It’s always a massive advantage to have experience on one’s side.
That most certainly is the case for the York girls volleyball team. Coach Danny Piwowarczyk returns seven players who started matches last season.
Those seven players were part of a 2025 York team that went 24-13 overall and finished 2-4 in a tough West Suburban Conference Silver Division. The Dukes lost to Lyons Township in a Class 4A regional title match.
Those seven returning starters include 5-8 junior outside Eileen Carrol (189 kills, 220 digs), 5-6 senior setter Madelene Braathen (320 assists, 139 digs), 5-6 senior libero Emma Braathen (205 digs, 33 aces), 5-10 senior outside hitter Ariella Villatoro Nevarez (116 kills, 27 blocks), 5-6 junior defensive specialist Lila Bennis (200 digs, 32 aces), 5-10 senior middle blocker Taylor Stapanich (68 kills, 37 blocks) and 5-9 senior setter Maggie Lombardi (94 assists).
Key newcomers include 5-10 sophomore right-side hitter Alivia West, 5-7 junior right-side hitter Kendall Ives and 5-11 junior middle blocker Nyla Palumbo.
“While we lost two four-year varsity starters we return seven starters with a lot of lifetime volleyball played,” Piwowarczyk said. “The seven returners have all played club since fifth or sixth grade and will help make us be a very consistent team that makes few mistakes.”
Carroll enters her third year on varsity after starting on the outside the last two years “and is poised to take a big leap this season,” Piwowarczyk said.
Bennis also provides experience entering her third year on varsity, “and will help hold down the back row,” Piwowarczyk said.
Piwowarczyk added York’s five returning seniors have tremendous work ethics and “provide tremendous leadership to the team and will see plenty of court time,” he said.
The coach noted that West, a sophomore, is the type of player who can change a match with how hard she can hit the ball. “Alivia has a bright future ahead,” Piwowarczyk said.
York did suffer a setback with the new sophomore Valentina Paros is out for the high school season after undergoing surgery. “Valentina will be back for club season and junior year,” Piwowarczyk said. “As a freshman, Val touched the highest in the entire program.”
In terms of the WSC Silver race, Piwowarczyk said to keep an eye on the likes of Oak Park-River Forest, Lyons Township and Glenbard West. “All are teams to watch that have a massive size advantage on most teams,” he said. “We are excited for a successful season, but the amount of work we put in will determine our conference finish.”
