High school volleyball season begins Monday. Here is a look at north suburban-area teams, including a preseason ranking, the top players and some of the most interesting early season games:
1. Brebeuf Jesuit: The Braves return intact from a team that reached the Class 3A state semifinals for a second consecutive year. The powerful nucleus includes Cali Estes, Lucy Reser, Lauren Rafdal, Liz Hineman, Sloane White, Jeme Obeime and Natalie Wichern -- and Emily Wichern, Hillary Porter and Jadyn Yarling also are expected to contribute. Despite all the returning talent, Brebeuf will be challenged in the sectional by Bishop Chatard and Roncalli.
2. Cathedral: The Irish return just four letter-winners from last year's dominant Class 4A state champions. Coach Jean Kesterson said it's the youngest team she's had since 2001 . . . when Cathedral won the Class 4A state title. No one can replace players like Christiana Gray and Mary Ording, but Cathedral will reload. Kathryn Treadway and Christine Maci are back from last year's starting lineup, and Erin Bucherl and Kayla Masterson also have varsity experience.
3. Bishop Chatard: The Trojans return a strong nucleus in Becca Reidy, Erica Stahl, Bry Gadis and setter Katie Shaughnessy from a team that went 27-10 and lost to Brebeuf in the sectional championship. Molly Kilbane, Kelly Doyle and Sara Arias will step into larger roles. Bishop Chatard will be one of the top 3A teams in the state . . . but so will sectional rivals Brebeuf and Roncalli.
4. Lawrence North: Dee Dee Galligher maintained the Wildcats' success last season with a 27-9 record but will miss all-state player Jordanne Scott and Chandler Carney, who was all-Marion County. Expect a more diversified attack led by returning players Jaymee Reynolds, Jenny Merritt, Allie Reinhardt and Nicole Gentry, with Diana Dahlem, Chunia Graves, Amanda Vice and Catrina Cranfill stepping in.
5. Park Tudor: Rob Sventeckis takes over a sectional championship team that lost just two seniors. Maddie Reese, Kristen Trimpe, Nigelie Assee and Samantha Johanssen will once again be leading the Panthers. With a sectional that includes Heritage Christian, Scecina and an improving Cardinal Ritter program, Park Tudor will face a challenge even with its experienced team.
6. Heritage Christian: After back-to-back 30-5 records, the Eagles slipped . . . all the way to 29-6. They lost Whitney Sweet, Melissa Metzelfeld and Emily Anderson but return a strong nucleus led by Stephanie Rogers, Jessica Bradney, Kelsey Christiansen and Maddie Anderson. Heritage Christian will need all of them in one of the state's toughest sectionals that includes traditionally strong Park Tudor and Scecina and an improving Ritter team.
7. Pike: The Red Devils have targeted a Conference Indiana title after going 17-15 last season. The team will miss Calasia Williams and Erica Campbell but returns Janee Diggins, Emily Bean, Brooke Lane, McKennah Rasdall and Alyssa Holder. The competition -- Avon and Brownsburg -- is tough, but Pike is also eyeing its first sectional title since 1989.
8. North Central: First-year coach Nick Wolf takes over a struggling Panthers program that graduated much of its talent. Seniors Jayla Lane and Ana Mitchell return, with sophomores Linda Albrecht and Jane Reagan looking to step in at setter.
9. Lawrence Central: New coach Krystal Stallings, a former Butler University player, coached in Lexington, Ky., last season before returning to the area. She takes over a program that won just two games last season, but she expects the Bears to be in the top half of Conference Indiana. Amanda Ghaffary, Kyla Thomas, Tricia Moffat and Ashley Hughes will lead the team.
10. Broad Ripple: The Rockets will miss setter Liz Kovacevic but return a solid nucleus from coach Kyla Montgomery's second season. Seniors Quanay Richardson and Briana Anthony and juniors Kim Van Wyk and Jamelah McGill return, and freshman Cassy Payne is expected to help out at middle blocker immediately.
11. Arlington: The Golden Knights return all their key players from last season, led by Raven Mahome, Jade Warren, Leanna Level, Jasmine Hughes, Rakita Easter and Shabria Larkins. Third-year coach Vanessa Freeman is looking to claim the Indianapolis Public Schools Athletic Conference crown and pull off an upset or two.
Preseason all-star teams
FIRST TEAM
OH: Stephanie Rogers, Heritage Christian.
OH: Jeme Obeime, Brebeuf.
MB: Becca Reidy, Bishop Chatard.
MB: Sloane White, Brebeuf.
MB: Janee Diggins, Pike.
S: Natalie Wichern, Brebeuf.
S: Katie Shaughnessy, Bishop Chatard.
SECOND TEAM
OH: Erica Stahl, Bishop Chatard.
OH: Cathryn Treadway, Cathedral.
OH: Kristen Trimpe, Park Tudor.
RS: Cali Estes, Brebeuf.
L: Jadyn Yarling, Brebeuf.
S: Jaymee Reynolds, Lawrence North.
S: Maddie Reese, Park Tudor.
Top early season matches
Aug. 20: Brebeuf at Pike. The Red Devils are unlikely to beat their township rivals but a competitive match would make a statement.
Aug. 22: Yorktown Tournament. Bishop Chatard and Brebeuf will get an early look at some of the top competition in 3A, including Providence, Delta, Yorktown, Bellmont and Fort Wayne Concordia.
Aug. 25: Cathedral at Center Grove. The Trojans return the most experience of Cathedral's traditional regional rivals.
Aug. 27: Park Tudor at Heritage Christian. These traditional rivals will see who is the sectional favorite.
Sept. 17: Lawrence North at Cathedral. The Wildcats have not been able to get past the Irish, but this year provides as good an opportunity as any.