Friday, November 7, 2008 All-Area girls Daily Herald Section 4 Page 3

C1D7F12M12 Amanda Carroll Huntley Carly Sahagian Bartlett Huntley’s junior setter was the stabilizing force that helped All-Area roster Bartlett’s top weapon is one of the most feared hitters in a lineup consisting of three freshmen, a sophomore and one the and a sought-after college senior to jell into a Class 4A sectional finalist. She guided a Player School Pos. Yr. prospect. A two-time all-area selection, Sahagian can revamped lineup to Huntley’s first regional title since 2002 flat-out hit. She led the Hawks to 21 wins with 371 kills as Amanda Carroll Huntley S Jr. with 642 assists going into Thursday’s match. “She has just an outside hitter. “She’s something else, definitely impres- done an amazing job this year of growing as a setter, as a Jordan Guida Crystal Lake South S Sr. sive,” Bartlett coach Brandon Mueller said. “She’s a really leader and as a person all around,” Huntley coach Michelle hard worker in practice and it pays off. She’s definitely a Jakubowski said. “She’s done a nice job running this team Kristen Haggenjos St. Edward OH Sr. leader on the court. All the girls look up to her. She’s just a with the younger players we had out there. She keeps Emily Hayes Bartlett OH Sr. great all-around player who can do everything.” Sahagian everybody focused, pushes everybody and pushes herself.” A focused server, also recorded 146 digs, 42 blocks and 86 aces. Carroll entered the week with a team-best 51 aces and a serve percentage of Abbey Heredia Cary-Grove S Jr. Allyson Stellmach Huntley 83.7. She also made 114 digs, 19 solo blocks and has a .391 kill efficiency. Stephanie Holthus Burlington Central OH Jr. Jordan Guida Crystal Lake South The only senior in a starting lineup consisting predomi- Betsy Homan Streamwood MH Sr. nantly of underclassmen, the third-year varsity performer When situations get tense on the volleyball court, Erin Johnson Crystal Lake South MH Sr. led the way with her experience and authoritative presence the Gators’ even-keeled senior setter is like the calm at the net. The middle hitter was a key reason Huntley won eye of a hurricane, always on her game regardless Kelly Lamberti Cary-Grove OH So. its first regional title since 2002, and she entered Tuesday’s of the situation. “She doesn’t let the game get in her Kendall Martin Elgin OH So. sectional semifinal victory over Guilford with 132 kills, 37 head,” CL South coach Jorie Fontana said. “She’s solo blocks, 138 digs and a serving percentage of 94.1. “To so consistent. She knows what she’s going to do Lauren Pigatto Jacobs OH Sr. see her grow the last three years, to see where she is now each day and that’s what you get from her, which is from where she came from has been enjoyable to watch,” awesome because you don’t need your setter to be a Carly Sahagian Bartlett OH Jr. Huntley coach Michelle Jaubowski said. “I’m real excited for her to get that head case. She’s very strong mentally and gives you Allyson Stellmach Huntley MH Sr. regional championship in her last year.” the same thing every game, which is wonderful to get out of your setter.” Guida entered Thursday’s sectional final with 638 assists, 35 Allison Straumann Cary-Grove OH Sr. Allison Straumann Cary-Grove aces and 181 digs and 18 block kills. Stephanie Thorson Dundee-Crown OH Sr. After committing to Iowa over the summer, this athletic Kristen Haggenjos St. Edward outside hitter continued to improve in her season, finishing Katie Trayser Crystal Lake South OH Sr. with 215 kills, 217 digs and a serve-receive ratio of 2.21 A four-year varsity starter, Haggenjos became one of the *Molly Turk Burlington Central S Sr. (on a 3.0 scale). “Alli has been such a pleasant surprise top hitters and defenders in the area this year leading St. after starting volleyball so late in her career,” Cary-Grove Edward to a second-place finish in the Suburban Catholic Amy Wehrs Hampshire OH Jr. coach Patty Langanis said. “She was a student of the game Conference and into Thursday’s Class 2A sectional champi- Kara Wehrs Hampshire S Jr. from the beginning and has developed into such a well- onship. “I’ve had her for four years and she’s a great athlete rounded, positive player and a great teammate. She did so and a great kid. I’ve seen her grow from a 14-year old Katie Yohn St. Edward OH Sr. much of that on her own, which I though was amazing.” freshman and she’s an awesome person and an awesome volleyball player,” said Green Wave coach Jaime Walton. * — Honorary captain Stephanie Thorson Dundee-Crown Going into sectional play this week, the Loyola-bound Honorable mention Dundee-Crown’s best player was also it’s most flexible. This Haggenjos had team highs in kills (283), aces (34) and digs (178) as well two-time all-are pick started the season at outside