Prepvolleyball.com recently released its list of the top 17s club teams in the country. The top 10 17s club teams are listed along with the ranked teams from Illinois.
2011 Pre-Season National 17s Club Rankings
5. Sky High “Karate” (Illinois)
The Facts: Sky High turned heads big time at the end of last year by winning AAUs in 16 Open and then logging a T-3 in Reno. There’s no reason the success should not continue this season. The team plays with intensity, serves tough and has a threat at every position. Key returnees include smart setter Abby Gilleland, athletic libero Amy Dion and hard hitting attacker Amelia Anderson. The team, which will be coached by Scott Harris, has added 6-2 middle Daiva Wise from Sports Performance and 5-10 RS Mary Streidl from Rolling Thunder. That makes this an even deeper, more talented squad from a year ago.
The Pun: Creighton recruit Melanie Jereb is a great athlete and a jewel of an outside hitter. When she gets set for a big kill, parents look at one another and say, “They went to Jereb.”
26. “I Held Her” 1st Alliance (Illinois)
The Facts: Eight return off of the team that finished 25th in 16 Open at Junior Nationals a year ago. The returnees include strong setter Katie Gallagher, two physical middles in Gabby Pethokoukis and Lauren Zielinski and great defense from Jill Hickey and Bridget Powell. Setter Jenna Jacobson and RS Melissa Nava are both impact newcomers for coach Nic Paquiz.
The Pun: Caroline Rose can be a thorn in the side of opponents.
The Next 20
35. Club Fusion (Illinois)
High Honorable Mention
Illini Elite (Illinois)
Rolling Thunder (Illinois)
