaBelle sr. MH

Dana Rettke jr. OH

Outlook: The Bulldogs have a number of key players back from last year's 23-14 team. RB has won at least 20 matches each of the past four years and looks primed to make it five years in a row.

Junior Dana Rettke's 6-foot-8 frame makes her an imposing threat at the net. Last year she set the school record for blocks in a season with 140. She also led the team with 344 kills and 43 aces. This year she moves to outside hitter from middle.

Senior Nicole LaBelle is also back as a target for returning setter Olivia Gyssler. Senior Selena Anaya moves over from defensive specialist to libero following the graduation of standout Natalia Gheewala.

Two more juniors, setter Maria Gonzales and middle Gia Cinkay, are varsity returners. Four sophomores, Michelle Cejka, Vasara Kulbis, Maya Diaz and Claire Swiatek, are also up on the varsity roster.

After losing against Naperville North 17-25, 17-25 in the season opener on Aug. 25, the Bulldogs rebounded with a conference win against Wheaton Academy (29-27, 17-25, 26-24) on Sept. 3. Nerija Cuplinskas, an outside hitter, had 15 digs against the Warriors.