hitter, as 36 solo blocks. She is a two-time team captain, two-time all-Suburban Cary-Grove — Kayla Klinger (Jr., OH), Tori Sandstrom (Sr., MH), a new position as a senior, moved back to the right side at Catholic Conference player and a two-time all-area selection. “It’s been a Hayley Shaw (Sr., DS) midseason and eventually played in the middle. No matter pleasure to coach her for four years and we’ll miss her,” Walton said. where she was positioned on the court, Thorson shined. Crystal Lake South — Caitlin Schumacher (Jr., OH) Emily Hayes Bartlett The third-year varsity starter finished the season with team Burlington Central — Taylor Scully (Jr., OH), Megan Zasada (Sr., RS) highs in kills (230) and aces (36) and contributed 327 digs. Committed to Division-I Radford, where she will hit from the “Stephanie was pretty versatile, which is what I liked about right side, this two-time all-area selection excelled in her Elgin — Ellen Holton (Sr., MH), Lindsey Morrow (Sr., L) her,” Dundee-Crown coach Tracy Williams said. “I could senior season as an outside hitter on the left side of the court, Hampshire — Cassie Dumoulin (Jr., MH), Chessa Osiecki (So, L) pretty much put her anywhere and she’d be successful. She led our team in notching 180 kills, 26 aces, 22 blocks and 136 digs for a team virtually every category. She was pretty much our go-to player and had a real that finished 21-12. “I thought she played really well,” Bartlett Huntley — Amy Dion (Fr., L), Ashley Smith (Fr., OH) nice three years for us.” coach Brandon Mueller said. “I asked her to step in and play Jacobs — Amy Cavanaugh (Sr., OH), Erica Liss (Sr., S), left side for us this year and she didn’t have a problem doing Katie Trayser Crystal Lake South that. She was definitely the vocal leader on the court and off Stacie Weinert (Sr., OH) When opposing teams concentrated too much on 6-foot-5 the court for our team. She rallies the girls together and she’s a Larkin — Jessica Harris (Sr., OH), Claire Sherman (Sr., L) teammate Erin Johnson in the middle, this two-time all-area really hard worker, just a wonderful girl to have on the team.” selection made them pay. She entered Thursday’s sectional St. Edward — Tess Barry (Sr., MH), Molly Kelly (Sr., MH) Abbey Heredia Cary-Grove final with 202 kills, 263 digs, 23 aces and 21 block kills. South Elgin — Tara Bradley (Sr., OH), Alyssa Krause (Jr., MH) However, the senior’s intangible strengths were also invaluable This junior setter, a two-time all-area pick, developed into to the Valley Division co-champion Gators: leadership and an a better all-around player in her third varsity season for Streamwood — Leslie Ramos (Sr., L) infectious positive attitude. “She’s the spunk when you need the Fox Valley (Valley) Conference co-champions. Heredia Westminster Christian — Jessica Benson (Jr., MH) the spunk,” Crystal Lake South coach Jorie Fontana said. “She finished the season with 212 digs, 55 kills and 22 aces to knows sometimes she has to be the kill leader and sometimes go with 670 assists, which made her Cary-Grove’s all-time Captain’s Honor Roll she has to be the No. 1 supporter making sure everybody else is picking up their assists leader with still another year to play. “The girl is just game when they’re falling apart. She’s that glue that keeps the team together.” amazing at times with the things she can do athletically,” 1995 — Jaime Johnson (CL South) Molly Turk Burlington Central Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. “We’ve had some 1996 — Stacy Barnett (CL South) great setters at Cary-Grove, but there’s something different Because her team lacked height this year, the four-year about Abbey. The plays she can pull off and her ability to think on the court 1997 — Vicki Lublow (Larkin) and Joni Melahn (Larkin) starter and two-time honorary captain of the Daily Herald improved so much from last year.” 1998 — Sarah Ahnen (Jacobs) and Nicole Kwasniewski (Elgin) all-area team added two rotations of hitting duties to her role as the Rockets’ primary setter. The result was 208 Stephanie Holthus Burlington Central 1999 — Marion Hansen (Huntley), Julie Malm (Larkin) spike kills and a .446 hitting efficiency heading into Tues- Committed to Northwestern, this athletic spiker with the and Jorie Miguel (Jacobs) day’s Class 3A sectional semifinal victory over previously near 10-foot approach touch outjumps her opponents and unbeaten LaSalle-Peru. This four-year varsity starter, who pounds the ball to the floor at unstoppable, sharp angles. 