{"id":7220,"date":"2025-02-12T00:44:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T00:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/princetonillinois.com\/?p=7220"},"modified":"2025-02-12T00:44:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T00:44:42","slug":"the-2024-times-girls-volleyball-preview-shaw-local-news-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/princetonillinois.com\/?p=7220","title":{"rendered":"The 2024 Times girls volleyball preview – Shaw Local News Network"},"content":{"rendered":"


Woodland\u2019s Malayna Pitte (3) rises to attack as Serena\u2019s Paisley Twait (23) and Kendall Whiteaker (17) rise to block during a 2023 match at the Warrior Dome in rural Streator. <\/span>(Tom Sistak For Shaw Media)
Here is a team-by-team look across The Times area at our 2024 girls volleyball teams.
Coach:<\/b> Jenn Crum (8th season)
Last season\u2019s record:<\/b> 27-10-1 overall, 5-5 Interstate 8
Top returning players: <\/b>Shae Mason, DS, sr.; Skylar Dorsey, S, sr.; Ayla Dorsey, MH, sr.; Ainsley Leonard, RS, sr.; Addison Duggan, MH, sr.; Ana Zeglis, DS, sr.; Ella Damron, OH\/RS, sr.; Ella Schmitz, OH.DS, sr.
Top newcomers: <\/b>Bell Markey, MH, jr.; Jordyn Allen, S, jr.; Kendall Biba, DS, so.; Mary Stisser, OH, jr.; Kerrigan Cooney, RS, jr.; Emma Molina, OH\/MH, jr.
Worth noting:<\/b> The Pirates<\/a> captured their program\u2019s first regional championship since 1995, back in the days of the two-class system. While four Times All-Area Team<\/a> seniors from that team are gone to graduation including the 2023 Times Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, Cheyenne Joachim, four regular starters \u2013 Skylar Dorsey (2023 All-Area honorable mention), Duggan, Damron and Ayla Dorsey \u2013 return. The Dorseys are third-year starters, Duggan led Ottawa in blocks and hitting percentage last fall, and Leonard is back after missing her junior year due to injury. Biba will contend for the libero spot, in recent years a strength of Pirates teams. Coach Crum cites experience, discipline, overall volleyball IQ, team cohesion and a majority of her roster playing volleyball year-round as definite strengths. \u201cWe are hoping to repeat as regional champions and hope to contend for a conference champ[ionship],\u201d she said. Ottawa hosts its annual Ottawa Invitational on Aug. 31 after opening the season in Kingman Gym against Dunlap (Tuesday) and Streator (Thursday).
Coach: <\/b>Julie Gabehart (7th season)
Last season\u2019s record: <\/b>23-10-2 overall, 8-6 Illinois Central Eight
Top returning players: <\/b>Mya Zavada, MB, sr.; Emma Rambo, S, sr.; Sonia Proksa, OH, sr.
Top newcomers:<\/b> Aubrey Jacobs, S, jr.; Sophie Snow, MB, so.; Maiya Lansford, DS, jr.
Worth noting: <\/b>The Bulldogs<\/a> in 2023 recorded their first winning season since 2016 and tied the 1981 squad\u2019s record for most single-season wins. DS Rilee Talty and OH Sophia Pence are both big losses to graduation, but last fall\u2019s depth, standout players like Zavada (led team in blocks and hitting efficiency), Proksa (first in kills, second in aces last year) and Times All-Area first-teamer and all-state honorable mention Rambo (school-record 649 assists) and what looks to be some instant contributors joining have Streator hoping for another great season. A diverse, balanced attack and good blocking should be calling cards of a team hoping to break the 23-win plateau. The key, according to Gabehart? \u201cConsistency, decrease unforced errors, aggressive serving to force opponents out of system and continue to push each other every day in practice.\u201d Streator\u2019s opening week includes regional road rivalry games at Woodland (Monday), Dwight (Tuesday) and Ottawa (Thursday) before the Ottawa Invitational (Saturday).
Coach: <\/b>Amy Garland (2nd season)
Last season\u2019s record: <\/b>7-26 overall, 2-11 Kishwaukee River
Top returning players:<\/b> Londyn Scott, MB, sr.; Jessica Ramey, S, so.; Jordan Bauer, OH, sr.; Brooklyn Marks, DS, sr.; Kayden Cornelis, MB, jr.;
Top newcomer: <\/b>Alayla Harris, MB\/RS, so.
