In her first year on varsity in 2007, Kelsey Robinson showed glimpses of her immense talent. This past fall, the St. Francis outside hitter took her game to a whole new level.

Coming off a sophomore campaign where she led the team with 298 kills, Robinson posted impressive across-the-board numbers while leading the young and inexperienced Spartans to another 30-win campaign and a berth in a Class 3A supersectional.

For her individual exploits and the impact she had on the team, Robinson has been selected as the 2008 Leader/News/Press Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.

“She is one of the best we’ve ever had,” said St. Francis head coach Peg Kopec. “She does it all and she always wants to get better. She stepped it up this year and I am sure she will improve toward next year. Just her versatility and the skills she has at each of those; she is highly skilled at many different tasks.”

Her kill total is mind-blowing, as the junior put down 459 balls this season. Then throw in 232 digs, 55 blocks and 200 service points, some of which came via a vicious jump serve, and the depth of her talent is clearly recognized.

“Probably hitting (is my favorite),” said Robinson, who was also voted the Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year. “You can hit whatever shot you want and just the thrill of hitting the ball down. You can’t match a feeling like that.

“I just starting jump-serving this year for club. It is fun to do it; I like it. And defense, that doesn’t get a lot of credit but it makes the whole game. If you can’t get the ball up, you can’t hit it. I like digging, especially taking away a hitter’s kill.”

But despite the standout statistics, the unassuming junior was more proud of the success the team had on the court, especially considering the youth of the roster.

“It was nice to get experience,” said the junior, who played varsity basketball as a freshman at St. Francis before giving up the sport. “We lost a lot of seniors and experience. It was a great learning year for us. We built as a team and we will come out stronger next year. And I feel like even though we lost in the super, our team played amazing.

“For me personally. I had a chance to try and lead the team. I learned from all the seniors last year. Not only was this a learning year for the team but also for Kristen (Kelsay) and I individually. I love helping my teammates out; it is a great feeling seeing the rest of the team succeed.”

Next up is the offseason, which will be anything but for the junior. Along with playing club volleyball with Sports Performance, Robinson has begun the college recruiting process with a laundry list of suitors clamoring for her services.

“It is an earlier process than other sports,” she said. “I am going to take it one step at a time. I’m just looking for the best feel. I want to feel comfortable and have more like a family atmosphere because that is what I grew up with.”

And as for what areas of her game she wants to work on most over the winter, her response gave a glimpse of how driven the junior is.

“The offseason for me and other players is about building strength and becoming more versatile,” Robinson added. “It is about improving all areas of my game. I just want to be the best player I can be.”



Meet the rest of our all-area team:

Tori Clifford

Sophomore

Glenbard West

POSITION Libero

STATS 152 digs, 27 aces

ACHIEVEMENTS Any volleyball coach would admit that while a dominant hitter is a key piece to any team, a strong defensive player to initiate the offense is much more crucial. Clifford was that crucial player for a Hilltopper team that won more than 20 games. Clifford was named to the all-tournament teams at Wheaton North and Western Illinois.
“She was our leading ball control kid for the second year in a row,” Glenbard West head coach Pete Mastandrea said. “She was absolutely key.”

Julia Conard

Freshman

West Chicago

POSITION Outside hitter/middle back

ACHIEVEMENTS Even during the preseason, teammates saw the power generated by this 5-foot-9 up-and-coming talent. Her team’s struggles may have impacted her stats but opposing coaches saw enough. Conard made the all-tournament team at Downers Grove North and was the only freshman to earn any kind of DuPage Valley Conference honors — first-team honors, no less.
“She is and will be one of the best players I have coached,” said 15-year head coach Kristi Hasty.

Kristen Kelsay

Junior

St. Francis

POSITION Setter

STATS 894 assists, 82 kills, 63 aces

ACHIEVEMENTS The centerpiece of the Spartans’ offense, this junior had an outstanding campaign for the Suburban Catholic Conference champions. Kelsay, in her second year on the varsity, had 894 assists to go along with 82 kills. The all-conference selection also contributed 293 service points and 63 aces.
“She was very good,” said St. Francis head coach Peg Kopec. “We wouldn’t have gotten where we were without her. She was in charge the entire time.”

