Johnsburg faces Woodstock North in a Kishwaukee River Conference volleyball match on Sept. 4, 2024, at Woodstock North High School.

Crystal Lake South faces Prairie Ridge in a Fox Valley Conference volleyball match on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake.

Prairie Ridge sophomore Maizy Agnello notched a match-high 11 kills to lead the Wolves past crosstown rival Crystal Lake South 25-17, 25-15 on Thursday in their Fox Valley Conference match.

Crystal Lake Central faces Huntley in a Fox Valley Conference volleyball match on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at Huntley High School.

Crystal Lake Central junior Alexis Hadeler came up with a key block late to lift the Tigers past defending Fox Valley Conference champion Huntley 25-23, 27-25 on Tuesday in the FVC opener for both teams.

Here are five girls volleyball players to watch in the Northwest Herald area for the 2024 season.

Check out our team-by-team girls volleyball preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2024 season.

Johnsburg faces Richmond-Burton in a Kishwaukee River Conference volleyball match on Monday, August 26, 2024 at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

Defending Kishwaukee River Conference champion Richmond-Burton opened the season with a 25-22, 25-15 sweep against rival Johnsburg on Monday.

The high school volleyball season isn't that far away, with matches starting Aug. 26. Until then, here are five storylines to watch this fall in the Northwest Herald Area.

Doug Wilbrandt, who has more than 40 years of coaching experience, was recently hired as the new volleyball coach at Marian Central.

Alex Muschong, a 2017 Woodstock graduate, was recently announced as the new head volleyball coach at McHenry.

Woodstock senior Hallie Steponaitis put together one of the area's most dominant seasons in volleyball with 565 kills and earned her third state medal in track and field. Steponaitis, who will play volleyball at Iowa, is the 2024 Northwest Herald Female Athlete of the Year.

At 5-foot-9, Richmond-Burton’s Elissa Furlan was unsure if it was realistic for her to play college volleyball at her natural position at outside hitter. Last week, the Rockets junior announced her commitment to NCAA Division-I Wright State University.

Woodstock's Julia Laidig took on an unfamiliar role for the Blue Streaks as the team's starting setter in the fall and set the team record for single-season assists. That versatility helped Laidig's recruitment. She recently announced her commitment to Southern Illinois.