Here are 10 of the top high school volleyball players in the Peoria area for 2023

Elite high school players have long graced the Peoria-area volleyball courts.

This season is no exception. Upperclassman are featured heavy on this list, but a sprinkling of freshman will make for an interesting 2023 high school season across Peoria. Matches begin Monday with regionals being slated nearly two months later for a Oct. 23 start.

Here are 10 high school volleyball players to watch for the 2023 season, listed in alphabetical order.

Ali Bainter, Illinois Valley Central

Bainter will miss her favorite target and three-time reigning Journal Star player of the year Kenna Wollard, but has an arsenal of hitters in Sage Geltmaker, Lizzy Short and Laila Peterson back in the mix. Her big-match experience, especially the run to the Class 2A third-place state finish, will be a huge bonus. The 5-foot-7 senior setter dished out 964 assists to go with 62 aces and 186 digs as an all-Illini Prairie Conference first-team selection.

Kaitlin Cassidy, Peoria Notre Dame

This junior hooper can play a little volleyball, too. Cassidy, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, takes over the role as a go-to option for the Irish, who played for a 2022 Class 3A regional championship. In advancing to that title match, Cassidy went off for 18 kills in a three-set semifinal victory over Morton. She was an all-Big 12 Conference honorable mention pick as PND loses Emily Beale (first team), Claire Girard (second team) and Jane Geers (HM) to graduation.

Carly Dawson, Washington

The 6-foot-1 outside hitter will be a huge factor in the Panthers' success as a freshman. She's already drawing comparisons to one of the Peoria area's all-time greats in Purdue freshman and IVC grad Kenna Wollard. Senior and all-Mid-Illini second-team pick Teriana Jones will be able to show Dawson the ropes of playing against a tough Mid-Illini Conference schedule.

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Esma Frieden, Metamora

Frieden will look to take the next step as a senior in 2023. She's played in back-to-back Class 3A Elite Eights and looks to take the Redbirds to their first-ever state finals. The 6-foot outside hitter posted a team-best 295 kills with 223 digs, 44 aces and 22 blocks for the undefeated Mid-Illini Conference champs. Last season, Frieden earned all-Mid-Illini first team and honorable mention IVCA all-state honors.

Graci Junis, Morton

The 5-foot-9 outside hitter is one of two all-Mid-Illini first-teamers who will play their senior seasons. She joins Metamora's Esma Frieden and Kennedy Barber of Limestone, who will miss 2023 with a torn ACL. Junis gets a chance to play with her setter Tyla Mattson for one more year, while looking to end a four-year regional title drought. She put up 235 kills to go with 255 digs and 36 aces in 2022.

Lilly Klaus, Tremont

The 5-foot-8 sophomore will need to step up and get used to being a leader after the graduation of three all-Heart of Illinois Conference players. Whitney Rumbold (189 kills, 221 digs, 46 aces), Mackenzie Pflederer (226 kills, 177 digs, 22 aces) and Bella Porritt (340 digs, 47 assists, 18 aces) are all gone for for first-year coach Tiffany Klaus. Now, the younger Klaus, who had 585 assists, 149 digs, 53 kills and 41 aces, will continue to run the show.

Mia Lamberti, Limestone

The 5-foot-11 freshman outside hitter/setter is helping usher in the next generation of great Peoria-area volleyball players. After being named back-to-back MVP of the Lutheran School Association state finals for Christ Lutheran, she's already getting Power 5 Division-I interest. Her mom, Jennifer Lamberti, who led Christ Lutheran to seven of the last eight LSA state titles, has joined Shelly Stoner's coaching staff as a volunteer.

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Londyn Sommerville, Richwoods

The 6-foot freshman middle hitter wraps up the trio of impact first-year players. Sommerville, whose dad is Bradley basketball great Marcellus Sommerville, comes to the Knights from Christ Lutheran where she earned back-to-back LSA state all-tournament team honors. Lamberti and Sommerville were junior high teammates and still play together with the Central Illinois Elite club team.

Etta Wagner, IVC

Wagner seems to be fitting in great as a transfer from Elmwood. She's played with the Grey Ghosts most of the summer, so on-the-court chemistry shouldn't be a problem. The 6-foot-2 senior middle hitter will be a force at the net with her 6-foot-3 teammate Lizzy Short, who was an all-Illini Prairie Conference honorable mention pick. As a junior, Wagner was named an all-Prairieland Conference first-team selection.

Allie Wiesenhofer, Fieldcrest

The 5-foot-7 outside hitter is back after her stellar junior campaign — 243 kills, 259 digs, 23 aces, 19 assists and 10 blocks. Her play helped the Knights to a 29-5 season and a Class 2A Sweet Sixteen appearance. She'll team perfectly with senior classmates Kaylin Rients and Kaitlin White. Wiesenhofer garnered an unanimous all-HOI first team selection as well as the 2022 LaSalle NewsTribune player of the year honors.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA volleyball preview: Top players in the Peoria area for 2023 season