Worth noting: <\/b>Five returning starters \u2013 highlighted by Scott, a 2023 all-conference performer who put down 41 stuff blocks, Marks at libero after a 276-dig season and Bauer who fell just short of triple-digit kills and digs last season \u2013 have the Indians<\/a> hopeful last fall\u2019s experience gained will blossom into this fall\u2019s success. The addition of Harris, an athletic 6-footer who can play multiple positions at the net, only encourages the optimism. \u201cWe are looking to be more competitive in our dynamic conference this year. …\u201d Garland said. \u201cWe had a year of growth and experience, and we are returning all but two starters from the 2023 season. In order to reach our goals, we need to be more consistent in serve-receive and work on spreading out the offense more.\u201d
Coach: <\/b>Mindy McConnaughhay (15th season)
Last season\u2019s record: <\/b>30-7 overall, 7-2 Tri-County
Top returning players:<\/b> Avery Durdan, MB\/OPP, sr.; Makayla Backos, OH, sr.; Kealey Rick, S, sr.; Lilia Muffler, OPPm sr.; Payton Anderson, OPP, sr.
Top newcomers: <\/b>Emily Ryan-Adair, DS, so.; Kinley Rick, OH, fr.; Kelsey Cuchra, MB, so.; Ava Offerman, OPP, jr.; Hunter Hopkins, S, so.
Worth noting: <\/b>The Crusaders<\/a> \u2013 gunning for their seventh consecutive winning season, third straight 30-win campaign and third consecutive Class 1A regional title \u2013 look strong enough to do all three despite some heavy losses to graduation. That\u2019s due to a roster that lost all five of the team\u2019s Times All-Area picks from a year ago, but is still brimming with multi-sport, dedicated student-athletes. Leading the way will be Durdan (96 kills, 18 blocks in 2023), Kealey Rick (321 assists, 42 aces) and Backos (102 kills, 127 digs, 52 aces), all fourth-year varsity players who also excelled in Marquette\u2019s balanced philosophy, one that will carry over to 2024. \u201cCommunication and confidence,\u201d McConnaughhay said we are a young team, so developing trust and chemistry is a key factor for our success. We saw a ton of growth this summer and they know that developing a strong team connection is huge. They are very driven and want to win. I am excited to see where this season goes.
Coach: <\/b>Michelle Pitte (5th season)
Last season\u2019s record:<\/b> 23-9 overall, 8-1 Tri-County
Top returning players:<\/b> Ella Derossett, S\/RS, sr.; Malayna Pitte, M, sr.; Grace Longmire, M, so.
Worth noting:<\/b> The Warriors<\/a> played through major injuries last season with a next-girl-up mentality and recorded not only another winning season, but a Tri-County Conference championship. Woodland will aim to utilize that philosophy again with a lot of young \u2013 \u201cVERY young,\u201d as Coach Pitte phrases it \u2013 pieces fit around the squad\u2019s three proven leaders. Malayna Pitte (2023 Times All-Area second team), multi-sport star Derossett and Longmire (All-Area honorable mention as a freshman) provide a nice core for a team that will be finding itself on the floor with expectations to be at its best as the season winds down. \u201cOur main goal this year is to learn from every game,\u201d coach Pitte said. \u201cWhen we win, we win with an understanding of how hard we worked in the gym. When we lose, we take that not as a loss, but a lesson. We are trying to make sure the girls look at each game with this understanding: How can we improve every game? In order to reach these goals, it will take all of us working as one, supporting each other, whether it be on the floor, on the bench, wherever.\u201d
Coach:<\/b> Noah Champene (7th season)
Last season\u2019s record:<\/b> 24-11 overall, 7-2 Tri-County
Top returning players: <\/b>Lainie Olson, S, sr.; Tessa Krull, MH, jr.; Audrey McNabb, OH, sr.; Alyssa Zellers, DS, sr.
Top newcomers:<\/b> Brooklyn Sheedy, OH, fr.; Franki Meyers, MH, so.; Graysen Provance, RS, so.; Emma Mino, DS, so.