2000 — Erin Borhart (Huntley) and Kelly Hopkins (St. Edward) is committed to Northern Iowa, excelled yet again in her Entering sectional play this week, she had an area-best 2001 — Erin Borhart (Huntley) and Jamie Hastings (Cary-Grove) primary role as setter and team leader, setting 621 assists 438 spike kills in 770 attempts for a .503 hitting efficiency. to go with 184 digs, 78 blocks and 43 aces. “We needed someone to step A three-time all-area selection, the junior also had 60 2002 — Meredith Stach (St. Edward) and Aimee Knott (St. Edward) up and hit, and Molly filled that void for us,” Central coach Marv Leavitt said. blocks, 256 digs and 66 aces. Another statistic that best 2003 — Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire) “She just wanted to be part of a successful team.” demonstrates her all-around ability? Holthus made only 11 errors in 354 serve-receive attempts. “She just has this 2004 — Alyssa Groves (St. Edward) Amy Wehrs Hampshire desire to be the best,” Rockets coach Marv Leavitt said. “She has an inner 2005 — Hillary Haen (Prairie Ridge) and Paige Johnson (St. Edward) Along with twin sister Kara, Amy Wehrs was one of the main drive. She’s probably the most talented player I’ve ever coached.” forces behind Hampshire’s 35-2 season that continued 2006 — Hillary Haen (Prairie Ridge) and Paige Johnson (St. Edward) earlier this week in Class 3A sectional play. She entered Betsy Homan Streamwood sectional action with 402 kills, 62 aces, 245 digs and 38 The top returning player from Streamwood’s 20-win season 2007 ­— Katie Post (Streamwood) and Molly Turk (Burlington Central) stuff blocks. Is a three-time all-area player, joining Burlington in 2007, Homan was a force in the middle for the Sabres in 2008 — Molly Turk (Burlington Central) Central’s Stephanie Holthus as the only juniors who have her senior season, finishing with a team-best 229 kills and 63 been all-area since their freshman years. “She works so solo blocks. “She really had a great year for us,” Streamwood All-area selections and capsules hard in practice every day,” said Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse of Wehrs, who has committed, with her sister, to coach Kevin Kwon said. “She has been very consistent and by John Radtke and Jerry Fitzpatrick she played well all the way around this year. She was a leader Kansas. “She’s a powerful hitter but she also became a much smarter player the other girls really respected, just a great player for our this year who found different ways to score when the block was there.” program.” Homan also posted 118 digs and 22 aces. Kara Wehrs Hampshire Erin Johnson Crystal Lake South Kendall Martin Elgin When an injury forced Kara Wehrs to become a full-time set- The most intimidating presence in the Fox Valley Conference, Elgin improved from 6 wins in 2007 to 17 wins in 2008, ter, Hampshire didn’t miss a beat. Along with her twin sister this -bound middle hitter was the player opposing teams thanks largely to this punishing sophomore outside hitter. Amy, Kara Wehrs helped the Whip-Purs to a 35-2 season that built their game plans around. She helped the Gators to a share A two-time all-area pick, Martin led the Maroons with 259 continued this week in Class 3A sectional play. Going into of the Valley Division title and an appearance in a Class 4A kills and 52 aces. She also contributed 38 blocks, 97 digs the sectional, the junior had 663 assists, 85 aces, 258 kills, sectional final with team highs in kills (245), block kills (111) and and finished with an impressive 2.25 passer rating. “She’s 210 digs and 52 stuff blocks. “She’s obviously one of the top aces (71). She also registered 116 digs. “She’s had a fantastic a very talented player,” Elgin coach Keith Foster said. setters in the area but she’s also such a versatile player,” season,” CL South coach Jorie Fontana said. “Watching her this “She’s the player we’re building this program around. We said Whip-Purs coach Karen Whitehouse of Kara Wehrs, year compared to last year or the year before, her progression, had some great leadership on the floor this year at a few who along with sister Amy is committed to Kansas. “She can her strength ­— she’s that player people watch out for and base positions, but Kendall was our most talented player.” hit and play defense and it’s nice to have a player like that. She’s the type of their defense around stopping. People have tried to stop her, but they still haven’t setter you dream about having on your team and she’s a great leader.” done it. She gets the girls fired up, whether it’s a block or a kill. They’re all behind Lauren Pigatto Jacobs her. She’s gained the respect of everyone, especially her teammates.” Katie Yohn St. Edward A four-year starter, this middle hitter is one of the most Kelly Lamberti Cary-Grove versatile attackers in the area, using her vision to tip or One of the best athletes to ever perform at St. Edward and one of the top female athletes in area history, Yohn helped Though only a sophomore, Lamberti cemented her reputa- hit to open areas at various angles. A two-time all-area St. Edward to a second-place finish in