Best Bets: IHSA 3A Teams and Players to Return Downstate

<p>2019 was a mixture of highs and lows at the state level for the 3A Division. Sterling High School was dominant over its competition and was the strongest team in the field. Injuries slowed down both Nazareth and Joliet Catholic which hindered them from beating Sterling once in the Final Four. Unofficial host and home court advantaged UHIGH (Normal University High School) was competitive, but only to a degree. Not enough talent to compete against the rest of the field. What does 2020 bring? Let’s have a quick look. Spoiler Alert: As baseball’s Yogi Berra once said, "It’s Deja vu all over again."</p> <p><strong>FOUR PREDICTED FINALIST FOR 2020</strong></p> <p><strong>Joliet Catholic</strong>: Arguably their best hitter was on the bench due to a late-season injury and they were still the second-best team in 3A. Expect that to be no different come 2020. Look for another strong challenge in <strong>De La Salle.</strong></p> <p><strong>Nazareth:</strong> Also hampered by injuries, they powered through opponents and held a defensive edge against most opponents. Their strategy was simple; first ball out on serve receive and a solid defense along with no hitting mistakes in transition for point. They are a mirror image of JCA, but better. Two teams to watch are <strong>Saint Francis (Wheaton)</strong> and <strong>St. Ignatius</strong> as both teams have beaten Nazareth in past playoff runs.</p> <p><strong>UHigh:</strong> Definitely the team to beat in the Illinois south, they build and rebuild year in and out. There is no reason 2020 would be any different. They have an easy path to States but <strong>Centralia</strong> is my dark horse for 2020.</p> <p><strong>Sterling: </strong>They won the state title with a junior heavy star lineup. Expect more of the same, just a year older and wiser, in 2020. No one in any division will be as strong as this team. <strong>Hononegah</strong> and <strong>Crystal Lake </strong>will try their best to beat Sterling, but that will be tough to do. </p> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong></p> <p><strong>Bree Borlyn, 2022, 6’0, S/Opp, Sterling, </strong><br /> Bree Borlyn runs a quick offense and has excellent lateral mobility on the court. One of the best blocking setters in the state, she can take over a match just be being an all-around player. </p> <p><strong>Brook Borlyn, 2022, 6’1, OH, Sterling </strong><br /> expect the ball to be hit hard and deep as Brook Borlyn hits the ball flat when they run the quick offense. Given an outlet emergency ball, she can hit over or around any block to keep the ball in the court. A solid quality outside hitter!</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61587" first="Kendall" last="Burk"], 2021, 6’0, S, UHIGH </strong><br /> The Uhigh program ran a 6-2 offense in 2019, but don’t be surprised if Burk runs the offense solo this year. In 2019, she accomplished 473 assists, the most on the team. Burk has great hands, as well as quality reach above the net. A quick gear shifter, she can go from zero to 60 as fast as anyone.</p> <p><strong>Kathryn Hurta, 2022, 6’0, OH/S, Nazareth </strong><br /> She will be one of the great all-around players in high school volleyball in 2020. Hurta can run the offense as a setter and dominate as a hitter at either pin. Don’t be surprised if she runs a middle quick in transition. She can hurt you from anywhere on the court.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61516" first="Alexis" last="Rodriguez"], 2022, L, Sterling, Nebraska</strong><br /> In 2019, despite not playing a full season, Rodriguez was the best libero/setter in the state. She may have been one of the top passers in the nation. The Sterling offense runs through her as the first pass that acts as a set on the very same play. You have to watch her to believe her. Unbelievable.</p> <p><strong>Maycie Wellborn, 2021, 6’3, MH, UHIGH </strong><br /> The Uhigh program was outside oriented in 2019 but look for Wellborn in the middle to get the majority of the swings in 2020. Outsides love this because as middles battle, this puts the pin hitters one-on-one. Wellborn led the team with 80 blocks, was third on the team with 165 kills.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61527" first="Emily" last="Wilson"], 2021, 6’3, RS, JCA, San Diego</strong> <br /> Injured at the end of the 2019 season, Wilson will be the player to stop offensively for the Angels. The University of San Diego will get themselves a right side that hits hard, blocks solid, and has great momentum with her approach.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>