Worth noting: <\/b>Four starters \u2013 Olson (All-TCC, Times All-Area honorable mention), McNabb (All-TCC), Krull and Zellers (All-TCC) \u2013 are back for the Fighting Irish<\/a>. \u201cI think our strength will be experience,\u201d Champene said.\u201dI think the girls have a good handle on the expectations and a solid understanding of how we do things. We expect to steadily improve throughout the season and hopefully be in a position to compete for a conference and regional title.\u201d Replacing the 241 kills and 31 stuff blocks put down by graduated Times All-Area first-teamer Faith Baker will be key to winning points, then sets, then matches. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take a team effort,\u201d Champene said. \u201cWe need to stay focused each day for the next couple of months. We need to come to practice every day ready to put in the work and put in the effort to get better.\u201d
Earlville’s Bailey Miller returns a serve from Somonauk at Earlville High School last season. <\/span>(Scott Anderson)
Coach: <\/b>Albana Smith (1st season)
Last season\u2019s record:<\/b> 6-23 overall, 1-11 Heart of Illinois
Top returning players: <\/b>Kora Edens, OH, jr.; Cameran Corrigan, S, sr.; Marley Highland, MH, jr.; Kaylee Delheimer, S, jr.; Emme Wallace, OH, jr.
Top newcomer:<\/b> Abbi Armstrong, MH, fr.
Worth noting:<\/b> Smith, a 2005 graduate of Flanagan High School, takes over the program from Joe Estes looking to bounce back from a rare down year. The return of Edens, Corrigan and Highland provides a nice start on the attack side of things, and the addition of Armstrong has been a big one in the middle as both a finisher and a blocker. It\u2019s the returners, however, that have Smith optimistic despite the Falcons<\/a>\u2019 always-challenging schedule. \u201cWe have more juniors, seven, this season who have varsity experience that will be returning and playing a key role this season along with two seniors. This will allow us to utilize many players who have varsity experience. Our goals this season are to become more consistent with our skills and develop more endurance during games to sustain level of play throughout the match. We have enough skilled athletes to improve from last season, and we know the potential is there to be more successful this season.\u201d
Coach: <\/b>Cathy Sanders (13th season)
Last season\u2019s record:<\/b> 29-8 overall, 9-3 Heart of Illinois
Top returning players: <\/b>Pru Mangan, DS, jr.; Macy Gochanour, S, jr.
Top newcomers:<\/b> Keara Barisch, OH, sr.; Lyla Armstrong, OH, sr.; Lilly Baker, MH, sr.
Worth noting: <\/b>Sanders cites \u201cenergy and coachability\u201d as strengths of her Knights as they strive to capture a third consecutive Class 2A regional championship plaque and fourth over Sanders\u2019 two tenures as head coach. To do so, Fieldcrest<\/a> will have to compensate for the graduation of Times All-Area performers Kaylin Rients and the all-everything Allie Wiesenhofer, whose departure takes over 300 kills and 300 digs from last season\u2019s stat sheet with her. Multi-sport stars Gochanour and Mangan will step into leading roles for the Knights, who don\u2019t open their season until Aug. 31 in the Hall Early Bird Invitational.
Coach: <\/b>PJ McKinney (3rd season)
Last season\u2019s record:<\/b> 33-5 overall, 10-0 Little Ten
Top returning players: <\/b>Addison Ness, RS, sr.; Elle Norquist, DS, sr.; Adrianna Larson, OH, sr.
Top newcomers: <\/b>Riley Carlson, fr.; Taylor Jeffers, so.; Olivia Smith, sr.; Addi Long, sr.
Worth noting: <\/b>The Norsemen<\/a> lost nine seniors including a pair of Times All-Area and IVCA All-State selections \u2013 namely Lauren Ulrich and Kiara Wesseh \u2013 to Pomp and Circumstance, but with returners like hitters Larson and Ness and libero Norquist and the program Newark has built, there\u2019s no reason to expect a huge drop-off. \u201cWe have a great group of girls this year who are looking forward to playing with and for each other,\u201d McKinney said. \u201cThe seniors are excited to lead. We only have a few girls with varsity game experience … but the others are very talented and are ready to compete at the varsity level. I have a lot of trust in this group and am looking forward to seeing this group jell together as the season progresses. We expect to be at the top of the Little Ten Conference, competing in real tough tournaments [and] hopefully making a successful run in the 1A postseason tournament.\u201d Newark has claimed regional titles each of the past six postseasons and hasn\u2019t suffered a losing campaign since the 1990s.
