It’s a volleyball monster.

The LaGrange-based club trio of 1st Alliance, Lions Jrs. and Fearless has covered the Chicago suburbs like a huge blanket, providing are high schools and colleges some outstanding athletes over the years.

When all the travel and tournaments were done this summer, Prepvolleyball.com ranked the 1st Alliance/Lions Jrs. in the top 20 for each age group (15 through 18) nationally.

“It was another good year,” co-director Sue Keck said. “We’ve had a number of good years. Across the board, every one of our age groups did well.”

Keck started the program in 1990 and watched four of her daughters go through the organization and through college.

She stayed with the program and watched more players do the same.

“I always say there are two things that are exciting,” Keck said. “One is to see the kids who are really young have an excitement for the game. The second thing is the players who go to college and come back and want to coach for us.”

The class of 2009 left its mark on the program and many of its players are heading to college.

Some of the standouts from the west suburbs include Fenwick’s Margy Acton and Samantha Grams, Neuqua Valley’s Hope Baumgartner and Rachel Quackenbush, Downers Grove South’s Christine Bowe, Courtney Gosewich, Katherine Gosewich, Jessica McNellis, Marielle Oestermeyer and Kelsey Safranek, Glenbard East’s Brittany Cardott, Naperville Central’s Emily Cardwell and Jordan Pappas, York’s Ali Deatsch, Brianne Graunke and Kayla Mullaney, Immaculate Conception’s Catherine Guido, Hinsdale Central’s Lindsay Homme, Benet’s Kaylee Kaminsky and Beth Kinsella, Wheaton Warrenville South’s Sami Loar, Oak Park River Forest’s Sara Shannon and Montini’s Stephanie Viane.

The south suburbs are represented by Mother McAuley’s Desiree Aramburu, Mary Catherine Collier Ali Gardner, Kelly Griffin and Sue Hayes, Lockport’s Caitlyn Ballweber, Lemont’s Rebecca Bograd, Jenna Litoborski and Aubrey Sniegowski,  Queen of Peace’s Nikki Maes, Lockport’s Lexi Mastela and Providence’s Bridget Murphy.

The north suburbs are represented Maine West’s Alise Tupuritis and Walter Payton’s Courtney Cunningham represented Chicago.

Several players who are entering their senior prep seasons who played for the Lions have received preseason recognition.

That includes several from the south suburbs including

Carl Sandburg’s Jenny Buczek, Marie Kate Imrie and Lanie Muys, Mother McAuley’s Ellen Carberry, Jessica Falk and Mary Kate Styler, Joliet Catholic’s Annemarie Hickey, Claire Randich and Lainey Wyman, Lemont’s Courtney Keefe and Viekie Wrobel, Marist’s Katie Krasowski, Caroline Niedospial and Lauren Zielinski and Joliet’s Breanne Shaw.

From the western suburbs, the list includes York’s Katie Gallagher, Caroline Rose, Morgan Semmelhack and Lauren Zerante, Benet’s Jenna Jendryk, Nazareth’s Jill Paluch, Benet’s Brianne Riley, Lyons’ Alex Viliunas and Laura Williams. 

Whitney Young’s Chelsea Cunningham also received preseason recognition from Chicago.

By Jeff Vorva

Triblocal.com reporter