The News-Gazette's volleyball Top 10: Westville holding off charging pack

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There’s still only one volleyball team in the area that hasn’t lost. Naturally, they maintained the top spot, but the next few teams might have something to say about that soon. Preps coordinator Zach Piatt takes a closer look at the area’s best:

1. Westville

Record: 13-0

Previous ranking: No. 1

The top spot this week could easily and justifiably go to five different teams, but that zero in the Tigers’ loss column is what’s keeping them there despite a few red-hot programs right on their heels. Just a trio of wins on the ledger this past week, but Mariah Rolinitis’ team has a busy tournament weekend coming up where it can really solidify that No. 1 ranking.

2. St. Thomas More

Record: 15-1

Previous ranking: No. 3

Going 5-0 last Saturday to win the Clinton Tournament certainly didn’t hurt the STM’s case. Senior setter Addie Kerr tallied 107 assists throughout the tournament to move her past the 1,000-assist milestone for her career. This came one weekend after senior outside hitter Shannon Monahan reached 1,000 career kills in the Centennial Invite.

3. LeRoy

Record: 13-2

Previous ranking: No. 4

Another team that brought home some weekend hardware — well, kept at home in this case — were the Panthers, winning all four of their matches without dropping a set to claim the second-annual LeRoy Invite title. The setting duo of Sadee Owens and Kendyl Spratt feeding the hitting duo of Laila Carr and Natalie Loy continues to work along with a balanced defense.

4. Mahomet-Seymour

Record: 13-2

Previous ranking: No. 2

Talk about small margins for error. The Bulldogs lost one match to undefeated Normal West in the Lincoln Invite, and they had to settle for fifth place. That one loss is also the only reason they fell two spots here. Again, every team in the top five is deserving. Still, Ellie Barker and Lily Bosworth are proving they can lead this team to compete with anybody.

5. Cissna Park

Record: 9-1

Previous ranking: No. 5

The Timberwolves ended the 2023 season as our No. 1 team and have most of their key players back. The only reason they’re not fighting for the top spot now is because of their smaller sample size. Cissna Park has played less than all the teams above it, but going slow and steady has worked so far. Addison Lucht hasn’t dominated the stat sheet, but she hasn’t had to with everyone else stepping up.

6. Champaign Central

Record: 8-8

Previous ranking: No. 6

A 4-5 start against some tough competition has been followed by a 4-3 week to lift the Maroons back to the .500 mark, with the highlight being a three-set win over Peoria Notre Dame, the program’s 1,000th victory. Per usual, senior outside hitter Bridget Cassady led the way in that match with nine kills and 12 digs. She paces a team that appears to be the best of the rest at the moment.

7. Monticello

Record: 9-4

Previous ranking: No. 7

A win over Clinton and a loss to Shelbyville in the last week have Kim Allison’s Sages holding their ground on this list. Sierrah Downey, our latest girls’ Athlete of the Week, is still leading the charge, but players like Emerson Snook, Addison Finet, Cassidee Stoffel and Mady Melton are proving to be solid complements who could help Monticello reach the upper tier in the area.

8. Gibson City- Melvin-Sibley

Record: 8-3

Previous ranking: No. 10

Teams like St. Joseph-Ogden, Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin and Salt Fork are banging on the door of this Top 10, but the Falcons aren’t blinking. Sweeps over Flanagan-Cornell and Rantoul have vaulted GCMS past its win total from 2023. Bailey Bunting is starting to emerge as one of the leaders of a group that has a balanced approach on both sides of the net.

9. Watseka

Record: 9-5

Previous ranking: No. 8

Much like Monticello, the Warriors are still searching for that signature win to put them in the same conversation with the area’s best. A loss to South Newton broke a four-match win streak for Watseka, with the toughest part of its schedule coming in October. Lauren Tegtmeyer is still a force at the net both offensively and defensively, and a few others are coming into their own.

10. Arthur Christian

Record: 13-2

Previous ranking: Unranked

The Conquering Riders got their season off to a solid start by going undefeated in their sixth-annual Arthur Christian Classic. Addi Erwin, Brileigh Mast, Selah Wheeler and Phoenix Kelmel have been the regulars to provide the team’s spark on the court, and they’ve paved the way for what looks to be another successful run after going 29-8 in 2023.