the Suburban Catholic tion as one of the suburbs’ top prospects in her second selection always a force at the net, she was also effective in Conference and a Class 2A regional championship with her varsity season. She helped the Trojans grab a share of their back-row rotations this year due to her improved serve- all-around play. The natural setter also used her 5-foot-10 third Fox Valley Conference title by leading her team with receive, defense and back-row attacks. “She came into our 245 kills as an outside hitter. Her dipping, topspin jump program as a tough middle and has increased her play to powerful frame to be a force at the net as well. Going into serve resulted in a 80 aces, which was also a team high. be one of the best middles in the area,” Jacobs coach Lisa sectional play this week, she had 270 kills, 294 assists, 160 Lamberti also demonstrated an all-around game by making Dwyer said. “Lauren has a court awareness most players digs and a team-high 94 blocks. “She’s just an athlete and 196 digs. “As a sophomore we asked her to develop into will never achieve. She is able to find holes in any defense and is our go-to she just loves to compete,” said Green Wave coach Jaime a leader,” Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. “I really player when we need a big score.” Pigatto led the Golden Eagles with 12 Walton. “You have to love coaching a kid like that.” Yohn has committed to think she rose to that challenge as the season progressed, became stronger kills in a regional title win over Cary-Grove and entered sectional play this Bradley on a scholarship, which made her volleyball season this fall mentally and that helped her all-around game so much. She’s 15, but we week with 317 kills, 41 aces and 378 digs. She finished her four-year career less pressurized. “She chose her school so the pressure was off,” Walton said. expect from her what we expect from a senior.” with over 900 kills, 657 digs and 106 aces. “She got to do what she loves to do and that’s just go out and play.”

someone to step up for us. blocking the middle from an Central’s offense doesn’t run position I knew very well last miss playing for the Rockets, Turk: Actually, Molly volunteered expert — Central assistant quite as quickly as that of her year to being a leader at some- but she’s excited for the next at the end of last season. She coach Lindsey Johnson, who elite-level club team. thing I didn’t know quite as stage of her life to begin at Continued from Page 1 saw what we had coming up played middle hitter at St. In the end, she simply fig- well this year.” UNI, where she plans to study in terms of middle hitters and Edward and Drake. ured it out what worked best According to her coach, business or marketing. “In terms of a great high said, ‘Maybe I can be there.’” She learned a bit about hit- for her through instinct. Turk’s positive mental atti- “I just think I’m ready,” she school player, I couldn’t Said Turk: “I knew I’d be one ting from the middle position “You kind of have to teach tude allowed her already sub- said. “I feel like I’ve been in ask for more,” Leavitt said. of the tallest girls, and Marv said via the art of eaves dropping. yourself along the way and stantial leadership abilities to high school forever. I’m ready “When you say someone’s that might work. Every libero During the club volleyball freelance,” Turk said. “Every- develop further as a senior. to branch out.” willing to do anything for the wants to hit, every setter wants season Turk would listen in one has their own style any- “She’s a natural leader and No matter where life takes team to be successful, that’s to be a middle, and every mid- as her Club Fusion coaches way. It was hard to try some- people love playing for her Molly Turk, she will always be exactly where she’s at. She dle wants to be a libero. That’s instructed teammate Erin thing I’m not comfortable because she’s so positive and able to look back on her high just stepped right in and did a just how volleyball is. You Johnson, a 6-foot-5 Illinois with, but it was fun at the same upbeat,” Leavitt said. “She is just school experience with satis- great job for us as a hitter. always want to play the position recruit who plays for Crystal time. Everyone had to take a great person. I’ve been very faction, knowing she helped “Her best position is clearly no one else thinks you can play. Lake South. Not everything on roles on this team. I had fortunate I was able to coach set a high standard for Burling- setter. We’re just a shorter I just wanted to try.” taught to Johnson pertained to know mine. It went from her. We’re going to miss her.” ton Central volleyball teams to team this year and we needed Turk learned the art of to Turk, though, because me being kind of a leader at a Turk likewise said she will match in the future.