Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Girls Volleyball All-City Team 2009; Payton Wins 3rd Straight Girls City Volleyball Title

Megan Knapp (sr) of Lane Tech finished as a second team all-city in girls volleyball

Payton won it's 3rd straight city title after a 3 set victory over Whitney Young 25-19, 12-25, 27-25 at UIC. But it wasn't easy. The Grizzlies had to come from behind to win it in the final set. The final point came on an service ace by sophomore Michelle Schultz.

CPS Girls Volleyball Final Results

1. Payton
2. Whitney Young

semi-final teams - Payton over Jones
Whitney Young  over Kennedy

Sun-times CPS Girls Volleyball All-city 2009

First Team All-City included senior Gillian Asque of Whitney Young; junior Nora Banaszek of Payton; junior Mari Faines of Payton; junior Amanda Hedberg of Young; and sophomore Jenna Jacobson of Young, Tyler Jones of Jones (player of the year)

Also, senior Megan Knapp of Lane Tech; sophomore Madisen Lenzini of Young; senior Courtney Olsen of Young; sophomore Michelle Schultz of Payton; senior Terri Taylor of Von Steuben; and senior Briana Vinson of Simeon.

Named to the Second Team All-City were: junior Christine Alvarado of Northside College Prep; senior Samantha Arce of Kelvyn Park; senior Hope Castillo of Brooks; junior Chelsea Cunningham of Young; junior Anna Fedele of Jones; and senior Heather Ksiazek of Lane Tech.

Also, sophomore Kathleen Kurtenback of Jones; junior Allie Mason of Payton; senior Renee Psenka of Northside College Prep; junior Maricella Rodriguez of Jones; senior Sandy Tran of Taft; and freshman Melina Villaber of Taft.

2008 Public League Girls Volleyball Rankings

Barbara Boksia (sr, setter)- is one of many returning seniors for Lane Tech.

1. Payton - A great coach, great returning cast, and they are the defending city champs - l a good reasons to rate Payton as the favorite to repeat for city once again. But the Grizzlies are looking for muhc more than a city title this year. Payton was one match away last year from becoming the first Public League girls volleyball team to make it to the state supersectionals and an elite 8 appearance. Look out for all-city Courtney Cunningham - one of the city's best all around athletes. Cunnigham also plays on the basketball team and is the city champion in the shot put.

2. Whitney Young - The Dolphins are another Public League program capable of making it to the state supersectionals. Last year, their state run finally ended in the sectional finals versus Lyons Township, after beating traditional volleyball powers Queen of Peace and Fenwick. Whitney Young Girls Volleyball is for real! Whitney Young won city at the frosh-soph level last year.

3. Lane Tech - This city semi-finalist from last year, will have a senior laden team this year - led by the likes of setter Siobhan Stahl, junior co-captain and outside hitter Jackie Manrique, OH Daina Kriesmint, and Middle Courtney Wolfe. The key this year will be how their new coach gets this senior laden team to gel. The Indians are experienced, ready, and have many players with club experience.

4. Morgan Park -  This is a school always filled with athletes. The Mustangs look to improve from last years city semi-finals appearance.

Others Northside Prep, Von Steuben, Kennedy, Brooks, Washington

Laura Ciesla (class of 2006) riding high at Caldwell College

Laura Ciesla (class of 2006)

Laura Ciesla ended her volleyball career at Lane Tech on a high note after a sucessful run at Lane where she helped the Indians win the 2003 city championship. She also was named on the all-academic team and starred on the girls basketball team.

She decided to continue her volleyball career at Caldwell college where she's the teams top returning player in assists, kills, and attack attempts.

She has been added to the table of Laneites who played beyond igh school:

http://www.lanetechfan.com/Lane%20Alumni.htm

Feeney Officially Named Girls Varsity Basketball Coach; Hebson named girls volleyball coach

Mary Feeney has been officially announced as the new Lane Tech girls basketball coach. Feeney, the former girls frosh-soph coach has done a splendid job at the lower levels for Lane. She has replaced Frank Zepf who was removed from the position last week.

In another move, Nicole Hebson was officially named the girls varsity volleyball coach.

Below is a video interview with Mary Feeney taken in 2007:

Reavis Ends Girls Volleyball Season

Lane returns practically everyone for next year. The only senior on the girls varsity team was all-city outside hitter Melissa Podrazka (above).

