Top 10
With records through Tuesday and previous rankings in parentheses.
1. Lake Zurich 9-4 (4)
Akpevwe Akpoigbe’s solid play at the net helped the Bears beat Stevenson.
2. Stevenson 14-5 (1)
Sparked by Brynn Smith, the Patriots won the Niles West Tournament with a 5-0 record.
3. Vernon Hills 9-2-2 (5)
A two-game win against Lakes gives the Cougars momentum heading into conference play.
4. Libertyville 12-4 (3)
Jaimie Marquardt and Keira Kasten led the Wildcats to a solid performance at Effingham’s Crossroads Classic.
5. Warren 9-6 (2)
GabriElle Brewer had 17 assists in a loss to Libertyville.
6. Mundelein 8-3 (7)
The Mustangs won a pair of nonconference matches heading into conference play.
7. Grayslake North 6-10 (NR)
Tess Buckley’s return boosts the Knights, who started conference play with a win against rival Grayslake Central.
8. Grayslake Central 9-6 (6)
The Rams bounced back from the loss to Grayslake North to beat Deerfield.
9. Carmel 5-10 (9)
The Corsairs opened conference play with a win against St. Viator behind Bella Lucero’s 13 kills and four aces.
10. Grant 5-8 (NR)
The Bulldogs, led by Clara O’Brien and Kendall Levy, are a sleeper in the Northern Lake County Conference.
Player of the Week
Lake Zurich senior setter Heidi Mason had a season-high 35 assists and six digs in a win against Stevenson.
Darren Day is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
