By FRED KRONER
Changes are frequently slow in taking place.
When The News-Gazette first selected an All-Area team for volleyball (in 1978), the elite team consisted of six players, just as if those athletes were going to take the court together for a match.
This was a pre-libero period and also very early for high schools in the state to implement Title IX mandates, which prompted the creation of varsity sports for girls.
That bill was signed into law in the summer of 1972, but schools nationally had a grace period before they had to be fully in compliance.
Mahomet-Seymour’s volleyball program was put in place for the 1974-75 school year. The schedule looked nothing like it does today (when 35 regular-season matches are scheduled).
The inaugural M-S team played a schedule of five matches.
Having an All-Area team of just six players was justified in the late 1970s. Many athletes were just learning the sport as were many of the coaches.
However, the volleyball All-Area team stayed at six players for the first team for 25 years, through 2002. It was then raised to 10 players.
The 2002 All-Area team featured one player from M-S, outside hitter Carrie Berger.
It is easy to see that Berger would warrant a place on the school’s all-Quarter Century team as she was one of only six from the entire circulation area to be recognized..
That’s where the picks get muddled.
The sport has evolved. The coaching is top-notch. Club ball is helping athletes step in varsity-ready as a freshman.
And yet, the All-Area team to this day still consists of 10 first-team selections.
Even before I retired, myself and my staff cohorts bemoaned the fact that there were players on the second team that 10 or 15 years earlier could have landed a first-team berth.
This comes into play as the individuals on the Quarter-Century team were finalized. It was impossible to justify upgrading many non All-area first-team picks (unless they were subsequently a first-teamer) if it meant leaving an actual first-team pick off the honor squad.
The first 25 years of this century, M-S has produced 16 different All-Area first-teamers. Ultimately, they all received their due on the Quarter-Century team, along with two others.
Not saying there weren’t other legitimate candidates beyond that because there certainly were. There just were not enough spots available to recognize others.
Without further ado, Mahomet-Seymour’s Quarter-Century team for volleyball.
AVERY ALLEN, Class of 2024, OH. Two-time All-Area first-teamer and two-time Area Player of the Year. All-State first-team as a senior. School-record-holder for career kills (1,063), school-record-holder for career service aces (171) and ranks sixth in career digs (744). As a senior, posted 353 kills, 221 digs and 52 service aces. As a junior, registered 338 kills, 228 digs and 58 service aces. Ranks third for service aces in a season (58 twice), tied for fourth in kills for a season (353), fifth for aces in a season (52) and tied for seventh for kills in a season (338).
ELLIE BARKER, 2025, OH. All-Area first-teamer as a senior and Area Player of the Year. All-State second team as a senior. As a senior on the Class 3A state championship team, posted 354 kills, 226 digs and 41 service aces. As a junior, collected 226 kills, 188 digs and 62 service aces. Ranks tied for fourth at M-S for kills in a season (353) and tied for first in service aces in a season (62). Also second at M-S in career aces (111) as well as fifth for career kills (714).
GRACE BEACH, 2017, OH. All-Area first-teamer as a senior, recording 312 kills and 279 digs. Ranks 11th at M-S for kills in a season (312).
CARRIE BERGER, 2003, OH. All-Area first-teamer as a senior after totaling 243 kills, 322 digs and 45 service aces. As a junior, ended with 136 kills, 150 digs and 29 service aces. Ranks in a tie for seventh at M-S for service aces in a season (45). Ranks sixth for career aces (74).
LIBBY BODINE, 2023, L. All-Area first-teamer as a senior and All-Area second-team as a junior. Amassed 308 digs, 87 assists and 29 service aces as a senior along with 414 digs and 17 service aces as a junior. Ranks fourth all-time at M-S for digs in a season (414) and fourth all-time for digs in a career (802). Ranks seventh for career service aces (73).
LILY BOSWORTH, 2026, MH. All-Area first-teamer as a junior and All-Area second-teamer as a sophomore, Produced 334 kills and 112 blocks as a junior along with 188 kills and 80 blocks as a sophomore. Ranks second at M-S for blocks in a season (112), fifth for blocks in a season (80) and also ninth for kills in a season (334). Tied for second for career blocks (192).
