At the end of each girls volleyball season, head coaches from the East Suburban Catholic Conference assemble for a meeting to vote on the all-conference team.

When Fenwick senior Margy Acton’s named was mentioned for nomination by the Friars’ first-year head coach Kelly Colangelo at the 2008 gathering, every single coach’s hand was raised into the air.

The libero was a unanimous decision in arguably the top girls volleyball league in Illinois and is now the 2008 Suburban Life Player of the Year.

“She is a silent and strong leader,” Colangelo said. “She is confident and modest and I don’t think she realizes just how good she is. I thought she was the best libero in the conference.”

Getting to an excelling level in the ESCC, though, was a painful ride. During the summer of 2007, Acton was jogging down the prairie path in her hometown of Elmhurst. A fall kept her out for over two months of her junior season.

“I tripped while I was running,” Acton recalled. “I’m not really sure how I tripped, but it was probably my shoelaces. I fell on the gravel and it tore the skin of my knee. There were all these rocks in it. I had to go to the emergency room.”

Once at the ER, Acton’s knee was cleaned out and she received 14 stitches. In the first week after the tumble, Acton’s leg was immobilized because there was a chance that the stitches could break open.

The healing process was a slow one. Acton was out for nine weeks, did not make a return to the court until the sectional and was not 100 percent until two weeks after the 2007 campaign had come to a close.

“I had lost a lot of muscle and had to re-condition myself,” Acton said. “When I first came back, I was very conscious of my knee. I spent a lot of time working on my diving.”

However, even after missing the majority of her junior year, Acton was able receive exposure playing for 1st Alliance Volleyball Club during the offseason. Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Toledo, South Florida and Lehigh all expressed interest, but Lehigh seemed to make the most effort.

At the end of this past July, Acton and her mother flew out to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to walk around the Lehigh campus, view the facilities and meet with some faculty and admissions. At the end of the tour, Acton and her mother met with the coaching staff. They decided to offer the senior-to-be a scholarship on this unofficial visit. On Aug. 1, Acton accepted.

“I was honestly expecting to get an offer,” Acton said. “It just felt like everything was right. They want me to play next year.”

Although the young Friars went 4-6 in the ESCC this season, Acton still managed to pick up just about everything that came her way with a 14.7 digs per game average. Fenwick’s season was highlighted with a second place finish at the Lake Zurich Tournament, where Acton said the team began to gel.

“That was a turning point for the rest of the season for us,” Acton recalled. “We started three sophomores this year and experience counts for a lot.”

Fenwick went on to dominant Simeon 25-2, 25-15 in a Class 4A regional semifinal and eventually fell 25-19, 33-31 to rival Oak Park River Forest in a regional championship. Now, Acton’s attention will turn to playing with 1st Alliance during the offseason and she is scheduled to begin preseason at Lehigh in August.

“She worked hard and has kept getting better,” Colangelo said. “She has truly made an impact.”

The All-Area Team:

Margy Acton
Senior
Fenwick
POSITION Libero
STATS 2.45 serve receive average, 14.7 digs per game
ACHIEVEMENTS The Player of the Year entered 2008 coming off a knee injury that caused her to miss most of 2007. Acton responded by becoming an all-East Suburban Catholic Conference selection and had arguably the best season ever for a Fenwick libero according to many Friar-faithful. The senior will be playing at Lehigh University next season and is expected to provide an immediate impact.

Katie Bazzoni
Junior
Lyons Township
POSITION Middle
STATS 131 kills, 57 aces, 51 solo blocks
ACHIEVEMENTS A first-year starter, this junior gave the Lions a presence in the middle. She topped the Lions in blocks and ranked third in kills. Her contributions didn’t end there as the West Suburban Silver all-conference selection also was a standout server, notching a team-high 57 aces. “She is an intense player,” LT coach Joann Pyritz said. “Her serve also made a difference. She is not just a front row player. She is a multiple-skilled player.”

Sarah Hunt
Sophomore
Fenwick
POSITION Middle
STATS .209 hitting percentage, .78 blocks per game
ACHIEVEMENTS In just her first season on varsity, Hunt was forced to play in a veteran-type role as a middle blocker. Only a sophomore, Hunt displayed a consistent ability to hit, tip and block. Hunt likely will be a dynamic performer in the league for the next two years.