Coach:<\/b> Jennifer Shugrue (2nd season)
Last season\u2019s record: <\/b>11-16-1 overall, 7-3 Little Ten
Top returning players: <\/b>RayElle Brennan, DS, sr.; Maddie Glade, RS, sr.; Macy Mahler, S, sr.; Lanee Cole, DS, sr.; Kendall Whiteaker, MB, jr.; Nikki Walsh, RS, sr.; Hailee Turner, RS, sr.; Jenna Setchell, MB\/OH, sr.; Hannah McNelis, SD, sr.
Top newcomers:<\/b> Aubrey Duffy, OH, jr.; Anna Hjerpe, OH, so. Lucy Kelley, MB, jr.; Rebekah Shugrue, S, jr.; Cassie Walsh, MB, jr.; Trinity Weber, DS, jr.
Worth noting: <\/b>That\u2019s a lot of names listed as \u201ctop players\u201d for this fall\u2019s Huskers<\/a>, and there\u2019s a reason for that, according to Shugrue. \u201cWith solid returners and a very strong group joining in, we\u2019ve got a lot of volleyball knowledge and strength,\u201d she said. \u201cOur back-row defense made up of RayElle, Hannah, Lanee and Trinity is quick and accurate, and they\u2019re working very well together. Offensively, we have Macy returning to set, joined by Rebekah in the setting position and a couple of powerhouse hitters, Aubrey and Anna, so I\u2019m anticipating a more dynamic offense. Smart hitters like Jenna, Kendall and Maddie, combined with flex players like Nikki, Hailee, Lucy and Cassie contribute to a very versatile team.\u201d Taking the next step after a good season where \u201cwe didn\u2019t finish where we wanted to,\u201d per Shugrue, is the goal, and she feels she has the deep roster and across-the-board talent to get there.
Coach: <\/b>Tonya Scherer (24th season)
Last season\u2019s record: <\/b>26-11 overall, 8-2 Little Ten
Top returning player:<\/b> Bailey Miller, OH, jr.
Top newcomers:<\/b> Audrey Scherer, S\/OPP, fr.; Jessie Miller, MH, jr.; Adie Scherer, MH, so.; Liz Vasquez, DS, so.; Jacey Helgesen, OH, so.; Payton Actis, S, so.
Worth noting: <\/b>After graduating seven seniors from last fall\u2019s 26-win club including Times All-Area selections Nevaeh Sansone and Brooklyn Guelde, the Red Raiders<\/a> will have mostly new faces in the varsity lineup outside of Miller, who\u2019s converting from opposite to the outside. Coach Scherer says it\u2019s a fun, balanced, enthusiastic group. \u201cWe will be very young this year,\u201d the 24th-year coach said. \u201cOur goal\/expectation will be to gain experience and continue to grow as a team. We always strive to be in the top part of the conference and have a winning season. With practice, preparation, and experience comes confidence.\u201d Jelling quickly and settling into roles will be the key to another winning season.
Coach: <\/b>Christy Pruski (2nd season)
Last season\u2019s record: <\/b>13-12 overall, 5-5 Little Ten
Top returning players: <\/b>Aubrey Chiavario, MH, jr.; Abby Hohmann, MH, jr.
Top newcomers:<\/b> Bella Rolf, OH, so.; Ady Werner, OH, so.
Worth noting: <\/b>This season\u2019s Bobcats<\/a> will be young and defensive-minded, according to Pruski. \u201cMy goal for them is to grow in their understanding of the game,\u201d Pruski said. \u201cThe more they understand \u2018why\u2019 they are doing what is asked of them, the more independent they become on the court, and true leaders emerge. A more tangible goal would be to maintain the conference and overall record from 2023, but hopefully beat it.\u201d Chiavario put down 96 kills and 25 blocks in 2023, adding 24 aces. Hohmann came up for varsity full-time in-season. Pruski expects the Bobcats to learn the varsity game together and rely on defense to win rallies.
Copyright \u00a9 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright \u00a9 2023 Shaw Local News Network<\/p>\n

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Woodland\u2019s Malayna Pitte (3) rises to attack as Serena\u2019s Paisley Twait (23) and Kendall Whiteaker (17) rise to block during a 2023 match at the Warrior Dome in rural Streator. (Tom Sistak For Shaw Media)Here is a team-by-team look across The Times area at our 2024 girls volleyball teams.Coach: Jenn Crum (8th season)Last season\u2019s record: 27-10-1 overall, 5-5 Interstate 8Top<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t