By Michael Wojtychiw

In a David vs. Goliath battle, Alcott College Prep would almost every time be the David.

The school, located on the West Lakeview/Roscoe Village neighborhood of the city, has an enrollment of only 340 students, or an average of 85 kids per grades 9-12. In most previous years, the Wildcats have played in the Green and Purple divisions of the Chicago Public League’s girls volleyball divisional structure and many of the teams in those divisions were similar in size to Alcott.

However, because of the Wildcats’ success, they’re now headed for the Red North, the volleyball alignment’s top division outside of the Super conference. That means, however, that they’re preparing for matchups like Lake View, Lincoln Park, Senn, Schurz, Von Steuben, Mather and Westinghouse, all of whom have between 1,200 and 2,300 students.

All of that, in addition to having most of their experienced players graduate, would scare most teams. But not the Wildcats.

They’re excited.

“We’re definitely a small fish in a big pond,” coach Wojtek Konopnicki said. “We do have a really good program. My first year here we were in the Purple, then the Green and five years in the Green and now we’re in the Red. Looking at the schedule and seeing some of the teams with the size of the school they have, compared to us…I think for the kids, it’ll be a lot to process at first, but our goal of being top seven in the conference is very attainable.

“That’s something we’re truly going to strive for.

“When I first got to Alcott, the coach before me had already created a good volleyball culture, so I was able to benefit from that. To be honest, moving up didn’t really become a reality until halfway through the season. I always figured that we’d be in the top half of the Green because I felt the girls were always committed.”

Konopnicki, who has been at Alcott for seven years (sixth as a varsity coach) and is also a teacher at the school, knows that his squad may not be the most experienced one he’s had in his tenure, but is excited for how much passion and energy the players are bringing to practice every day.

Even though many of the starters graduated, the Wildcats do bring back three extremely important players on the court: a starting middle, starting setter and libero.

In baseball terms, that would be returning the equivalent of your middle infield, as well catcher and center fielder.

Knowing that he has those players back, is something the coach feels like he can build on.

“Most of our starters last year were seniors, so they were the team that helped push us through to get to the Red,” he said. “Having players understand their roles, that’s going to be key. The newer players learning from the returning players will be the most important thing.

“And just learning. The kids are here after school, learning and that’s what we can ask for.”

School: Alcott College Prep
Last season’s record: 12-7-1 (9-0 Conference)

Returning starters (name, class, position):

Kheilany Reyes, Sophomore, Libero

Sa’miya Jordan, Senior, Middle (co-captain)

Liza Babinska, Junior, Setter

Viktoriia Babinska, Senior, Outside Hitter (co-captain)

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):

Iryna Shovdra, Junior, Outside Hitter

Karen Lopez, Senior, Right Side Hitter (co-captain)

Top newcomers (name, class, position):

Sophie Alvarenga, Sophomore, Middle

Uliana Adamchuk, Sophomore, Outside Hitter

Maja Ventura, Junior, Outside Hitter/ Right Side Hitter

Lenora Zendelli, Junior, Libero

Jaquelina Rivera-Lopez, Junior, Middle 

Games to watch:

Chicago Academy 10/02/25 – Senior Night 

Coach’s season outlook:

This is our first year in the Red North conference. Last season, we went undefeated in the Green North, only losing one set throughout the 9 conference matches. This year, we are looking to build off our momentum, but it will be challenging as the level of competition will be higher. We are in a rebuilding year as the seniors who led the team last year are not with us anymore. Our goal is to make city playoffs and remain in the Red North Conference. 

The Wildcats start their season with a game against Intrinsic on Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.

Photos by Joey Gelman/OSA