Preseason Analysis: Illinois' No. 2 Girls Prep Volleyball Team Packed With Talent

With a second place finish at the IHSA state tournament in 2009 under their belt, the Lyons Township girls volleyball team formally began practicing Aug.16 in preparation for their first home quad meet of the season against York, Sandburg, and Lake Forest high schools on Sept. 3.

The girls team consists of four Division I bound players: seniors Erin Juley, Jocelynn Birks, Kelsey Keeve and junior Alexis Villunas. Birks and Villunas have both committed to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign while Juley and Keeve will play at Long Beach State University and Southeast Missouri State University, respectively.

Though Lyons' standouts are likely looking ahead to their collegiate future already, coach Joann Pyritz is confident their focus will remain unshaken.

"They still play for LTHS," Pyritz said. "They're well aware that's for next year, or in Alexis's case, two years. They're still committed to their high school team."

The team faces a few obstacles: a pre-season injury to Villunas, who suffered a fractured wrist prior to the start of the season, and Juley's torn ACL, which is still healing.

Fortunately for the Lady Lions, the squad's potential isn't limited to their four star team members—other standouts include juniors Megan Miller and Rachel Masterson, and seniors Liz O' Malley, Sara Bres, and Eve Hoffman

"We have talent at every position," Villunas said. "We are a very consistent team and that wouldn't be possible without having talented players."

But, LTHS did lose a few key players to graduation.

"We lost two middle players in Tiffany Vasquez and Katie Bazzoni," Pyritz said. "We lost a right hitter in Maureen Stroka, and Jamie Lundstrom who was our libero. All four of them were starters."

Miller agrees the loss of the senior class will impact the team. She responded to questions via e-mail.

"Our seniors last year were all really dependable leaders and you could always count on them during the most important moments," Miller said. "Now we have to try and have the players taking their spots this year always be reliable like they were."

But Pyritz believes the team has what it takes to pump out another positive season.

"According to our known talents, we should do well," Pyritz said. "It's going to take some drive and determination, and the whole team is going to have to work hard."

 And, building a unified team will only help their chances in the playoffs.

"We still have a lot of team bonding to do, but I think at the rate we are going, we are going to be a very close team by the end when it will really be needed," Villunas said.

As is true with high school sports especially, team chemistry can affect success.

"If a team isn't cohesive on and off the floor, they simply don't perform well," Pyritz said. "They'll develop the cohesiveness over the year."