Notable Upsets from Week 3 of High School Volleyball

Last week was full of matches all over the Chicagoland area and teams were given the opportunity to show how far they want to go this season. While it is still early in the season, state rankings are changing left and right, especially after the upsets that took place last week. Two teams ranked in the top five in the state and ranked #1 in their class (2A and 4A) dropped matches that will surely affect their ranking as we move into the next coming week. Rankings at this point in the season don't hold quite as much weight until we have progressed further into the season, but Bolingbrook and Montini Catholic made it clear they belong higher in the rankings but made it clear where they plan on going this season.   Bolingbrook High School Defeats #1 ranked (4A) Lyons Township High School   Last Friday, Bolingbrook High School was matched up against the #1 ranked team in Illinois, Lyons Township High School. In a clean sweep, Bolingbrook held Lyons Township off and beat them 28-26 in set one and again in set two, 25-23. [player_tooltip player_id='225768' first='Madison' last='Shroba'] and [player_tooltip player_id='225818' first='Cydney' last='Anderson'] are both pin hitters for Bolingbrook who are ranked within the top 10 for kills on the season so far in 4A. Shroba, a 5'10" outside hitter committed to the #15 nationally ranked, Lewis University, holds the top ranking in the state for kills this season so far with 164 kills in the 35 sets she has played. Averaging 4.7 kills per set, she puts power, yet brilliant thought behind her placement of the ball making her a huge factor in Bolingbrook's success. [player_tooltip player_id='225818' first='Cydney' last='Anderson'] is also a senior outside who is ranked 10th in the state right now for holding 108 kills on the season, producing an average of 3.1 kills per set. Together they give their setter, Sarah Harvey, the chance to have an aggressive offensive threat whether they are in or out of system. While Harvey does a great job running a smooth offense, she understands her job as a defender in the backcourt, which is more than refreshing to see in a setter and makes her second on the team for digs, with 93, behind libero, Kate Mottlow's 103.   Montini Catholic High School Defeats #1 Ranked (2A) Genoa-Kingston   Earlier last week, Montini Catholic showed that the run down to state last year wasn't just a cinderella season. Up until last Tuesday, Montini had a packed schedule of teams in 3A and 4A only. Playing three teams ranked in the top 5 for 4A and lost to the #1 and #2 ranked, Lyons Township and Lincoln-Way East in the third set by only two points weeks earlier. Tuesday was their first 2A match of the season and it was not expected to be an easy one, as they played Genoa-Kingston, who was ranked #5 in Illinois and #1 in their 2A class. Lo and behold, Montini has set the standard for their program and the goals they have established for this season after the win against Genoa-Kingston. Senior setter and right-side hitter, [player_tooltip player_id='138653' first='Jordan' last='Heatherly'], dominated all aspects of the game, racking up a triple-double with 12 kills, 15 assists, and 14 digs. Heatherly, a University of Memphis commit, has strength and athleticism that is unmatched with her well-above-average hitting percentage of .558 on the season so far. Sienna Skarda, only a sophomore middle blocker, came in clutch, closing out the first set with a quick attack out of the middle, burying the ball in front of the right-back defender. Skarda continues to grow every chance she gets and is second on the team for efficiency, hitting .375 on the season, and is currently tied with Heatherly for blocks this season with 14.

Last week was full of matches all over the Chicagoland area and teams were given the opportunity to show how far they want to go this season. While it is still early in the season, state rankings are changing left and right, especially after the upsets that took place last week. Two teams ranked in the top five in the state and ranked #1 in their class (2A and 4A) dropped matches that will surely affect their ranking as we move into the next coming week. Rankings at this point in the season don't hold quite as much weight until we have progressed further into the season, but Bolingbrook and Montini Catholic made it clear they belong higher in the rankings but made it clear where they plan on going this season.