1. Marist (41-1) 3
Loses four great seniors, but underclass levels were undefeated.
2. Minooka (39-3) 1
Loses five great seniors. Who will sophomore Zoey Seput set next year?
3. Mother McAuley (35-5) 2
Mighty Macs don’t rebuild, they reload. But Charley Niego is a huge loss.
4. Benet (32-7) 7
Alli Van Eekeren, Hattie Monson, Rachel Muisenga, Kyla Kenney will return.
5. Belleville Althoff (41-1) 16
Sophomore Karinna Gall, Class 3A championsl get bumped up to 4A next year.
6. Crystal Lake Central (33-4) 14
Lose the Kellys, but Madde Blake, Camryn Hausler, Madeline Timmerman return.
7. Edwardsville (31-6) NR
Tigers were the only team other than Marist to beat Minooka this season.
8. Joliet Catholic (29-8) NR
Emily Holbrook, Emily Wilson, Bella Ray will be back for Angels.
9. Marian Catholic (30-8) NR
If you have to rebuild, Temitayo Thomas-Ailara is a good place to start.
10. St. Charles North (36-5) NR
Katie Lanz, Gigi Crescenzo will be back for fourth-place finishers in Class 4A.
11. St. Charles East (31-8) 8
Lose a load, but one of the state’s top programs will find a way again.
12. Prairie Ridge (27-8) 18
Coach Stefanie Otto will rebuild around junior setter Jayden Otto.
13. Normal Community (31-6) 15
Ironmen have some work to do after losing 6-3 Grace Cleveland to Purdue.
14. Downers Grove North (27-13) 9
Clare Delaplane is a huge loss, but Trojans were junior-heavy in 2017.
15. Payson Seymour (41-1) NR
Domination? Only loss to 3A Lincoln and beat 2A champ St. Thomas More.
16. (Champaign) St. Thomas More (39-3) NR
All-American Mica Allison showed why she is headed to Auburn next fall.
17. Resurrection (34-9) NR
How many schools regret not grabbing New Mexico State recruit Brittany Welch?
18. Sterling (35-3) NR
Brooklyn, Josilyn Borum have Golden Warriors thinking 3A title in 2018.
19. Waubonsie Valley (24-14) 11
Coach Kari Galen will build around Melissa Walden, Cassie Chinn.
20. Huntley (26-8) NR
Red Raiders were among the best passing teams in the state in 2017.
Honorable Mention: Breese Mater Dei (27-10-2),Kewanee Wethersfield (35-1), LaSalle-Peru (33-4-1), Metea Valley (29-8), Naperville North (29-9), New Trier (34-6), Normal U-High (29-11), Quincy Notre Dame (33-9), Stewardson-Strasburg (34-7), St. Viator (29-13).