EMMA CABUTTI, 2012, OH. Two-time All-Area first-teamer. Ranks fourth all-time for career service aces (86). As a senior, tallied 238 kills, 185 digs and 34 service aces. As a junior, finished with 157 kills, 231 digs and 37 service aces. As a sophomore, had 141 kills and 186 digs.
ELISE DAHLKE, 2013, OH. All-Area first-teamer as a senior, pounding 290 kills and following up on the 187 kills she produced as a junior. Had 63 kills as a sophomore. Had 42 service aces as a senior and ranks 11th on the school’s single-season list.
ADDI EISENMANN, 2025, L. All-Area first-teamer as a senior and earned a berth on the IHSA all-state tournament team after the Bulldogs won the Class 3A title. As a senior, recorded 410 digs and had 64 assists. Ranks fifth at M-S for digs in a season (410).
KAYIN GARNER, 2020, S. All-Area first-teamer as a senior. Holds school record for career assists (2,083) and season assists (785) as a senior to go with 50 service aces, which is sixth in a season. As a junior, produced the second-best number of assists in a season at M-S (698).
ABBIE MAGRINI, 2011, L. Two-two All-Area special mention selection amassed a school record 611 digs as a sophomore. She also stands atop the all-time M-S leaderboard list with 1,032 career digs.
SAVANNAH MATTHEWS, 2019, OH. Two-time All-Area first-teamer. Ranks first at M-S for kills in a season (392 as a junior) and ranks tied for seventh for kills in a season (338 as a senior) and stands second all-time at M-S for career kills (962). Also totaled 297 digs as a senior and 350 digs as a junior. Ranks ninth at M-S for digs in a season (350).
LAURA MORRIS, 2007, MH. School career leader in blocks with 258. As a senior, had 188 kills and 90 blocks. As a junior, had 180 kills and 95 blocks. As a sophomore, had 123 kills and 73 blocks. Ranks third (95), fourth (90) and seventh (73) for blocks in a season.
HAYLIE ORTON, 2022, MH. All-Area first-teamer as a senior when she registered 353 kills, 118 blocks, 98 digs and 69 service aces. School-record-holder for blocks in a season (118), ranks third for career service aces (96) and ranks tied for fourth in kills in a season (353). Tied for second for career blocks (192).
AINSLEY RANSTEAD, 2021, OH. All-Area first-teamer as a senior and All-Area second-teamer as a junior. Ranks third all-time on school records list with 892 career kills. Had 360 kills as a junior, ranking second for season kills. Ranks 10th for kills in a season with 324 as a sophomore. Ranks eighth for career service aces (64) and tied for seventh for aces in a season (45).
LEAH RIPPY, 2006, OH. Two-time All-Area first-teamer (and one-time All-Area second-teamer) collected 310 kills, 384 digs and 30 service aces as a senior to go with 223 kills, 306 digs and 35 service aces as a junior. As a sophomore, ended with 187 kills and 209 digs. Ranks second all-time at M-S for career digs (899) and seventh at M-S for digs in a season (384). Also, ranks fourth for career kills (720). Ranks 12th for kills in a season (310).
RACHEL RUEDI, 2007, S. Two-time All-Area first-teamer registered 615 assists, 143 kills, 240 digs and 26 service aces as a senior to go with 666 assists, 86 kills and 254 digs as a junior. As a sophomore, posted 295 assists and 198 digs. Ranks third all-time on the school charts with 1,576 career assists. Ranks fourth on the school charts for assists in a season (666) as well as sixth for assists in a season (615). Ranks seventh at M-S for career digs (692).
SIRENA WOO, 2014, L. All-Area first-teamer as a senior when she had 417 digs, which ranks No. 2 on the all-time M-S leaderboard for a season. Had 369 digs as a junior, ranking seventh all-time at M-S. Ranks fifth at M-S for career service aces (77) and ranks fifth for career digs (786).
