All-area girls volleyball team

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Athlete of the Year: Kelly Lamberti, Cary-Grove, jr., outside hitter

Coach of the Year: Patty Langanis, Cary-Grove

First team

Taylor Brauneis

Prairie Ridge, sr.,
setter/outside hitter

Brauneis was the best pure setter in the area, hit well and became a force at net for the Wolves. Brauneis had 99.9 percent accuracy as a setter with 322 assists. She added 128 kill blocks – second-best in school history – 315 kills, 109 blocks and 63 aces. Brauneis was selected to the Champaign News-Gazette’s All-State Second Team and was an FVC Fox Division All-Conference player. She will play volleyball next year at Louisville.

Ashleigh Fisher

Harvard, sr., outside hitter

Fisher set a Class 2A record for most kills during the state finals, terminating 38 times between Harvard’s semifinal match against Chicago Christian and its third-place match against Carlinville. The Hornets finished fourth, and Fisher was a big reason for their success. She finished the season with 452 kills, 324 digs and 52 aces. The outside hitter presented matchup problems for opponents all season. She was a Big Northern Conference East Division All-Conference unanimous selection and received special mention on the Champaign News-Gazette’s All-State team. Fisher has not selected a college.

Abbey Heredia

Cary-Grove, sr., setter

When the Trojans decided to go for a state title this season, it was Heredia who made sure team chemistry was at an all-time high. Heredia, who ran C-G’s high-octane offense, had 865 assists this season for the Class 4A state champion Trojans. She set a school record for most career assists with 3,204, third-most in IHSA history. Heredia was an All-State Second Team selection by the Champaign News-Gazette and an FVC Valley Division All-Conference player. She will play volleyball next year at Jacksonville (Ala.) State.

Julie Jeziorowski

Crystal Lake Central, sr., libero

Jeziorowski, a two-time Northwest Herald All-Area First-Team selection, was the best defensive player in the area, coming up with 589 digs with a 94.2 percent passing accuracy. Her serving also was strong; she posted 152 points and 40 aces. Jeziorowski led the Tigers to a 37-5 mark. They also shared the FVC Fox Division title and won regional, sectional and supersectional titles before taking fourth in the Class 3A state tournament. Jeziorowski is an All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette and an FVC Fox Division All-Conference player. She will play volleyball next season for Marquette.

SFlbKelly Lamberti

Cary-Grove, jr., outside hitter

Lamberti, the Northwest Herald Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, set a school record for most kills (402) and aces (96) in a season. She has 1,215 kills and 212 aces in a three-year varsity career. Lamberti’s performance in the Class 4A state semifinal against Glenbrook South cemented her as the area’s most explosive hitter; she single-handedly rallied the Trojans to a victory in the third set. The Trojans claimed the school’s first team state championship with a victory against Lyons. Lamberti is a Champaign News-Gazette All-State selection and an FVC Valley Division All-Conference player. She has not selected a college.

Amy Wehrs

Hampshire, sr., outside hitter

Wehrs and twin sister, Kara, have been a lethal 1-2 punch at Hampshire since they started on varsity as freshmen. One of the area’s strongest hitters, Amy Wehrs led hitting duties for the Whip-Purs, relying on Kara and setter Leigh-Anne Libby for her 315 kills. Amy Wehrs also was a threat from the service line, with 57 aces, and played solid defense, coming up with 197 digs. Wehrs earned an All-State special mention from the Champaign News-Gazette and was a BNC East Division All-Conference unanimous selection. Wehrs and her sister will play volleyball at Kansas next year.

Kara Wehrs

Hampshire, sr.,
setter/outside hitter

Wehrs, who started the season ranked as the No. 44 player in the nation by www.prep
volleyball.com, possesses the ability to run an offense seamlessly and hit for power. Hampshire needed Wehrs to do both, and she did not disappoint, recording 390 assists and 287 kills. Wehrs also notched 150 digs and 37 aces. She earned an All-State special mention from the Champaign News-Gazette and was a BNC East Division All-Conference unanimous selection.

Second team

Amelia Anderson – Crystal Lake Central, so., middle hitter
Amanda Carroll – Huntley, sr., setter
Amy Dion – Huntley, so., libero
Tracy Friel – Crystal Lake Central, jr., setter
Kayla Klinger – Cary-Grove, sr., outside hitter
Ashley Smith – Huntley, so., outside hitter
Danielle Tonyan – McHenry, sr., right side hitter

Honorable mention

Lindsay Anderson  – Crystal Lake Central, sr., middle hitter
Brittany Atkinson – Crystal Lake South, sr., middle hitter
Brittany Finke – Harvard, jr., outside hitter
Abby Gilleland – Marian Central, so., setter
Colleen Hargrove – Cary-Grove, sr., middle blocker
Taylor Humm – Prairie Ridge, jr., outside hitter
Mary Kate ManninG – Marian Central, sr., middle blocker
Storm Melnick – McHenry, sr., libero
Kelsey Nobilio – Johnsburg, jr., libero
Marcy Nystrom – Harvard, sr., libero
Dena Ott  – Marian Central, jr., libero
Ashley Rosch – Cary-Grove, so., middle blocker
Caitlin Schumacher – Crystal Lake South, sr., outside hitter
Lexie Weidner – Prairie Ridge sr., setter