By Phil Brozynski

PrepVolleyball.com recently released its list of the top 1,000 high school teams in the nation, including 2008 national champion La Costa Canyon from Carlsbad, California.

The rankings from 101-1,000 are largely ceremonial, designed to recognize teams for their overall achievement. This part of the list makes no claim that team No. 201 is better than team No. 202.

Teams from Illinois included No. 13 Joliet Catholic (39-3), No. 14 St. Charles East (38-4); No. 16 Benet Academy (40-2), No. 17 Mother McAuley (39-3); No. 43 Naperville Central (33-6); No. 70 Naperville North (33-5); and No. 122 Downers Grove South (28-8).

Also, No. 123 Breese Mater Dei (36-6), No. 124 Belleville Althoff (33-4); No. 141 Lemont (30-5); No. 172 Wheaton St. Francis (32-8); No. 173 Burlington Central (35-7); No. 179 Edwardsville (32-8); and No. 231 Quincy (34-4).

Also, No. 232 Metamora (32-3); No. 271 Bloomington; No. 272 Normal (27-9); No. 312 (Chicago) Payton (37-3); No. 313 Oak Forest (32-5); No. 314 York; No. 315. Morton (Ill.); and No. 316 Freeburg (36-5).

Also, No. 346 Lyons (28-11); No. 470 Rosary; No. 471 Lockport; No. 472 Marian Central; No. 473 Hampshire; No. 485 Evanston; No. 486 Crystal Lake South (32-7); No. 507 Marist (27-11); No. 508 Geneva (30-8); and No. 532 Hinsdale Central (28-9).

Also, No. 582 Moline; No. 583 Joliet; No. 595 Breese Central; No. 597 Glenbard East; No. 679 Cary-Grove; No. 689 Stagg; No. 725 (Elgin) St. Edward; and No. 973 Illinois Class 1A champion (Lanark) Eastland.

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The following freshmen are among those who have been nominated for the PrepVolleyball.com Frosh 59, a list of the top freshmen around the country:

Nominees from Illinois include; Meghan Niski, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter from St. Charles East; Alex Viliunas, a 6-1 setter from Lyons; Caroline Rose, a 5-7 outside hitter from York; and Maisey Mulvey, a 5-6 libero from St. Charles East.

Also, Brooke Schulte, a 5-9 outside hitter from Breese Mater Dei; Michelle Schultz, a 5-8 outside hitter from (Chicago) Payton; and Amelia Wegman, a 6-0 middle hitter from (Aurora) Rosary.

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Finally, Friday the 12th may as well have been Friday the 13th for local players whose college teams were playing in the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Regional semifinals. Western Michigan, Illinois, Michigan, UCLA, Purdue and Florida were all ousted.