Seven Illinois players were named as finalists for the 2009 Andi Collins Award, signifying the nation's top senior setter, by PrepVolleyball.com.

Collins was a 5-foot-10 setter at Mater Dei High School in California who died from breast cancer in 2003 at the age of 16. The award was named in her honor not only to keep her memory alive, but to remind the volleyball community of her inspirational struggle.

The Illinois' finalists were Glenbrook South's Colleen Brennan, Cary-Grove's Abbey Heredia, Sandburg's Mary Kate Imrie, St. Francis' Kristen Kelsay, Quincy's Hannah Kvitle, Joliet Catholic's Jen Murphy and Nazareth's Jill Paluch.

Brennan, a Columbia recruit, led the Titans to a third-place finish in the Illinois High School Association Class 4A tournament. Named special mention Sun-Times all-area, Brennan recorded 807 assists and 164 digs for a 37-5 team.

Heredia was the inspirational force in the Trojans' run to the Illinois 4A title and leaves the school as its all-time assist leader. She piled up 865 in 2009 en route to earning second team all state honors by the Champaign News-Gazette.

Imrie earned Sun-Times first-team all-area honors after leading Sandburg to a 32-7 record and status as one of the state's best teams. Imrie, who will attend Illinois-Chicago, amassed 719 assists, 260 digs and 115 kills in 2009.

Another Sun-Times first team all-area selection, Kelsay heads to Nebraska after totaling 875 assists and 52 blocks for a 36-3 team that had match point against eventual Class 3A champion Joliet Catholic in the sectional final.

Kvitle was a Champaign News-Gazette first team all-state performer who led the Quincy Blue Devils to the 4A final four and established school season records for assists (881) and aces (73). Kvitle graduated early to enroll at St. Louis University.

The Evansville-bound Murphy led Joliet Catholic to another state championship in Class 3A as well as a school record for wins in a season. Murphy was a Champaign News-Gazette honorable mention all-state selection.

Named special mention all-area by the Sun-Times, the 5-foot-4 Paluch led Nazareth Academy to its first ever regional and sectional championships in 2009. She will take her immense intensity and desire to Akron in the fall.

Despite the many fine nominees from Illinois, Dani Reinert of Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy was named the recipient of the seventh annual Andi Collins Award. Barrington's Nellie Spicer (2004) remains the only Collins Award winner from Illinois.

***

Four Illinois players, including three from the Chicago area, were among the Frosh 59 - the best high school playing freshmen of 2009 - announced by PrepVolleyball.com earlier this week.

The four Illinois freshmen are St. Charles East's Erienne Barry, West Aurora's Lauren Carlini, St. Ignatius' Sophia Dodd and O'Fallon's Katie Roustio.

Barry amassed 674 assist and 12 digs for the Saints, who were felled by eventual Class 4A champion Cary-Grove in the supersectional. Carlini was the only freshman named to the DuPage Valley all-conference team after collecting 185 assists and 105 kills.

Dodd's 488 assists, 191 digs and 111 kills helped St. Ignatius go 32-7, the best record in school history.

Seven Illinois players have been named All-Americans by PrepVolleyball.com.

High school All-Americans are selected from a list of nominations from coaches and sportswriters, are players who have made a "massive" impact on their team and must be one of the top players in the state regardless of class.

The seven All-Americans from Illinois are: Glenbrook South's 6-foot-4 junior outside hitter Ellen Chapman; Joliet Catholic's 5-9 senior outside hitter Annemarie Hickey; Burlington Central's 5-11 senior outside hitter Stephanie Holthus; and Sandburg's 5-10 senior setter Mary Kate Imrie.

Also named All-American from Illinois were: 5-11 senior setter Hannah Kvitle from Quincy; 6-0 junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti from Cary-Grove; and 6-1 senior outside hitter Kelsey Robinson from Wheaton St. Francis.

The 150 members of PrepVolleyball.com's All-American list includes 105 seniors, 34 juniors, nine sophomores and two freshmen. Eighteen were from California, 10 from Texas, seven from Illinois and Ohio, and six from Florida, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota.

PrepVolleyball.com also named 100 players "highest honorable mention" including six from Illinois: Grace Bonoma, a 5-6 senior libero from St. Ignatius; Emma Goldschmidt, a 6-1 senior rightside from O'Fallon; and Abbey Heredia, a 5-8 senior setter from Cary-Grove.

Also named "highest honorable mention" were: Chelsi Hummert, a 5-11 junior setter/outside hitter from Freeburg; Carly Thomas, a 5-11 senior setter/outside hitter from Belleville Althoff; and Colleen Yarber, a 6-1 senior outside hitter from Freeburg.

