These seniors are aces

PrepVolleyball.com has released its list of the Senior Aces, the top volleyball recruits in the Class of 2010. Five Chicago-area players were listed among those ranked between 30-100. The remainder of the list will be released later this week.

Here are the Chicago-area players who cracked the list between Nos. 30 and 100 (with comments by Prepvolleyball.com editor John Tawa):

95. Emani Sims, 5-foot-11 middle blocker, Glenbrook South (University of Miami)

Insanely athletic, Sims may not have prototypical size for a middle, but she more than makes up for it with a 10-foot-4 leap and blazing lateral speed. Because she contacts the ball from a point higher than most, she can do whatever she wants to as an attacker. Her quickness side to side is so extreme that she can move one direction and still close a block in the other. This combination should help Sims, who has committed to Miami, develop into a middle who is feared on both sides of the ball.

94. Annemarie Hickey, 5-foot-8 libero/outside hitter, Joliet Catholic (University of Wisconsin)

A favorite of college coaches, Hickey just knows how to play the game. Her best attribute is her competitive attitude and feisty “down and dirty” style of play. When you watch Hickey, you know she will do anything to win and it rubs off on those around her. Blessed with a hammer for an arm and the innate ability to score, Hickey impacts a game like someone six inches taller than she. Standing 5-8, that arm might not get much use out of the back row at Wisconsin, but Hickey will still impact the game on defense. She has a pure passing platform and plays all-out effort defense. Her feel for the game, her knowledge of the game, and her athleticism are excellent now and will only continue to improve.

44. Kara Wehrs, 5-foot-9 setter, Hampshire (University of Kansas)

Don’t let her size fool you. Wehrs is a dynamic athlete who plays every phase at the highest level. As an attacker, she is explosive off the floor with a quick arm swing that is difficult to defend. At the net, she has developed into a dominant blocker who plays much bigger than her 5-9 frame would suggest. She plays like a libero defensively with the quickness and the athletic ability to pick up any ball. Wehrs’ biggest upside, however, is as a setter, which is why she was recruited to Kansas. Having run a 6-2 for the majority of her young playing career, Wehrs has a tremendous ceiling that could allow her to develop into one of the most dynamic setters in the class. The Jayhawks will be counting on it when Wehrs and her twin sister, Amy, arrive in Lawrence in the fall.

32. Carly Sahagian, 6-foot outside hitter, Bartlett (University of Tennessee)

A very versatile athlete who can play both the left and right side, Sahagian has few weaknesses. She possesses excellent passing skills along with a very consistent jump serve and has developed into a much more physical player over the past year. Her best attributes may be intangibles in her game. Sahagian is nothing if not consistent, both in her play and court demeanor. Her ability to impact the game wit h her passing, attacking, serving will allow her to compete early for playing time at Tennessee, where she has committed.

31. Stephanie Holthus, 5-foot-11 outside hitter/libero, Burlington Central (Northwestern)

It wasn’t too long ago that many coaches wondered if Holthus could play on the outside in the Big Ten. Was she big enough? Was she physical enough? Wonder no more. The only thing Northwestern and head coach Keylor Chan are left to ponder is how soon she can arrive on campus. After a stellar junior season (525 kills, 294 digs and 75 aces) in which Holthus led Burlington Central to the IHSA state finals, this fiery competitor has answered the questions in resounding fashion. While her skill set internationally might be best suited as a libero, she will make an impact immediately at Northwestern as an outside. Holthus is a six-rotation player with the ball control and defense of a prototypical L2 and the high-flying scoring ability of an L1. Throw in a wicked jump serve and outstanding blocking ability and Holthus has the complete package.