Rachel Levitt
Senior
Lyons Township
POSITION Outside hitter
STATS 206 kills, 25 blocks
ACHIEVEMENTS One of the few seniors on the roster, this outside hitter improved immensely this fall while leading the Lions to a berth in the Sheperd supersectional. A West Suburban Silver all-conference selection, Levitt topped the team in kills and was voted MVP of the squad by her teammates. “Rachel has worked on her game a lot over the last couple of years,” LTcoach Joann Pyritz said. “She earned a spot because her hitting was top notch.”

Jamie Lundstrom
Junior
Lyons Township
POSITION Libero
STATS 367 digs, 35 kills, 32 aces
ACHIEVEMENTS This junior was the headliner of the Lions defense, easily topping in digs. A West Suburban Silver all-conference pick, Lundstrom very rarely came off the court and was a key contributor for a team that exceeded expectations this fall. “She was in almost every rotation,” LT coach Joann Pyritz said. “We needed her back row play and leadership. Her defense is pretty top notch. She runs the ball down in the back row and gives us defensive intensity.”

Vlasta Mangia
Junior
Morton
POSITION Outside hitter
ACHIEVEMENTS Arguably the top female athlete at Morton right now with her significant contributions to volleyball, indoor track and softball, Mangia led the Mustangs to an improved record in 2008. Although she still is fairly new to the sport, the junior’s athleticism has allowed her to compete at a high level. Expect a breakout season in 2009.

Molly McCloskey
Senior
Riverside Brookfield
POSITION Outside hitter
STATS 141 kills, 64 service aces, 137 digs, 8 blocks
ACHIEVEMENTS McCloskey might be the most improved player on the team after becoming a more complete threat in 2008. The senior displayed the ability to dig and spike and still managed to be one of the more cabable leapers in the area after playing a fair amount of the season with a knee injury.

Jen Milligan
Junior
Nazareth Academy
POSITION Outside hitter
STATS 2.14 passing percentage, 104 kills, 36 service aces
ACHIEVEMENTS The junior was named to the all-East Suburban Catholic Conference team and was arguably Nazareth’s most complete front row player. Milligan has been continued to get improve since joining the varsity as a freshman in 2006. Her experience was key in both conference and postseason matches and has been vital to the Roadrunners’ success.

Jill Paluch
Junior
Nazareth Academy
POSITION Setter
STATS 17 assists per game, 7.7 digs per game, 50 kills, 38 service aces
ACHIEVEMENTS Paluch was one of the top setters in the area in 2008. She excelled in East Suburban Catholic Conference action and went on to become an all-conference selection. Her role was very important to the Roadrunners’ fifth place finish in arguably the best conference in Illinois. The junior also was an all-tournament selection at Glenbrook North and Davenport West.

Regan Riley
Senior
Riverside Brookfield
POSITION Outside hitter
STATS 271 kills, .245 hitting efficiency, 43 service aces, 176 digs, 20 blocks
ACHIEVEMENTS A Player of the Year finalist, Riley was dominant at the net in 2008 with an abundance of kills. She was instrumental in leading Riverside Brookfield to its first regional championship in 16 years. With 680 career kills, the senior’s significant contributions at the net will be missed.

Mo Stroka
Junior
Lyons Township
POSITION Outside hitter
STATS 123 digs, 104 kills, 37 assists, 17 blocks
ACHIEVEMENTS A solid all-around player, this junior was also selected to the West Suburban all-conference team. Stroka does a little bit of everything for the Lions and was a big factor in the team reaching 28 wins this fall. On the court for virtually every point, she tallied 123 digs and 104 kills to go along with 37 assists this season. “When you look at one skill,” said LT coach Joann Pyritz, “she doesn’t necessarily stand out. But she is in for everything.”

Michelle Zarbock
Senior
St. Joseph
POSITION Setter
ACHIEVEMENTS The senior’s athleticism, patience and leadership made her one of the top setters in Cook County. The three-year varsity starter will continue her St. Joseph athletic career on the softball diamond in the spring.

HONORABLE MENTION
FENWICK Jenna Vondrasek, Kelly Brennan, Mary Kate Planek
LYONS TOWNSHIP Alexis Viliunas, Laura Williams
MORTON Mia Young, Danielle Tombolato, Amber Dybala
NAZARETH Stephanie Pollich, Colleen McCollom
RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD Fallon Ryan, Abbie Fralicz, Kalie McDonald, Rita Witteman, Rachel Buccieri
ST. JOSEPH Ashley Talley, Adrianna Chavarin