Amy Kendall

Senior

Glenbard West

POSITION Setter/Outside hitter

STATS 237 assists, 173 kills, 41 aces

ACHIEVEMENTS Kendall had a lot of help, but Hilltopper head coach Pete Mastandrea places the burden of West’s recent improvement on Kendall’s shoulders. “I hold her accountable for all our success,” Mastandrea said.
It’s easy to see why. The versatile 6-foot-2 Kendall played equally strong at setter and hitter, and was also a solid defender. The Miami of Ohio recruit became a three-year West Suburban all-conference selection and was named all-tournament at Wheaton North, Glenbard West and Western Illinois.

Darah Preston

Senior

Glenbard South

POSITION Outside hitter

STATS 244 kills, 182 digs, 75 aces

ACHIEVEMENTS Preston was a big reason why the Raiders won 24 games and won their first regional in 10 seasons. What she lacked in size (at 5-foot-6 she didn’t look like a typically imposing outside) she made up for in ability and guile. With the ability to rise above the net, hit through or around the block, or draw attention to open hitting angles for teammates, the Western Sun all-conference selection was invaluable for the Raiders both offensively and defensively (her 182 digs were second on the team).

Kelsey Robinson

Junior

St. Francis

POSITION Outside hitter

STATS 459 kills, 55 blocks, 80 aces, 232 digs

ACHIEVEMENTS One of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, this junior and the 2008 Leader/News/Press Player of the Year had a breakout season for a squad that reached the Class 3A supersectional. Able to do it all on the volleyball court, the Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year led the Spartans with 459 kills. Robinson showed her versatility by also tallying 55 blocks and 232 digs to go along with 80 aces, many of which came from her vaunted jump serve.

Dayanna Rodriguez

Senior

Wheaton Warrenville South

POSITION Outside hitter

STATS 228 kills, 194 digs

ACHIEVEMENTS Rodriguez missed the first third of the season due to injury, yet still managed to lead the team in kills by a wide margin and found a way to finish second on the team with 194 digs. Her ability to cover the court came in handy for the Tigers. The two-year starter was named to the DuPage Valley all-conference team a year after being honorable mention. Rodriguez is looking to take her game to the next level and is being recruited by several schools.

Kim Schwerdtmann

Senior

Glenbard South

POSITION Outside hitter

STATS 210 kills, 62 aces

ACHIEVEMENTS In tandem with Preston, Schwerdtmann was half of what was quietly one of the most dangerous hitting duos in the area. The four-year varsity player and all Western Sun honoree listed as an outside hitter but had no problem hitting from and defending the middle (13 solo blocks for the season) or the back line (84 digs). That versatility was a key component to the Raiders’ run to the regional title.

Amanda Straka

Senior

Glenbard South

POSITION Libero

STATS 300 digs, 28 aces

ACHIEVEMENTS Strong defense is the ignition to the engine that is a good offense, and Straka was the Raiders’ sparkplug along the back line this season. Her 300 digs were tops on the team by well over 100. Her strong defense, along with her serving skills and tireless motor, made Straka a Western Sun all-conference selection.

Kelsey Ullrich

Sophomore

Wheaton North

POSITION Outside hitter

ACHIEVEMENTS While the Falcons didn’t have a season to remember, Kelsey Ullrich followed in her big sister Jessica’s footsteps with an outstanding varsity season as a sophomore. She also happened to save her  best for the biggest matches. In a crosstown meeting with Wheaton Warrenville South in the regular season Ullrich came up with a team-high 14 kills, and had an all-around strong match with seven digs, two blocks and an ace in a three-game match. In a regional semifinal against the Tigers, Ullrich had a team-high 6 kills.

Meg Vonderhaar

Sophomore

St. Francis

POSITION Outside hitter

STATS 283 kills

ACHIEVEMENTS After compiling 159 kills a freshman, this outside hitter bumped that number up to 283 on the season. Upping her level of play toward the end of the season, this Suburban Catholic All-conference pick had 38 kills in the postseason, including nine in the sectional final victory over Rosary and 12 in the supersectional loss to Joliet Catholic.

Jackie Wolfe

Senior

Wheaton Warrenville South

POSITION Setter

STATS 354 assists, 155 kills, 141 digs

ACHIEVEMENTS Wolfe did a little bit of everything for the Tigers, and excelled at all of it. The three-year starter began the season as the Tigers’ lone setter and racked up 354 assists (second on the team). When South switched offenses Wolfe switched to outside hitter and tallied 155 kills (third on the team).
The all-DVC and all-tournament selection at the Wheaton Classic and Willowbrook will play at Illinois.
“She is one of the most versatile players I have had in our program’s history,” WWS coach Bill Schreier said.