The 2007 Lane Tech Varsity Volleyball season ended Saturday afternoon at Fenwick High School against a very formable team (Reavis High School, Burbank, IL), as our valiant team lost 25-21, 25-19.  This recent loss not only closed 2007, but was an opportunity for Lane to advance in the State of Illinois tournament. 

The regional pairings seemed quite favorable for Lane, with Curie High School, Fenwick and Reavis as the scheduled opponents, which by this writers view, were beatable. 
The goals for all high school varsity teams usually are set at the beginning of the season, or at least before the teams first game.  This years Lane varsity goals might have includes a winning season record, a City Championship,  and the ultimate strong showing in the State tournament at years end.

The game on Saturday against Reavis began as a very closely played game, with Lane finally breaking ahead 21-16 after OH sophomore Manrique served Lane from a 17-16 score.  After a missed serve which made the score 21-17, Lane could not service return or successfully pass to setter Stahl with Reavis finally catching and winning the match.  Similar to last years loss to Niles West, the senior leadership on Lane's team could not execute any simple fundamental returns and hold off the opposition.  Still, there was game two to play, so thought the cheering Indian fans.
Game two brought on some very interesting substitutions and saw team captain and All-City Podrazka benched along with starting setter Stahl.
The Indians battled hard and long with OH Holand (1 ace, 2 kills, 1 aast) providing a spark and middle Kriesemint (3 kills, 2 blks) while being set by setter Borskia (5 assists).  The final score was 25-19, with Lane never really putting a scare on Reavis or never ahead on points in this second match. 

The team was lead by OH Manrique with 9 points (7 s/p, 2 s/r) and Boksia (5points), as did MH Kreisemint (5 points).  In game one and two, middles Knapp and Wolfe were keeping the taller Reavis attackers at bay and OH Fitzer contributed some serious kills (3) to give Lane an early lead in game one.

Congratulations to the girls volleyball team for their valiant efforts this year. Lane ended up finishing tied for third in the city.

Michele Deebler (jr- OH), one of the 13 juniors on the varsity team.

Girls Volleyball Team Pictures

Below are some team pictures of the girls varsity volleyball team 2007.

Click for all edited girls volleyball 2007

Click any image for larger picture

 

First - team Varsity Roster 2007:

#9  Senior/Co-Captain    Outside Hitter       Melissa Podrazka

#92 Sophomore/Co-Cap  OH                      Jackie Manrique
#3   Junior                    Defensive Spec.    Lauren Salas
#7   Junior                    Setter                 Sioban "Chevy" Stahl
#13  Junior                   Middle                 Courtney Wolfe
#20  Sophomore            Middle                 Megan Knapp
#97  Junior                   Libero                 Santine Hsueh
#99  Junior                   OH                     Jillian Fitzner
#16  Junior                   setter                 Barbara Boksia
#10  Junior                   OH                     Daina Kriesemint
#11  Junior                   OH                     Leslie O'Connor
#12  Junior                   OH                     Jordan Holand
#14  Junior                   libero                  Tiffany Tran
#5    Junior                   DS                     Jessica Hannon
#4    Junior                   OH                     Michelle Deebler
#2    Junior                   DS                      Laura Macias

Girls Volleyball Team Advances to City Semi-Finals After Beating #2 Seed Kennedy

Leslie O'Connor (jr, Outside Hitter)

PUBLIC LEAGUE GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL QUARTER FINALS @  CHICAGO MILITARY ACADEMY  10/16

A Battle - on Military grounds!

The second seeded Crusaders of Kennedy High School provided all the drama, volley of returns and tenacity that our fighting Lane Tech Indians could handle during this Public League Quarter final match.  After all the smoke cleared, the resilient LT team stormed away with a 25-22, 17-25 and 25-22 victory as they advanced to the final four semifinals on October 18 at the Academy.
The victorious Indians were led by senior captain OH Melissa Podrazka (6 kills, 4 s/r, 1 ace) and junior Daina Kriesemint (4 blocks, 6 kills & 1 service point) that kept the feisty crusaders in check and controlled center court for Lane.  Middles Wolfe and Knapp combined for 6 blocks and 3 kills who helped anchor the attack while being feed by junior setter Stahl with 7 assists. 
All three games exhibited Lane Techs steady improvement on reducing missed serves and consistent service returns by Podrazka (4), OH Manrique (3) (4 kills), Salas and Wolfe.  Lane libero Hsueh solidified the back court with numerous volley saves against a very disciplined Kennedy team whose game strategy was "let them (Lane) beat themselves" and just get the ball over the net.  Kreisemint, Podrazka, O'Connor, Manrique and company were not going to let that happen, not today! 

