Tour of Illinois: North Suburban Conference Standouts
We’re taking a “Tour of Illinois” looking at different conferences, sections of the state, and various players from all sizes of schools and classes. Illinois is absolutely loaded with top tier volleyball, some of the best athletes in the nation. …
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Continue ReadingWe’re taking a “Tour of Illinois” looking at different conferences, sections of the state, and various players from all sizes of schools and classes. Illinois is absolutely loaded with top tier volleyball, some of the best athletes in the nation. There are athletes scattered throughout the Big Ten, former Illinois preps who have worn the Team USA colors on the Olympic stage, it really is one of the top states when it comes to volleyball. Here is a look at the North Suburban Conference which is just over the border of Wisconsin with plenty of athletes having club ties to the likes of Sky High , Wisconsin Juniors, Mission, and maybe a few who head on over to Fusion and VC United . The club world is limitless and for these athletes the offseason of training with top clubs is showing this fall.
Not even 8:00 and we already have athletes making an early statement
Amanda Holsen Amanda Holsen 5'11" | OH Stevenson | 2022 State #180 Nation IL – @SkyHighVB
Mackenzie Gruner – @RecruitMKESting
Claudia Wala Claudia Wala 5'11" | MB Fremd | 2022 IL – @SkyHighVB
Kylie Hasselbacher – @Eastsidevbc96
Emme Patton – @Eastsidevbc96— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 17, 2021
Amanda Holsen Amanda Holsen 5'11" | OH Stevenson | 2022 State #180 Nation IL – Stevenson
Holsen is an athlete who is at the top of her class, for volleyball and her academics. She has given her verbal to head to the Ivy League and play in New York City for Columbia University. So far she is off to a blistering start which is no surprise after seeing her play this past club season for Sky High . She has a high contact point on the outside, but besides her ability to blast a cross court shot, much like her classroom presence, Holsen is high IQ. She can find the open spot, she has a mix where she knows when to swing, tip, roll in the right shot to get the defense out of position. She’s also a top defender where she can provide plenty of points out of a backrow attack.
PD Gauntlet time! @SkyHighVB Adidas Soph’s MacKenzie Pitera is super explosive from the pin! @PrepDigChris @prepdigil @prepdigrachel pic.twitter.com/UCp0rif55G
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) May 29, 2021
Mackenzie Pitera and Anna Wise – Lake Forest
The outside duo of Mackenzie Pitera and Anna Wise have been key players who can do a little bit of everything for Lake Forest. Pitera is another well trained, disciplined outside hitter who can go off for her team. She hits the ball high and allows herself to hit a variety of angles. Her approach is stong with a big vert where most of the time she is hitting over the block. Pitera and Wise are able to provide a strong block as well on the pin. These two will continue to pace their squad into the heart of the conference season.
Saw Ruth Ziegler Ruth Ziegler 6'3" | MB Warren Township | 2024 State IL play for @SkyHighVB 15-1 NS at the Quad Cities Clash a few weeks ago. She is a promising 2024 pin! pic.twitter.com/otqwynpcyJ
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 6, 2021
Ruth Ziegler Ruth Ziegler 6'3" | MB Warren Township | 2024 State IL and Lauren Shaw – Warren Township
Warren Township took a few lumps at a tournament over Labor Day weekend, but they will be eyeing a conference title in the North Suburban with their next matchup being against Lake Zurich. The Blue Devils will rely heavily on Ruth Ziegler Ruth Ziegler 6'3" | MB Warren Township | 2024 State IL and Lauren Shaw. Ziegler is a force to be reckoned with anywhere along the front line. I have seen her play out of the middle and on the outside where she has a bright future at either of those spots. She is rising Class of 2024 prospect where her athleticism and power speak for themselves, which has led to nearly three kills per set. Shaw is another dynamic attacker who is also putting up big numbers and will be key to have this 1-2 punch lead the way through the conference schedule.
More names to note! Hallway through Wave 1
Aida Shadewald – @RecruitMKESting
Chelsea Williams Chelsea Williams OH Lake Zurich | 2023 State IL – @SkyHighVB
Amanda Holsen Amanda Holsen 5'11" | OH Stevenson | 2022 State #180 Nation IL – @SkyHighVB
Maddie Moan Maddie Moan 6'0" | MB Woodstock | 2022 State IL – @SkyHighVB
Madison Geise – @iowapowervb pic.twitter.com/eSLzMOiRe4— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 16, 2021
Chelsea Williams Chelsea Williams OH Lake Zurich | 2023 State IL – Lake Zurich
Chelsea Williams Chelsea Williams OH Lake Zurich | 2023 State IL had a huge club season for Sky High 16 Adidas this past season and has committed to play volleyball at Miami (OH). A six rotation outside, Williams has a heavy swing. It gets to attackers quickly and is so tough to keep in system. A stat that doesn’t show up for “official stats” are plays that lead to free balls. That would be a stat that Williams would score extremely high in. The other side of the net might get a touch, but they are sending over a free ball in which Lake Zurich can run multiple options on with their offense. Jarynn Hartman is another attacker who is putting up solid numbers and setter Heidi Mason averaging nearly nine assists per set.
Libertyville
Libertyville has the pieces in the making, led by plenty of youth. An athletic lineup led by two top attackers in Keira Kasten and Hannah Fleming Hannah Fleming MB Libertyville | 2024 State IL . Kasten is a 6’1 Junior who provides a big swing on the pin and can go anywhere on the court from line to cross. Fleming is a long, athletic pin with a huge upside, and is only a sophomore. These two have been pacing the way and are showing what momentum they can build this year into future success for Libertyville. One of their setters, Jaimie Marquardt Jaimie Marquardt 5'9" | DS/L Libertyville | 2024 State IL is a top libero in her class, but can step in and play any position. This team has the athletes who will continue to improve and be a scary matchup late in the season come tournament time.
Margaret O’Brien and Josilyn Wadas Josilyn Wadas 6'1" | MB Mundelien | 2024 State IL – Mundelein
Mundelein is paced by youth as well with Margaret O’Brien and Josilyn Wadas Josilyn Wadas 6'1" | MB Mundelien | 2024 State IL leading the way in scoring points. O’Brien has also tallied 54 digs while Wadas has 16 total blocks on the season. They did start the conference season with a win over Waukegan.