Named "honorable mention" All-Americans were Oak Forest's Natalie Fiore; St. Francis' Kristen Kelsay; Morton's Shannon McLaughlin; Normal U-High's Val Nichol; Benet's Brianne Riley; Bartlett's Carly Sahagian; Hampshire's Kara Wehrs; and Geneva's Lauren Wicinski.

Brother Rice will host the inaugural "Crusader Chicago Challenge" NAIA men's volleyball match between the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose University and the Cougars of neighboring St. Xavier University at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2.

St. Xavier is fielding a men's volleyball team for the first time. The Cougars' roster features 12 freshmen from the Chicago area. Among the familiar names are outside hitter Matt Yerkes from Marist, setter Jack Malone from Brother Rice and 6-foot-6 middle Evan Muys from Sandburg.

Meanwhile, St. Ambrose's 15-man roster is a "who's who" of Chicago-area talent led by 6-foot-5 freshman outside Dan Dierking of Naperville Central, 6-3 junior Scott Manthei of Brother Rice, 6-2 sophomore Hayden Grove of Providence and 6-6 senior Ryan Schneider of Barrington.

St. Ambrose, which has been selected to host the 2010 and 2011 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Tournament Championship, is coached by 2001 Brother Rice graduate Bill Gleeson.

***

Amber Rolfzen and Kadie Rolfzen, 6-foot-2 identical twins from Papillion-La Vista South High School in Nebraska who led their team to the Class A state final, were named PrepVolleyball.com's 2009 National Freshmen of the Year.

Amber Rolfzen finished the season with 444 kills, 286 digs, 55 blocks and 31 aces for the 36-5 Titans. Kadie Rolfzen, who was slowed by a staph infection during the state tournament, recorded 443 kills, 267 digs, 66 blocks and 27 aces.

The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star made both part of their seven-player super state team and the Omaha World-Herald recognized the twins on their seven-player All-Nebraska team. Both have already committed to the University of Nebraska.

***

Lauren Sieckmann, a 5-foot-10 setter and right side attacker who led Omaha's Marian High School to a 42-1 record and the Nebraska Class A title, has been named PrepVolleyball.com's 2009 National Sophomore of the Year.

Sieckmann, the daughter of former PGA Tour golfer Tom Sieckmann, was selected State Player of the Year by the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star, Omaha World-Herald and Gatorade. She finished season with 660 assists and 330 kills and added almost 200 digs.

She has been chosen as a setter for the 2010 U.S. Youth National Team and has committed to setting in 2012 for the University of Nebraska.

Two Illinois players are among the 36 nominees for National Junior of the Year, which will be announced no later than January 30 by Prepvolleyball.com.

Ellen Chapman, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter from Glenbrook South, was a dominant player for the Titans in 2009 and a key reason they made it to the state final four for only the second time in history. Chapman finished with 463 kills and was a top digger as well. The Wisconsin recruit is a top 50 national recruit in her class.

Six-foot outside hitter Kelly Lamberti from Cary-Grove, who led the Trojans to an upset over Lyons in the Class 4A title match, was named the Area Player of the Year by the Northwest Herald and first team all-state by the Champaign News-Gazette. Lamberti shattered school records for kills in a season (402) and a career as well as season aces (99).

Six-foot setter/outside hitter Alexis Viliunas of Lyons is among the nominees for National Sophomore of the Year. Viliunas, who was named second team all-area by the Sun-Times and Champaign News-Gazette, led Lyons to a 37-5 record and second place in the Illinois 4A tournament with 210 kills and 543 assists.

Among the 26 nominees for National Freshman of the Year is Erienne Barry, a 5-10 setter from St. Charles East. Barry took the Saints within one win of the state final four while amassing 674 assists and 102 digs for the Saints. She was named first team all-area by the Kane County Chronicle.

Also nominated for National Freshman of the Year was Katie Roustio, a 6-1 outside hitter from O'Fallon. Roustio was a big factor in O'Fallon's 29-9 mark and run to the sectional finals. A three-sport standout, Roustio amassed 310 kills and 318 blocks, both second on her team, while adding 59 total blocks and 29 aces.

Seven Illinois players were among the top 50 recruits in the Class of 2011 released recently by Prepvolleyball.com.

The top 50 list is produced from more than 200 nominations from college coaches, high school coaches and media representatives throughout the country. The list was distributed several times for additional input.

