First games of the volleyball season are just mere days away. Here we take a look at our schools and what they anticipate for the upcoming season. Don’t see your school? Contact Michael Wojtychiw at mmwojtychiw@cps.edu to get your team on the site!
*All coaches were contacted multiple times for this article. Those responses are listed below.
School name: Alcott College Prep
Last year’s record: 6-9
Starters returning (name, position, year in school):
Angela Kamp, OH, Captain, Senior (4 year varsity starter)
Alister Broadfoot, M, Senior
Viktoriia Babinska, S, Junior
Tess Arnold, RS, Junior
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school):
Kiara Haynes, L, Senior
Ariana Harmon, OH, Senior
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Liza Babinska, S, Sophom*ore
Iryna Shovdra, OH, Sophom*ore
KheilanyReyes, L, Freshman
Skye Burlingame, M, Senior
Karen Lopez, RS, Junior
Samiya Jordan, M, Junior
Coach’s season outlook:Our goal is to be top 3 in our conference.
School name: Amundsen
Last year’s record: 22-10, 8-1 in conference
Social media handle: @AmundsenVB
Starters returning (name, position, year in school, stats/honors if available):
Ava Solomon Junior RS,
Freja Brask Junior MH,
Zoe Brask CAPTAIN, Senior moved to OH,
Zoie Bell CAPTAIN, Senior setter
Molly Hammell Senior OH
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school):
Moira Wyatt, CAPTAIN, Senior Libero
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Sheane Finn is a Freshman OH on Varsity.
Nyla Caraway is a Freshman setter on Varsity
Sydney McHatten is a Freshman setter on Varsity
Coach’s season outlook:
We went 3 sets with Lincoln Park and lost by 2pts so we remain in the Red North Conference. I do believe that this is year we will win Conference! We have a number of returning players. We have a tall team and everyone plays club volleyball. It will be a fun group to watch!
School name: Aspira
Last year’s record: 9-4
Starters returning:
Leila Calderon
Rosalinda Fierro
Coach’s season outlook: Last year coming in 2nd with a lot of our players graduating so we are a young squad hoping to compete again thisyear!
School name: Clemente
Social media handle:@rccachicago
Starters returning (name, position, year in school):
- Jamaris Nguyen, middle hitter, senior
- Kayla Porrata, setter, senior
- Arina Koleiko, outside hitter, senior
- Talina Figueroa, defensive specialist, senior
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school):
- Mariana Cerpa, defensive specialist, senior
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
- Soraya Caillouet, outside hitter, junior
- J’maya McQuieter, middle hitter, senior (returning from an injury that sidelined her last year)
- Ciyandrea Riley-Davis, rightside hitter, junior
- Ta’khariRobinson, defensive specialist, junior
Coach’s season outlook:This year, we have a talented group of starting seniors, such as Jamaris Nguyen and Kayla Porrata, and several players joining the varsity team as juniors, like Ciyandrea Riley-Davis and Soraya Caillouet. The Clemente Wildcats are looking forward to a competitive season. We are excited to be further developing our offensive options with a strong front row and perfecting our defense with a deep bench of ace passers. We have a few players who were unable to compete last year coming back for their senior season, like J’Maya McQuieter and Jania Norris. While we can’t mention everyone on the team, we are expecting this season to be successful with all the girls on the team!
School name: Crane Medical Prep High School
Last year’s record: 4-10
Starters returning (name, position, year in school):
Taniya Reynolds-OPP (SO)
AriaelBuckly – Setter (JR)
Ginger Morgan – Setter (SR)
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school):
Genette Bowers – MD (SO)
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Essence Hale – OH (Fr)
Shannon Breeze – Libero (FR)
Mariah Williams – DS (SO)
Alicia Mitchell – Setter (FR)
Coach’s season outlook: To take last year’s season learn from it, adjust, and grow. To win more games this year than last year for sure!
School: Hanco*ck
Starters returning (name, position):
Erin Gunnell – Setter
Jessica Ballasteros – Middle Hitter
Andrea Orellana – DS/Libero
Key reserves returning (name, position):
Tiffany Garcia – Setter
Isabella Morales – OH
Ema Mora – RS
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Rebecca Love – Sophom*ore – OH
Coach’s season outlook:The past three years we have been in third place in our conference, our goal this year is to win our Red South Conference.
School name: Juárez
Social media handle:@bjcavolleyball
Starters returning (name, position, year in school, stats/honors if available):
Kiera Shew- Outside Hitter, Senior
Kiana Shew- Outside hitter, Sophom*ore
Mariana Soto- Middle Blocker, Senior
Jasmine Vargas- Setter, Senior
Jasmine Reyes- Middle Blocker, Senior
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school, stats if available):
Cristal Espinoza- Middle/ Right Side, Sophom*ore
Yaletsi Carrillo- OH/RS, Senior
Ariana Vargas- Libero, Junior
Melissa Munoz- Right Side, Junior
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Elizabeth Swiontek- OH/RS, Senior
Yelitza Hernandez- OH/RS, Senior
Tanya Miranda- RS/setter, Senior
Marisol Santos- setter, Sophom*ore
Genevieve Lopez- Libero, Freshmen
Coach’s season outlook:
As we gear up for another exciting season of high school volleyball, theJuárez Lady Eagles are poised to make a strong impact on the court. With a blend of experienced upperclassmen and promising newcomers, the team is set to build on the successes of previous seasons and push for even greater achievements.
