Illinois Class 4A Sectional Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the calendar turns to November, the temperatures drop, but the competition heats up when it comes to high school volleyball.&nbsp; With regionals concluding last night, Illinois teams will move into sectional play next week.&nbsp; Taking a look at some of these matchups, it is hard to imagine that some of these teams will be knocked out in early rounds.&nbsp; Here is a look at the road to CEFCU Arena (can we still call it Redbird Arena?).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>DeKalb Super Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McHenry Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huntley vs. Mundelein</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libertyville vs. Hampshire</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fremd Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fremd vs. Stevenson&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barrington vs. Rolling Meadows</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Super Sectional has been ruled by Barrington and Huntley with Barrington heading to state the past few years.&nbsp; Huntley will be heading into sectional play behind the big arm of Kentucky commit [player_tooltip player_id='207810' first='Georgia' last='Watson'] who is averaging nearly five kills pet set.&nbsp; They also have senior middle blocker who is hitting nearly .350 and leads the team with over 70 total blocks.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='202298' first='Victoria' last='Belmonte'] will be a key piece to the success of Fremd where she can run the show as a dynamic setter.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='329825' first='Akshara' last='Jay'] is a lefty attacker who can score points from the right side.&nbsp; Barrington will look to their 1-2 punch of [player_tooltip player_id='465314' first='Whitney' last='Mall'] and Addie Brookbank who are both averaging four kills per set.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>St. Charles North Super Sectional </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Aurora Sectional </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet Academy vs. Wheaton Warrenville South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Charles North vs. Metea Valley&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Trier Sectional </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loyola Academy vs. Glenbrook North&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Trier vs. Glenbrook South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet is the favorite here, but these other squads will be happy to play spoiler.&nbsp; Loyola Academy defeated Benet just over a week ago.&nbsp; Benet has a lineup full of D1 talent with the following commits: [player_tooltip player_id='323926' first='Sophia' last='Chinetti'] (Rhode Island), [player_tooltip player_id='323941' first='Molly' last='Welge'] (Marquette), [player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle'] (Northwestern), Lynney [player_tooltip player_id='323932' first='Carolyn' last='Tarnow'] (Wisconsin), [player_tooltip player_id='323945' first='Brooklynne' last='Brass'] (Maryland), [player_tooltip player_id='288647' first='Aniya' last='Warren'] (Indiana), [player_tooltip player_id='311413' first='Audrey' last='Asleson'] (Colorado), Gabby Stasys (Yale), [player_tooltip player_id='311418' first='Morgan' last='Asleson'] (Dayton), [player_tooltip player_id='396379' first='Sophia' last='Pursley'] (Army), and [player_tooltip player_id='288645' first='Keira' last='O'Donnell'] (Southern Miss) - yes, that's 11 D1 commits.&nbsp; St. Charles North will look to make some noise behind outside hitter in Penn State commit [player_tooltip player_id='328144' first='Haley' last='Burgdorf'] who can score points from the front and back row.&nbsp; Loyola Academy has had some huge wins this season, led by a balanced attack.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='288630' first='Grace' last='Kreutz'] is the top point scorer for the Ramblers, she is committed to Miami (OH).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Riverside-Brookfield Super Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bolingbrook Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lockport Township vs. Lincoln-Way West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oswego vs. Joliet West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Willowbrook Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Downers Grove North vs. OPRF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>York vs. Downers Grove South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lockport Township has put together an impressive resume this season, going 32-5.&nbsp; They have wins in the past couple of weeks against Loyola and Downers Grove South.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='288635' first='Jenna' last='Kolosta'] and [player_tooltip player_id='326064' first='Bridget' last='Ferriter'] lead the way for the Porters while they also have [player_tooltip player_id='412536' first='Kyla' last='Mitchell'] in the middle who is one of the top sophomore middle blockers in the state.&nbsp; Oswego is on the other side of this section where they are 31-4 with three of their losses coming to Lincoln Way East, Marist, and Benet.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='311422' first='Sidney' last='Hamaker'], the Long Beach State commit is one to know for the Panthers where she is a scoring and defensive threat out of the middle.&nbsp; As for the Willowbrook Sectional, flip a coin. These teams all have similar resumes from the season.&nbsp; DGN got the top seed in this group and will look to Jennifer Buehler who is averaging nearly four kills per set.&nbsp; They do have a win this season over York just under two weeks ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Rich Township Super Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marist Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mother McAuley vs. Homewood-Flossmoor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln-Way East vs. Marist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Normal West Sectional&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Fallon vs. Belleville West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Normal Community vs. Normal West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oof, where do we start with this group of teams? I know this section is always a point of contention with the level of talent. &nbsp; Mother McAuley has ruled this Super Section for years and has state championship trophies to prove.&nbsp; This year the Mac's are led by the top setter in the Illinois Class of 2027 with [player_tooltip player_id='529824' first='Peyton' last='Heatherly'] where her favorite target is top scorer in Memphis commit [player_tooltip player_id='537712' first='Sydney' last='Buchanan']. They also have Clemson commit [player_tooltip player_id='325500' first='Lucy' last='Maloney'] who is rock solid from the libero position.&nbsp; Homewood-Flossmoor has quite the 1-2 punch with [player_tooltip player_id='260949' first='LaDonna' last='Trantham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='628282' first='Kymora' last='Scott'], Trantham is heading to Cal State Bakersfield and Scott will go to Wisconsin.&nbsp; Lincoln Way East has put together a season to remember sitting at 32-5.&nbsp; They have a win over Homewood-Flossmoor, but they did drop a match to Normal West who is on the other side of the section. The Griffins are led by [player_tooltip player_id='319759' first='Alaina' last='Pollard'] (Indiana) and [player_tooltip player_id='288626' first='Tamia' last='Maddox'] (St. Louis), they also have a freshman to put on the radar in [player_tooltip player_id='582261' first='Kolby' last='Ross']. Marist is another traditional force and will look to defend their home court - what an atmosphere it will be.&nbsp; Lincoln Way East defeated Marist at the beginning of the season, but [player_tooltip player_id='311415' first='Bella' last='Bullington'] and crew will look to advance to the sectional final.&nbsp; On the other side of the bracket will be O'Fallon which will be led by a dynamic attacker in Gabby Behling.&nbsp; Normal Community and Normal West will have quite a battle.&nbsp; West is 34-3 with one of their losses coming to Normal Community.&nbsp; They will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='320126' first='Ellie' last='Rink'] who does a little bit of everything for the Wildcats, leading the team in kills, hitting efficiency, and aces.&nbsp; Normal Community is 29-8 and will look to Michigan State commit [player_tooltip player_id='324015' first='Alana' last='Whitfield'] who leads the team in kills.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->