The final list included these players from Illinois: Ellen Chapman, 6-4, outside hitter, Glenbrook South (Wisconsin); Morganne Criswell, 6-1, outside hitter, Decatur Lutheran (Illinois); Morgan Leach, 6-2, middle blocker, Champaign Centennial; Val Nichol, 6-0, setter/outside hitter, Normal U-High (Purdue); Courtney Thomas, 6-0, setter/outside hitter, DeKalb (Wisconsin); Meg Vonderhaar, 6-1, outside hitter, St. Francis; and Emily Young, 6-2, setter, Schaumburg (Southern California)

The list of the next 30 players includes two players from Illinois: Jocelynn Birks, 6-2, outside hitter, Lyons Township (Illinois); and Kaisley Fisher, 6-2, middle blocker, Plainfield North (Purdue).

***

Joliet Catholic's Annemarie Hickey is among 25 finalists for the Schelde National Player of the Year award, which will be announced within a few weeks by Prepvolleyball.com..

To be considered, a senior had to make a "massive" impact on her high school team and the state. "Massive" is a subjective term, but at a minimum required that she have statistics that were the best on her team at her position and that she be one of the top 1 or 2 players in her state.

The Schelde National Player of the Year award is based solely on high school achievement in 2009, not past stardom or future collegiate success.

Hickey, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, was the consensus Illinois Player of the Year, leading the Angels to a 41-1 record and a second consecutive Illinois 3A title. The Wisconsin signee and Illinois Gatorade recipient amassed 388 kills and 358 digs, including 13 kills and 11 digs in the state final.

(Reprinted with permission from 1st Alliance)

"We are sad to report that Lions Juniors and 1st Alliance player Erin Potts lost her three-year battle with cancer December 18 at the age of 18. Erin had played for Lions Juniors and 1st Alliance from the time she was 8 years old. As a 15-year-old, she played for Lions 15-1. Then after making the First Alliance 16 Silver team as a setter, she was diagnosed with malignant sarcoma (bone cancer).

Erin started with Lions Juniors as a little cub at the age of 3. While most three-year-olds are out at the playground or running around at home with their brothers and sisters, Erin was running around with a volleyball in her hand at her older sister's volleyball tournaments. At a young age, she loved the sport often dressing up as a little lion to help support her sister's team. Erin was sweet, kind and competitive even then.

As years past and her sister moved on to a higher level of volleyball, it was Erin's turn
to play. Having been around the sport since she was 3, Erin always played above her age group. As a third and fourth grader, she played with the fifth grade. Erin was well-liked and respected by her teammates and coaches for her extensive knowledge of the game and her competitive nature.

As she continued with volleyball, she was chosen as a setter because of her leadership skills, athleticism, knowledge of the game and big hands. Erin worked very hard in this position and became an accomplished setter.

Working with Erin was a joy. She pushed her teammates, always gave 110 percent and motivated her team with laughter, smiles and encouragement. When times got rough on the court, she pushed harder. She was a competitor from day one and hated the thought of losing.

When Erin could no longer play the sport, her love for volleyball never diminished. She came in the gym to work with her team and the setters as often as she could. Having been trained as a setter for so many years, she had much insight to offer young setters. She worked them hard and wanted them to be their best at all times. Her smile continued to inspire young athletes and helped make them better players.

We will miss Erin around the gym, as she was such a positive inspiration to us all. Her smile, laughter, competitive spirit, and insight will live on in the players, teammates, and coaches she so deeply touched.

Erin attended Lyons Township High School."

And finally, this from 1st Alliance club director Sue Keck...

"Erin was a great inspiration to anyone who is struggling with a life changing situation, especially a young person."

For more information, go to http://www.1stalliancevbc.net.

By Phil Brozynski

Annemarie Hickey of two-time Class 3A champion Joliet Catholic, the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, has been named the 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois.

The Gatorade Company has been honoring the nation's top high school athletes for 25 years. In collaboration with ESPN RISE and the assistance of PrepVolleyball.com, Gatorade recognizes individual winners for the 49 states that play high school volleyball plus the District of Columbia.

The award recognizes outstanding players, great students and good citizens.

Hickey, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, is the second player from Joliet Catholic to be named Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois in the past three years. She joins 2007 winner Jennifer Murphy, now at the University of Florida.

Other players considered included St. Francis outside hitter Kelsey Robinson, Belleville Althoff setter Carly Thomas, Bartlett outside hitter Carly Sahagian and outside hitter Stephanie Holthus of Burlington Central.

Players to keep an eye on next year for the award are 6-4 junior outside hitter Ellen Chapman of Glenbrook South and 6-0 junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti of Class 4A champion Cary-Grove.