School name: Kennedy
Last year’s record: 12-8-2
Starters returning (name, position, year in school):
SR- Xitlali Lopez- S
SR- Karolina Carreon- Libero
SR- Paxson Krolak- OH/RS
SR- Bianca Arroyo- MH
JR- Mariana Ceron Sanchez- S/OH
JR- Madeleine Kurysz- OH
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school):
SR- Angelica Stasik- DS
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
FR- Kayle
Coaches Outlook:
We are a small but mighty team planning to be a formidable opponent to all teams we take on. We finished 2nd in the red south conference, so our goal is to finish 1st this year. We’re chasing the high of last years’ second regional championship for our program and look forward to what this season brings. On behalf of the Kennedy coaching staff and athletes, we wish all teams a successful season!
School name: Lane Tech College Prep
Last year’s record: 21-14
Social media handle: https://www.instagram.com/lanetechgirlsvolleyball/
College commits: Mary Denny to UMASS Boston, Ellie Madrigal to Barry University, Maggie O’Brien to Quincy University
Starters returning (name, position, year in school, stats):
Seniors:
Juliana Apezzato DS – 238 Receptions Last year.
Kasey Flynn – Middle – 40 Blocks Last Season
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school):
Anya Moore – Setter – Senior
Amia Carreno – DS – Senior
Mia Djuric – RS – Senior
Samantha Jenkins – RS – 68 kills, – Senior
Alyssa Loverde – Setter
Sophia Abdulla – Sophom*ore – Middle
Colette Heneghan – Sophom*ore – Outside Hitter
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Sophom*ores:
Lena Palus – Defender
Freshmen:
Sophia Polec – Middle
Janelle-Elise Ibeagha – Outside HItter
Coach’s season outlook: We have a lotof returners as well as new players that should help our team do well this season. We hope to improve our record of 21-14 this season. We had fun hosting the IHSA Regional playoffs and hope we can do it again next year.
School name:Northside College Prep
Last year’s record:17-16
Starters returning (name, position, year in school):
Jr – Maia Khetani – OH (captain)
So – Caroline Wright – MB (captain)
Jr – Evy Chan – L/DS
Jr – Sezim Amirakulova – L/DS
Jr – Lily Fisher – S
Jr – Bridget Ward – OH
Sr – Payton Phoxay – Opp
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Fr – Jilliyn Yung – S
Coach’s season outlook:We ended middle of the pack for the Gold Super Conference last season. We are looking to go over 500 in conference, take 1st at our Varsity Invite, and make a run at City and Regionals. Very excited about this group!
School name: Walter Payton College Prep
Last year’s record: 22-15
Social media handle: paytongirlsvolleyball (Instagram)
Starters returning (name, position, year in school, stats/honors if available):
Marissa Mancine: Senior, Libero
Cilia Conley: Senior, Middle Hitter
Isa Hughes: Junior, Setter – holds the record the most assists in a singleseason with 405 at Payton
Emily Sprenger: Junior, Middle Hitter – stands at the top of the conference in blocks from last season
Key reserves returning (name, position, year in school, stats if available):
Anastasia Churyla: Sophom*ore, Middle Hitter
Kate Murray: Sophom*ore, Outside Hitter
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Eliana Snopek: Freshman, Outside Hitter
Charlotte Fumerton-Porter: Sophom*ore, Opposite Hitter
Coach’s season outlook:
This year, the Payton Grizzlies have a tough and competing team. We are hoping to bounce back from a loss in the CPL SemiFinals match and hope to make it to the finals this year. We are hoping to compete and be back-to-back regional champions thisyear and chase a sectional final appearance or title in a tough class and sectional. We are carrying over our momentumfrom a spectacular season last fall and hoping to surpass our win goal thisyear by atleast 4 games. Our goal is to minimizemistakes and serve line-to-line aggressively. We also hope to play tough defense against thebig teams. If we can do all of that, we will surpass 22 wins and get a regional championship.
School name: Phoenix Military Academy
Last year’s record: 9-8
Social media handle:@pmavolleyball
Starters returning (name, position, year in school):
Liliana Gonzalez – Sr
Journi Easter – Sr
AllissonCastillo – Sr
Key newcomers (name, position, year in school):
Marisol Castro – Sr
Coach’s season outlook:With many of the sophom*ores from last year’s8-1 winning JV season coming up to the varsity level I have high hopes for this year’s team. The Lady Firebirds have been hard at work this summer in the weight room 3x a weekand attending Loyola University’s volleyball camp in July. Our fundamentals have improved over the summer so I am looking forward to seeing our program develop and take it to the next level in 2024 and in years to come!
