Fenwick girls volleyball on the rise

With nine returning players, including a few entering their third seasons on varsity, Fenwick High School girls volleyball coach Tee Pimsarn likes how things are looking. 

“We’ve had a great start to the season,” said Pimsarn, in his third season. “We shored up our setting, and this may be the best lineup we’ve had since I took over. The things we’re doing and talking about in practice at this point are things we couldn’t do in the past. It’s just a matter of the players’ development and growth; we keep building our players every year, and we’re relying on them to get the much-needed reps during their club season and gain the experience.” 

Fenwick finished 15-22 last season but won its IHSA Class 3A regional. The Friars’ top returnees are senior libero Sophia Leonardi, a DePauw University commit who had 180 digs and 49 aces in 2024; senior middle hitter Lilly Boyle (106 kills, 33 blocks); senior middle hitter Marcelina Kozaczka (147 kills); junior Bella Gray (177 kills, 169 digs, 26 aces); and junior middle hitter Jordan Rossi (91 kills, 38 blocks, 38 aces). 

Fenwick’s top newcomers are sophomore middle hitter Emily Drumm and junior setter Sofia Grossman, a transfer who played on the junior-varsity team last year. 

“We’re looking for big things from Sofia,” Pimsarn said. “And we’re going to lean on Emily as a second libero this season. She attacks with power and has a consistent range.” 

The annual East Avenue Showdown at Oak Park and River Forest, Oct. 21, is something Pimsarn says is “always an exciting crosstown match.”  

Other schedule highlights include a showdown with neighboring rival Riverside-Brookfield (Oct. 14), non-conference matches with Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South, and tournaments at Downers Grove South and Wheaton-Warrenville South. 

Fenwick went 2-1 at the season-opening Rolling Meadows Quad, Aug. 30. The Friars defeated Glenbard South (25-22, 25-18) and Reavis (25-20, 25-13) and lost to Rolling Meadows 25-21, 22-25, and 13-15. 

Once again, the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference figures to be competitive. Pimsarn says Mother McAuley is always a contender, with DePaul Prep, Loyola Academy, St. Ignatius, and St. Laurence not far behind. 

Pimsarn wants the Friars to fully realize their potential this fall, and the team has adopted a simple – but effective – mantra. 

“Our motto is, “Every Second Counts,” Pimsarn said. “As a program, we’re quite excited about this season. Our kids just need to trust their training, trust themselves, and find a good headspace for competition during matches, no matter who’s on the other side of the net.”