Forty-three teams from Illinois cracked Prepvolleyball.com's 2009 Century Club National top 1000 rankings, led by IHSA Class 3A champion Joliet Catholic, which checked in at No. 5.

Here is the list of Illinois teams and where they ranked (comments by Prepvolleyball.com):

5. Joliet Catholic
Final record: 41-1; Last week's ranking: 5
Pre-season ranking: 8

After winning Illinois' 3A title last year in a surprise, the Angels were expected to repeat in 2009 and did not disappoint. While OH Annemarie Hickey, the Player of the Year by both the Sun-Times and Tribune, was the team's undisputed star, the contributions of the other five seniors, including OH Alyssa Warren and setter Jennifer Murphy, cannot be overlooked. Next year's team will build around Lainey Wyman, with contributions from a sophomore and a freshman team that together lost only one match this fall.

30. St. Francis
Final record: 35-3; Last week's ranking: 30
Pre-season ranking: 29

58. Freeburg
Final record: 38-2; Last week's ranking: 58
Pre-season ranking: Not ranked

68. Cary-Grove
Final record: 36-4; Last week's ranking: 68
Pre-season ranking: Bubble

84. Lyons Township
Final record: 37-5; Last week's ranking: 84
Pre-season ranking: 71

85. Glenbrook South
Final record: 37-5; Last week's ranking: 85
Pre-season ranking: 98

90. Breese Mater Dei
Final record: 35-7; Last week's ranking: 89
Pre-season ranking: Not ranked

132. Benet Academy
Final record: 35-5

133. Hinsdale Central
Final record: 33-6

134. St. Charles East
Final record: 32-7

136. Mother McAuley
Final record: 29-11

Random note: With six sophomores contributing, the Macs started slowly. But by year's end, they were one of the most dangerous teams in Illinois. Led by libero Bridget Powell, look for McAuley to challenge for a state title in 2010.

137. Sandburg
Final record: 32-7

151. Evanston
Final record: 33-7

159. Quincy
Final record: 36-5

165. York
Final record: 28-9

194. Geneva
Final record: 35-3

195. Belleville Althoff
Final record: n/a

270. Marist
Final record: n/a

275. Naperville North
Final record: 30-8

277. Neuqua Valley
Final record: 23-10

279. Lemont
Final record: 31-8

315. Lanark Eastland
Final record: 40-2

316. Moline
Final record: 31-4

Random note: The Maroons broke into the top 100 for a stretch this year and could be a fixture in the rankings in 2010 with seven of their top 10 back, including all of their starting attackers.

366. Champaign Centennial
Final record: 34-6

368. Downers Grove North
Final record: 27-11

371. Sycamore
Final record: 35-7

381. Naperville Central
Final record: n/a

453. Crystal Lake Central
Final record: 37-5

454. Oak Forest
Final record: 30-8

457. St. Ignatius
Final record: 30-8

458. Lake Zurich
Final record: 33-7

459. Hersey
Final record: 35-4

Random note: Nancy Lill's team had a great year, which included an undefeated conference run and a win over Wisconsin Division II champion Catholic Memorial. Five key seniors graduate, but the team could reload quickly behind a JV team that did not lose a single set this season and sophomore setter Abby Fesl ready to step into a startling role.

462. Bloomington
Final record: 26-9

463. Normal Community
Final record: 25-12

464. Normal U-High
Final record: n/a

681. Nazareth Academy
Final record: 29-11

682. Chicago Payton
Final record: 22-8

685. O'Fallon
Final record: 28-9

692. Chicago Christian
Final record: 27-10

790. Carlinville
Final record: 36-4

850. Burlington Central
Final record: n/a

864. Decatur St. Teresa
Final record: 34-3

868. Murphysboro
Final record: 34-4

Illinois volleyball players continue to make their college choices, including Lyons' Erin Juley (391 assists, 17 aces), a 5-foot-10 junior dynamo who was often overlooked while serving as the Lions' second setter behind 6-foot-1 Alexis Viliunas.

Juley has verbally committed to Long Beach and is slated to practice for the Junior National team over the holidays.

Benet will also send four players to the college ranks next fall. In addition to early commits Gina Finke (Yale) and Brianne Riley (Kansas), the Redwings' Meghan Byrne (Washington University) and Sierra Young (Cornell University) have also signed letters of intent.

Meanwhile, on the boys side, Hinsdale Central's 6-foot-5 setter/opposite hitter Graham McIlvaine has committed to play at Ball State beginning with a 2020-2011 season.

