Some heavy hitters top the list

The 2008 Sun-Times All-Area girls volleyball team includes (front row, from left) Laura Homann, Jenna Litoborski, Julie Chin, Amanda Peterson and Emily McGee, (back row, from left) Jessica Jendryk, Ariana Mankus, Player of the Year Desiree Aramburu, Kelly Griffin, Annemaire Hickey and Allison Straumann.
(John H. White/Sun-Times)

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Emily McGee of Naperville Central and Jessica Jendryk of Benet, 2007 second-team selections, and Player of the Year Desiree Aramburu of Mother McAuley head the 2008 Sun-Times All-Area girls volleyball team.

McGee, who helped Naperville Central win the Class 4A title last year, drove the Redhawks to a DuPage Valley Conference title and sectional-title-game berth with 424 kills on a .388 hitting percentage, 307 digs and 27 blocks.

"Emily is an explosive all-around player," coach Brie Isaacson said. "Her passion and heart for the game is contagious."

Jendryk, an Illinois recruit, had 250 kills, 103 blocks and 54 aces, while hitting at a staggering .452 clip for 4A semifinalist Benet.

"Jessica can change a game with more than her hitting, as she is a great blocker who possesses one of the best jump serves in the state," coach Brad Baker said.

Northwestern recruit Julie Chin of Naperville North was one of the reasons why the Huskies earned a share of the DuPage Valley Conference title. Chin had 427 digs and added 24 aces.

"Julie’s contributions on serve- receive and defense are one of the reasons our team had such a successful season," coach Jennifer Urban said.

One of the biggest surprises of the 2008 season was Payton’s historic march to the 3A semifinals. Courtney Cunningham’s 456 kills, 77 blocks and 42 aces were a big part of the Grizzlies’ success.

"Courtney is definitely the most dominant player to ever jump through the city league," coach Joel Anderson said. "She was also an excellent leader to a very young team on and off the court."

Mother McAuley’s Kelly Griffin is another in a long line of outstanding performers for the South Side power. Griffin hit .329 with 253 kills and 46 blocks. She was named MVP at Autumnfest and ESPN’s Rise National Player of the Week.

"Kelly is hitting her stride as an outside and has worked hard to become one of the most dominating hitters in the state," coach Jen DeJarld said.

Junior Annemarie Hickey of Joliet Catholic is proof that when it comes to hitting, size doesn’t matter. The 5-8 junior had 359 kills during the regular season and added 22 in the supersectional win over St. Francis.

"Annemarie is a dynamic player whose size is deceptive," coach Chris Scheibe said. "She can just overpower players with her swings. She also has great court sense and can find holes in the opponent’s defense."

Another player who excelled despite her stature was Benet’s Ariana Mankus, a West Point recruit who compiled a team-high 322 kills, 63 aces and 115 digs while hitting at a .348 clip for the once-beaten Redwings.

"Ariana is a fierce competitor who plays much taller than her 5-9 frame," Baker said. "She not only possesses all the shots, she knows when to hit them."

Finding holes in defenses is also important to a setter, and few setters were as good as St. Charles East’s Laura Homann. Homann had 1,041 assists, 44 kills, 88 blocks and 30 aces while leading the Saints to the 4A semifinals.

Joliet Catholic ended Lemont’s season in the sectional finals, but Jenna Litoborski’s career will continue at North Carolina-Charlotte. Litoborski led Lemont in kills each year during her three-year career and contributed to two regional and two conference titles.

"Jenna has been a huge help in bringing Lemont to the forefront of Illinois volleyball," coach Chris Zogata said. "She is dedicated and hardworking and has an incredible drive to succeed."

Glenbard East’s Amanda Peterson will try to lead Ohio State to the forefront of the Big Ten next fall after completing an outstanding career that included unanimous all-conference honors, 233 assists, 352 kills, 73 blocks, 157 digs and 37 aces this fall.

"Amanda embodies what it means to be a team player and leader," coach Marci Maier said. "Her skill is matched by her intensity, competitiveness and knowledge of the game."

An ankle injury prematurely ended the high school career of Cary-Grove’s Allison Straumann. But the Iowa-bound outside hitter still finished with a team-high 215 kills, 217 digs and 38 blocks while posting a serve-receive ratio of 2.214.

"Alli did not start playing volleyball until the eighth grade but developed quickly and has made huge strides in her game physically and mentally," coach Patty Langanis said.