First Team
David Flores
School: Lincoln-Way West.
Year: Junior.
Position: Setter.
Accolades: Led program to state quarterfinals for first time. Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Wheaton Warrenville South and Brother Rice.
Key stats: 892 assists, 52 kills, 27 blocks, 38 aces.
Mike Herlihy
School: Lincoln-Way East.
Year: Senior.
Position: Middle hitter.
Accolades: Selected as SouthWest Suburban Player of the Year. Named to VolleyballMag.com Fab 50. Led Griffins to state title despite 16 stitches in left hand. Committed to Loyola.
Key stats: 213 kills on a .584 attack percentage with 63 blocks.
Marty Jepsen
School: Marist.
Year: Junior.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Named East Suburban Catholic Player of the Year and Daily Southtown Player of the Year. Selected all-tournament at Marist and was the MVP at Smack Attack.
Key stats: 428 kills, 225 digs, 51 blocks, 45 aces.
Tommy Kleist
School: Brother Rice.
Year: Senior.
Position: Libero.
Accolades: Named Catholic League Lawless Player of the Year. Selected MVP at Barrington/Vernon Hills Tournament.
Key stats: 668 digs, 72 assists, 49 aces.
Patrick Mahoney
School: Marist.
Year: Senior.
Position: Middle hitter.
Accolades: Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Marist and Brother Rice. Committed to Loras.
Key stats: 212 kills, 79 blocks, 53 aces.
Anthony Pfeiffer
School: Lockport.
Year: Senior.
Position: Setter/right-side hitter.
Accolades: Three-time all-area pick. Led Porters to career-best 110 wins. Committed to Queen’s University of Charlotte.
Key stats: 296 kills, 337 assists, 152 digs, 68 aces.
Ian Piet
School: Lincoln-Way East.
Year: Senior.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Two-time all-area pick. Named to VolleyballMag.com Fab 50. Led team to 105-15 record in final three seasons on varsity. Committed to Loyola.
Key stats: 236 kills, 38 blocks, 33 aces.
Second Team
Alex Costa
School: Richards.
Year: Sophomore.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Named South Suburban Player of the Year. Selected all-tournament at Brother Rice, Richards and Eisenhower.
Key stats: 401 kills, 64 aces, 85 digs.
Joe Horn
School: St. Rita.
Year: Junior.
Position: Setter.
Accolades: Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Marist, Brother Rice and Lincoln-Way East.
Key stats: 717 assists, 69 kills, 56 blocks, 37 aces.
Will Marks
School: Sandburg.
Year: Senior.
Position: Right-side hitter.
Accolades: Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Richards and Vernon Hills.
Key stats: 237 kills, 101 digs, 35 blocks.
Donal Nugent
School: Oak Lawn.
Year: Senior.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Selected all-conference and all-tournament at St. Charles East. Three-sport athlete set program’s single-season kill record.
Key stats: 448 kills, 186 digs.
Ben Pluskota
School: Lincoln-Way West.
Year: Junior.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Returned from wrist fracture to help Warriors reach state. Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Lincoln-Way East. Had 21 kills in state quarterfinals and 25 in sectional semifinals.
Key stats: 255 kills, 135 digs.
Kyle Springer
School: Brother Rice.
Year: Senior.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Lincoln-Way East and Wheaton Warrenville South. Committed to North Central College.
Key stats: 313 kills, 235 digs, 33 aces, 27 blocks.
Jack Yurkanin
School: Lincoln-Way Central.
Year: Junior.
Position: Outside hitter.
Accolades: Selected all-conference and all-tournament at Lincoln-Way East.
Key stats: 347 kills, 55 aces, 129 digs, 2.45 serve receive ratio.
Honorable Mention
Mark Brooks, Marian Catholic, senior, outside/right-side hitter; Radek Bryja, Reavis, senior, outside hitter; Kyle Dixon, Lockport, senior, outside hitter; Mike Kazanecki, Stagg, junior, outside hitter; George Kougan, Lincoln-Way East, senior, right-side hitter; Dan Littleton, Brother Rice, senior, middle hitter; Rocky Mayer, Marist, junior, setter; Garrett McCrea, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, outside hitter; Wil McPhillips, Lincoln-Way East, junior, middle/right-side hitter; Ike Papes, Providence, junior, middle hitter.
Logan Malloy is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