***

Finally, here is a look at the final top 40 teams in Illinois, compiled for Prepvolleyball.com:

1. Joliet Catholic 39-1
2. St. Francis 35-3
3. Cary-Grove 36-4
4. Lyons 35-3
5. Breese Mater Dei 36-6
6. Glenbrook South 36-4
7. Benet 35-5
8. Hinsdale Central 33-6
9. St. Charles East 32-7
10. Mother McAuley 29-11
11. Sandburg 32-7
12. Freeburg 38-2
13. Evanston 33-7
14. York 28-9
15. Quincy 36-5
16. Geneva 35-3
17. Belleville Althoff
18. Marist
19. Naperville North 30-8
20. Neuqua Valley 23-10
21. Lemont 31-8
22. Lanark Eastland 40-2
23. Moline
24. Lemont 31-8
25. Champaign Centennial 34-6
26. Downers Grove North 27-11
27. Naperville Central
28. Sycamore 35-7
29. Crystal Lake Central 37-5
30. Oak Forest 30-8
31. St. Ignatius 30-8
32. Lake Zurich 33-7
33. Hersey 35-4
34. Nazareth 29-11
35. Chicago Payton 28-8
36. O'Fallon 28-9
37. Chicago Christian 27-10
38. Carlinville 36-4
39. Decatur St. Teresa 34-3
40. Murphysboro 34-4

So you think many principals and school administrators don't care about sports or sportsmanship?

Maybe you're right.

As part of its effort to increase sportsmanship at its member schools, the Illinois High School Association implemented a "Do What's Right" program in August 2007. The program created nine expectations for member schools, coaches, players and communities to adopt.

Among the expectations are showing respect to opponents, showing appreciation for outstanding play, respecting the judgement of game officials, emphasizing teamwork, accepting the responsibility of representing the school and community, and displaying modesty in victory.

The IHSA awarded seven sportsmanship awards to teams participating in the state finals in volleyball. The organization also recognized the efforts of schools participating in soccer and football.

The schools that were presented "Do What's Right" awards in volleyball were Carlinville, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Glenbrook South, Joliet Catholic, Chicago Christian and Payson Seymour.

Fourteen other schools were eligible to receive "Do What's Right" awards in either volleyball, soccer or football, but their administrators failed to register to participate in the program.

Does that mean those school leaders don't feel that sportsmanship is important? Or that sports are unimportant? Or that reinforcing positive behavior among young people, coaches and fans is unimportant?

Maybe the IHSA should implement another award for those schools. They can simply call it the "Do What?" award.

***

Shealyn Kolosky, Wheaton Warrenville South's 6-foot-3 junior middle hitter, verbally committed to the University of Tennessee on December 1. Kolosky will be the second Tigers to don the orange, following in the footsteps of former WW South standout Annie Sadowski ('03).

Kolosky is also the second player from WW South to commit this year, joining Monika Stanciauskas, a 6-foot-1 senior middle hitter, who signed in November to play next year at William & Mary.

***

Schaumburg's fine outside hitter/setter junior Emily Young recently verbally committed to play at the University of Southern California. Young set three school records while leading the Saxons in kills and assists this fall.

In addition to playing in one of the most competitive conferences in the country, Young also plans to take advantage of USC's outstanding academic programs. A National Honor Society student, Young ranks in the top 3 percent of her class.

***
Marist's junior libero Caroline Niedospial, a 2009 Sun-Times All-Area Volleyball special mention selection, verbally committed to Northwestern University on November 25. Niedospial is considered one of the top liberos in the Class of 2011.

She will join 2010 Northwestern recruit Stephanie Holthus of Burlington Central at the Big Ten school by the lake.

***

And finally, Illinois high school volleyball is losing one of its top officials with the "retirement" of Peg Campana of Streamwood. Campana is moving to Indiana to look for a job after her position at Advocate Health Care was eliminated.

Campana has officiated high school volleyball in Illinois for more than 30 years. She has been a fixture at both the girls and boys state tournaments. She has also officiated collegiately in the Big Ten, Missouri Valley, Big East and Southeastern Conference (SEC).

"I have to say that as much as I love officiating, I am extremely proud of being affiliated with the Illinois High School Association all these years," Campana said. "It's not about the money. It's all about the athletes."

Campana was in the chair for two of the best matches in the state this season - Joliet Catholic's dramatic three-set win over St. Francis in the Class 3A sectional, and Cary-Grove's stunning upset of Lyons in the Class 4A title match.

"It's been a great run," Campana said.