Next up is Payton in the Semi-finals on October 18.

Volleyball Teams all Advance Deep in City Playoffs + Varsity Roster

Courtney Wolfe (Middle; Junior)

The girls varsity volleyball  game vs. Curie HS on October 13, 2007 won by  Lane Tech   25-21, 25-23.

The victorious Indians were lead by Junior/setter Chevy Stahl who amassed a total of 7 points (6 assists & 1 kill) followed by OH Jackie Manrique with (1 dig, 4 service returns, 3 service points and 1 service ace).  Keeping the small but talented Curie players from the net were the tenacious middle players Knapp (4 kills, 2 blocks) and Wolfe (2 blocks, 2 kills and 1 service ace).  The fiery and relentless Curie team lead game 2 by a score 22-19, but the strong play of OH Leslie OConnor (1 kill), setter Barbara Borska (3 assists) and DS Lauren Salas (3 service points) closed out the deciding game in favor of the Lane team 25-23.  Co-Captain Melissa Podrazka contributed (4 kills) for Lane Tech (7th seed), who now travel to southside Chicago Military on the 16th of October, and take on 2nd seeded Kennedy High School, from Chicago's southwest side.


The Lane Tech J/V team also battled a feisty Curie High team in their quest for a city crown.  The marauding Lane Tech Indians up-ended the visiting team 25-11, 25-18 and prepare for their next victim.


On Saturday, October 13, the very talented Freshman Lane Tech team, lead by Middle Olivia Fuentes, remained undefeated as they cruised past opponents Prosser HS and Walter Payton.  This young freshmen Lane team has some very talented players and the future volleyball forecast for Lane looks very bright and sunny!  Look Out JV"s! 

First - team Varsity Roster 2007:

#9  Senior/Co-Captain    Outside Hitter       Melissa Podrazka

#92 Sophomore/Co-Cap  OH                      Jackie Manrique
#3   Junior                    Defensive Spec.    Lauren Salas
#7   Junior                    Setter                 Sioban "Chevy" Stahl
#13  Junior                   Middle                 Courtney Wolfe
#20  Sophomore            Middle                 Megan Knapp
#97  Junior                   Libero                 Santine Hsueh
#99  Junior                   OH                     Jillian Fitzner
#16  Junior                   setter                 Barbara Boksia
#10  Junior                   OH                     Daina Kriesemint
#11  Junior                   OH                     Leslie O'Connor
#12  Junior                   OH                     Jordan Holand
#14  Junior                   libero                  Tiffany Tran
#5    Junior                   DS                     Jessica Hannon
#4    Junior                   OH                     Michelle Deebler
#2    Junior                   DS                      Laura Macias

Girls Volleyball City Playoff Notes and Schedule

Lane’s first city playoff game was against Prosser High, a victorious 25-11, 25-9 match.  The team secured its second consecutive win against Public league opponents within the last two weeks (Lake View High was defeated by Lane on 10/5/2007, 25-4, 25-12) as Lane closed out the 2007 Public league campaign.  Previously, Lane had been mired in a 2 week losing stretch as Von Stueben, Payton and Northside Prep avenged earlier season defeats to Lane Tech.  The return of OH team captain Jackie Manrique, sidelined with elbow tendonitis for the past three weeks, may have played some part in this winless draught, but her return for the

Lake

View

match might have been the spark the team needed for the final playoff push and sudden return to victory LANE.  Punishing kills by co-captain (#9) and Middles #13 & #20, when set by #7 & #16, have propelled the victorious Indians back to league dominance.  Backcourt play by libero #98 and precision digs and passes by co-captain #92 (Manrique) have allowed team setters to perform the killing feast for the Lane deadly strikers.

Lane plays today vs Curie at Curie  in the Final 16 of the Public League playoffs. The winner will most likely face number 2 seed Kennedy in the Quarterfinals.

Public League playoff schedule: (click image for larger picture)

Pictures Now: Lane Tech vs Niles North in girls volleyball

On September 11, 2007, Lane Tech played Niles North in girls volleyball. The following are pictures from both the sophmore and varsity games.

Click for all pictures

Click for edited pictures

Varsity Starters

Sophomore team in action

Siobhan Stahl (jr) setter om the varisty team.