Here are the Springfield area's top 10 high school volleyball teams for the 2023 season

The high school volleyball season is just getting underway this week.

A number of familiar teams will strive to retain their supremacy in the Springfield area. That certainly includes Rochester and Pleasant Plains.

Others such as Lincoln and Williamsville will attempt to build on last season’s buzzworthy achievements.

Here are some of the area’s top volleyball teams in the area, listed in no particular order.

Why Williamsville volleyball and its junior hitter will be on everyone’s radar this season

Rochester

A talented senior class faces an early gauntlet at the start of the season.  Rochester begins the season against 3A state finalist Taylorville on Monday before meeting Pleasant Plains on Thursday. Williamsville (Monday, August 28), Normal University (Thursday, August 31) and Lincoln (Tuesday, September 5) also loom out of the gate. Senior Charlotte Beatty is poised to become the team’s primary setter while fellow seniors Ellie Gegen and Grace Jameson will help reinforce the front row. Senior libero Sydney Dulin replaces Reed in the back row.

Lincoln

Former Lincoln Land Community College assistant coach Kaylee Lowery, formerly Beekman, inherits a formidable group of returning key contributors that include hitters Peyton Sasse, Kloe Froebe and Alyssa Company -- not to mention senior libero Becca Heitzig, The State Journal-Register’s reigning Female Athlete of the Year. Sasse, Froebe and Company combined for 731 kills last season. The Railsplitters bowed to Normal University in the 3A sectional semifinals after claiming their first regional title since 2014. The Railsplitters seem poised to shake up the Central State Eight Conference in their first season back in the league.

Pleasant Plains

Senior outside hitter Sydney McAfee brushed shoulders with former stars Lauren Buxton and Peyton Bergschneider in the front row but still found a way to generate 277 kills and 228 digs last season. Senior libero Paige Weatherford will lead the back row after the Cardinals wound up in the 2A super sectionals for a second straight season. Seniors Claire Long and Adi Fraase will alternate at setter while Zoe Hiltabrand also returns as a hitter. Long previously complemented graduate Jaycee Smith with 423 assists last season.

Williamsville

A burgeoning core not only helped catapult the Bullets to the Sangamo Conference title but also the Class 2A regional crown. Those key returning players include juniors Riley Holliday (setter) and Britni Walters (outside hitter) as well as seniors Hope Keenan (libero) and Paige Wendling (middle blocker). Britni’s sister, Brianna, will also hit the varsity floor as a sophomore outside hitter.

Taylorville

The Tornadoes forged their first-ever state appearance in Class 3A last fall. Junior Mazie Fleming (168 kills, 69 blocks) and sophomore Robyn Odugbesan (181 kills, 51 blocks) will present a fearsome duo in the front row as middle hitters, along with junior outside hitter Olivia Woodward (105 kills, 186 digs). Junior outside hitter Addison Tarr, though, is out for the season with an injury.

Athens

The Warriors return plenty of firepower. Juniors Addie Stadsholt (195 kills, 135 digs), Karsyn Jacoby (213 kills, 266 digs)and Isabella Link (145 kills, 232 digs), and senior Kenna Celitti (157 kills) combined for more than 700 of the team’s 881 kills in addition to nearly 700 digs. Freshman Arabelle Cunningham adds to a promising future ahead after ascending to the Illinois Elementary School Association state finals the past two years as a setter in seventh and eighth grade.

Raymond Lincolnwood

The Lancers secured a third straight Class 1A regional title and tied head coach Kimberly Denney’s best season for most wins at 34-4 overall but graduated a core of those players. That included Hailee Belsher to Lincoln Land Community College and Tessa Funderburk to Blackburn College. Juniors Morgan Cowdrey (setter), Jazmin Seaton-Hobson (outside hitter) and Kierstyn Denney (right-side hitter) are expected to assume larger roles, along with the team’s only senior in the lineup, libero Taryn Millburg.

More: Meet the SJ-R volleyball players of the year and all-area team

Springfield High

The Senators can’t be overlooked with the potent arm of senior outside hitter Ruth Becker. Junior Madison Clark is set to replace Becker’s cousin, Megan, as the primary setter while senior Alix Bibb moves over to outside hitter after the Senators won their first City title since 2014 and finished 26-10 overall.

Normal University

The Pioneers won a share of the Central State Eight Conference title with SHS and Rochester before dropping to Taylorville in the 3A super sectionals. Mike Bolhuis’ crew graduated a couple of outside hitters but still returns a copious amount of experience. That includes Rachel Ogunleye (196 kills, 50 blocks), Levyn Snow (183 kills, 174 digs), Laney Snow (151 kills, 60 digs), Morgan Petelin (253 assists, 88 digs), Lola Clayton (472 assists, 107 digs), Emma Jean Lehnen (233 digs) and Jozey Lee (43 kills, 41 blocks).

Staunton

The Bulldogs will vie for a fourth straight South Central Conference title but without star cousins, Haris and Kennedy Legendre. The back row remains resolute with senior libero Kylie Lucykow (362 digs).

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA volleyball: Top Springfield IL volleyball teams for 2023