IHSA 4A GVB: Who Are The Top Players On The Top Teams?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The postseason is approaching in Illinois and we are taking a look at the top teams from Class 4A and who those top players are leading the way.&nbsp; First matches are October 27/28 with sectional finals landing on November 6. Take a look at who is leading the way.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benet Academy </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are back…again.&nbsp; Is this the year Benet can take home a state title.&nbsp; With a roster loaded with D1 athletes, Benet is in position to return to the state tournament and potentially bring it all home.&nbsp; They are a top 15 nationally ranked program and have the top seed in the Glenbard West Sectional.&nbsp; Lynney [player_tooltip player_id='323932' first='Carolyn' last='Tarnow'] is the Wisconsin commit out of the middle, but she's not the only one heading to the Big Ten.&nbsp; They also feature setter [player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle'] (Northwestern) and [player_tooltip player_id='807884' first='Brooklynne' last='Brass'] (Maryland).&nbsp; There is plenty of ball control combined with firepower to go around and this squad as well as a major drive to win it all.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glenbrook North </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 25-2, Glenbrook North is the top seed in a loaded sectional where if seeding holds, they could face Glenbrook South in the sectional final.&nbsp; These two will meet tonight in regular season play. Claire Dillon leads the way for the Spartans.&nbsp; A UW-Whitewater commit, she is averaging nearly four kills per set.&nbsp; She brings a physical and athletic style of play to the outside, making an impact in the front and backrow.&nbsp; Keep tabs on senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='517393' first='Emma' last='McGough'], the Wash U commit is hitting a blistering .427 on the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joliet West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joliet West has grabbed the top seed in their section where the opposing side is going to see a whole lot of [player_tooltip player_id='586490' first='Lexie' last='Grevengoed'].&nbsp; The sophomore outside hitter is leading her squad with nearly four kills per game while Eastern Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id='627454' first='Lina' last='Govoni'] is hitting a blistering .422.&nbsp; Govoni does a little bit of everything as she can set and swing for the Tigers.&nbsp; West only has three losses on the season with one being to OPRF where if seeding holds, the two would meet in the Super Sectional round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oak Park-River Forest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OPRF has played a rugged schedule.&nbsp; This squad is battle tested with a 21-7 record earning the top seed in their section. Junior Emmi Borzarth has been leading the way where she averages 3.5 kills per set.&nbsp; She is also second on the team in digs with 2.6 digs per set.&nbsp; Keep tabs on another junior in [player_tooltip player_id='544044' first='Devyn' last='Kleidon'] who can also put the ball away and defend her position while senior Seton Hall commit [player_tooltip player_id='323931' first='Samantha' last='Shelton'] is extremely dangerous from the pin.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Normal Community </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Normal area is full of volleyball talent and Normal Community High School grabs the top seed in their section.&nbsp; Two big commits on this squad is [player_tooltip player_id='324015' first='Alana' last='Whitfield'] who is heading to Michigan State and [player_tooltip player_id='510335' first='Maggie' last='Michaels'] who is committed to Northern Iowa.&nbsp; Whitfield has been a name to know her entire career, as a six rotation outside she can take over a match with her offensive firepower as well as her ability to defend and serve receive&nbsp; Michaels is electric, a dynamic athlete who can play any position she has been an outside hitter for the Ironmen who can mix power and finesse with her shot selection.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edwardsville </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the O'Fallon Sectional being split into two, Edwardsville is no stranger to being the top dog, but this year they have conference rival Belleville East as the two seed where they have split their two matchups this season.&nbsp; The Tigers have three go to attackers with [player_tooltip player_id='835382' first='Madelyn' last='Ohlau'], [player_tooltip player_id='540251' first='Ciara' last='Cunningham'], and [player_tooltip player_id='816044' first='Livia' last='Goebel'].&nbsp; Savannah Ford and Lucy Malawy run this balanced offense where the two setters have combined for nearly 700 assists.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mother McAuley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mac's are back, as always. &nbsp; The perennial power has taken the top seed with section rival Marist coming in as the two seed.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='504014' first='Peyton' last='Heatherly'] is the QB1 for this squad as a setter where she brings such a high IQ to the floor. Her top target is [player_tooltip player_id='627433' first='Cayla' last='Prohaska'] who is averaging 3.6 kills per set.&nbsp; Keep tabs on two underclassmen attackers in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='730948' first='Keira' last='McQuillan'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='781325' first='Chyla' last='Jukes'].&nbsp; In the backrow is the veteran senior and Clemson commit [player_tooltip player_id='325500' first='Lucy' last='Maloney'] who is averaging an astounding 7.8 digs per set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fremd </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fremd has taken the top spot in this sectional where they have a balanced lineup of physical attackers.&nbsp; One of the key players to watch brings a big left handed swing in [player_tooltip player_id='329825' first='Akshara' last='Jay'].&nbsp; The senior is definitely one who college coaches can take note of where she would be a steal at the next level.&nbsp; Zoey Bending has really stepped up in her senior season where she can lock down an opposing attacker with her block and can score points off multiple tempos in the middle.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='546207' first='Harper' last='Neill'] is one to watch out of the sophomore class where on the club courts she's a libero, but for Fremd she is a crafty outside who can mix in some power to the game as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Libertyville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libertyville brings in a 27-7 record and an undefeated North Suburban conference mark.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='805175' first='Claire' last='Evans'] is an attacker to know who has plenty of length.&nbsp; The senior can score on both pins and mix in a variety of shots.&nbsp; At the net, [player_tooltip player_id='828171' first='Avery' last='Maddux'] provides plenty of athleticism and physicality out of the middle that will make opposing attackers think twice.&nbsp; In the backrow is an absolute gamechanger in [player_tooltip player_id='443054' first='Charlie' last='Fleegle'].&nbsp; Fleegle has been a standout nationally at the club level for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] and committed to Illinois State this summer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hampshire</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='260926' first='Elizabeth' last='King'] is the name to know from Hampshire who is sitting at 27-5 overall and could be on a crash course to meet Libertyville with the winner heading to Super Sectionals. King has plenty of length with a high contact point where she averages nearly four kills per set. She is a UIC commit. Hampshire also brings some youth to the table in freshman Lily Ingve who leads the team in hitting efficiency.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='260948' first='Kylie' last='Lambert'] brings a ton of spark to the court as a setter who has nearly 350 assists and 44 aces from the service line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->