Class 1A: Underrated Athletes

Illinois Class 1A typically is determined by the sizes of the schools and is not always given the same attention as the 3A division, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that they don’t have explosive and dominant players. 1A is full of some talented athletes that tend to be overlooked, but their athletic skills show otherwise. [player_tooltip player_id="138667" first="Lucy" last="Arndt"]- Aquin Catholic Arndt is another powerful OH that should not continue to be an overlooked athlete. Arndt has a relatively strong right swing and is consistent with her kills over her opponents. Standing at 5’11", Arndt has an impressive approach jump and her hits flow with consistency and tend to avoid being reflected by defending players. The sophomore has been seen in 121 sets so far over her career with 443 kills, 27 blocks, 325 digs and 47 aces. Arndt is a rising elite athlete and her athletic abilities show for that, making her a above and beyond athlete. Arndt is a stellar athlete and is going to be one to continue to watch. Lauren Harris- Woodlawn High School Harris is an outstanding athlete and is not an athlete that should not be overlooked. Harris is a multi-athlete and her athletic ability is one to watch and to keep watching. Harris is a powerful and strong willed OH that is not afraid to make her mark on the court. She is attentive, competitive and aggressive on the court when it comes to going in for the final kill and making sure that she secures the kill. This season, Harris was seen in 35 sets with 221 kills and 130 digs. Harris is an well rounded athlete with a solid foundation and rising athletic career. Harris should not be an under the radar athlete and she be one to continue to watch throughout her high school career. Falyn Ncpeek- Dakota High School Standing at 5’7", Ncpeek is a very defensive player and is attentive on the court and amongst her teammates. Ncpeek can get low and move swift across the court. She is an athlete that is not afraid to get into the floor and reflect the ball back into a live play. Ncpeek has been seen in 37 sets with 309 assists, 27 aces, 70 digs and 18 kills. She is very consistent with her sets and setting up the perfect play for her OH and making sure that her sets are consistent and are aligned with her OH for a clean kill. Ncpeek is going to be an athlete to continue to watch and grow into an elite athlete. Katelyn Wendt- Decatur Lutheran Wendt is another stellar athlete that is over looked but her talents say otherwise. Standing at 5’7", the OH may fall at a disadvantage with her height, however, her height and ability to get off the ground allows for her to be a stellar elite and on the rise to becoming an elite athlete. She serves as the captain for her team and serves a valuable purpose to her team. Wendt has played 176 sets so far in her high school career with 276 kills, 38 blocks, 160 digs and 91 aces. Wendt is a player you are going to want to keep tabs on as she is a powerful player and a very defensive player. Avaleena Stewart- Decatur Lutheran Standing at 5’10", the rising junior is on a role into perfecting her craft and only becoming a stronger athlete. Stewart has been a regular starter one varsity for her high school and has not let them down one bit. The MH is a very defensive and strategic player when it comes to setting up herself either for the kill or reflecting the play to another player on the floor. Stewart is a natural born attacker and is a pleasure to watch on the court. Thus far, Stewart has been seen in 99 sets with 222 kills, 81 blocks, 44 digs and 9 serving aces. Stewart has a strong right hand and that swing is only going to become stronger and more powerful. [player_tooltip player_id="136617" first="Megan" last="Holder"]- Aquin Catholic The freshman setter is just going to be one athlete that you are going to want to keep tabs on. Holder is a very fundamental athlete and has been non stop in making sure she gets her name out there. She is fast, attentive and concise. This season, Holder has seen action in 38 sets, securing 175 assists, 27 aces and 61 digs. Holder is just now getting a flow of high school volleyball, but that is not keeping her from staying out of the scene. Holder is a consistent setter and like all athletes, just needs more time spent in perfecting her craft.

Illinois Class 1A typically is determined by the sizes of the schools and is not always given the same attention as the 3A division, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that they don’t have explosive and dominant players. 1A is full of some talented athletes that tend to be overlooked, but their athletic skills show otherwise.

Lucy Arndt Lucy Arndt 5'11" | OH Aquin Catholic | 2023 State IL - Aquin Catholic

Arndt is another powerful OH that should not continue to be an overlooked athlete. Arndt has a relatively strong right swing and is consistent with her kills over her opponents. Standing at 5’11", Arndt has an impressive approach jump and her hits flow with consistency and tend to avoid being reflected by defending players. The sophomore has been seen in 121 sets so far over her career with 443 kills, 27 blocks, 325 digs and 47 aces. Arndt is a rising elite athlete and her athletic abilities show for that, making her a above and beyond athlete. Arndt is a stellar athlete and is going to be one to continue to watch.

Lauren Harris- Woodlawn High School

Harris is an outstanding athlete and is not an athlete that should not be overlooked. Harris is a multi-athlete and her athletic ability is one to watch and to keep watching. Harris is a powerful and strong willed OH that is not afraid to make her mark on the court. She is attentive, competitive and aggressive on the court when it comes to going in for the final kill and making sure that she secures the kill. This season, Harris was seen in 35 sets with 221 kills and 130 digs. Harris is an well rounded athlete with a solid foundation and rising athletic career. Harris should not be an under the radar athlete and she be one to continue to watch throughout her high school career.

Falyn Ncpeek- Dakota High School

Standing at 5’7", Ncpeek is a very defensive player and is attentive on the court and amongst her teammates. Ncpeek can get low and move swift across the court. She is an athlete that is not afraid to get into the floor and reflect the ball back into a live play. Ncpeek has been seen in 37 sets with 309 assists, 27 aces, 70 digs and 18 kills. She is very consistent with her sets and setting up the perfect play for her OH and making sure that her sets are consistent and are aligned with her OH for a clean kill. Ncpeek is going to be an athlete to continue to watch and grow into an elite athlete.

Katelyn Wendt- Decatur Lutheran

Wendt is another stellar athlete that is over looked but her talents say otherwise. Standing at 5’7", the OH may fall at a disadvantage with her height, however, her height and ability to get off the ground allows for her to be a stellar elite and on the rise to becoming an elite athlete. She serves as the captain for her team and serves a valuable purpose to her team. Wendt has played 176 sets so far in her high school career with 276 kills, 38 blocks, 160 digs and 91 aces. Wendt is a player you are going to want to keep tabs on as she is a powerful player and a very defensive player.

Avaleena Stewart- Decatur Lutheran

Standing at 5’10", the rising junior is on a role into perfecting her craft and only becoming a stronger athlete. Stewart has been a regular starter one varsity for her high school and has not let them down one bit. The MH is a very defensive and strategic player when it comes to setting up herself either for the kill or reflecting the play to another player on the floor. Stewart is a natural born attacker and is a pleasure to watch on the court. Thus far, Stewart has been seen in 99 sets with 222 kills, 81 blocks, 44 digs and 9 serving aces. Stewart has a strong right hand and that swing is only going to become stronger and more powerful.

Megan Holder Megan Holder 5'7" | S Aquin Catholic | 2024 State IL - Aquin Catholic

The freshman setter is just going to be one athlete that you are going to want to keep tabs on. Holder is a very fundamental athlete and has been non stop in making sure she gets her name out there. She is fast, attentive and concise. This season, Holder has seen action in 38 sets, securing 175 assists, 27 aces and 61 digs. Holder is just now getting a flow of high school volleyball, but that is not keeping her from staying out of the scene. Holder is a consistent setter and like all athletes, just needs more time spent in perfecting her craft.