Seven elevating themselves in Illinois

The final installment of the three-part series on players from Illinois includes seven girls who range from seniors to sophomore, and who stand out in a variety of ways. These seven are starting to elevate themselves above a huge portion of the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='60352' first='Samantha' last='Block'], Defender, Deerfield, Class of 2026   Welcome, [player_tooltip player_id='60352' first='Samantha' last='Block'] is likely what the Deerfield High team is saying. Block was not able to play for Deerfield, one of the top girls programs in the state, when she was with FC United, but decided to show school spirit by moving to GA Rising as her club. Block will now get the joy of being a high school athlete and play with her friends and classmates. Block can play as a center back or an outside back, showing her versatility. She has a team-first mentality and will do what the team needs. She works hard, is coachable and is a leader. She is a very athletic player, who has a lot of energy and she never switches off. She's a physical player who is also very tactical as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='105626' first='Hannah' last='Folliard'], Keeper, Plainfield South, Class of 2026   Folliard is one of the top, if not the top, players in the state of Illinois for the class of 2026. A sophomore that is already over 6-feet tall, she shows tremendous quickness, athleticism and has excellent hands. She makes highlight reels saves on a regular basis. She is absolutely dedicated to the sport, she is strong, fearless and hardworking. Folliard is a big, strong player and can be intimidating to the opposition. Perhaps the best attribute is that despite all of the accolades and praise heaped upon her, she is still very humble. She plays high school for Plainfield South and plays club for Galaxy SC.   [player_tooltip player_id='132972' first='Alyssa' last='Gluting'], Keeper, Metea Valley, Class of 2024   Gluting is a keeper and is a senior at Metea Valley High. She plays her club as well at Galaxy SC, playing for the 05/06 team. Gluting is a very outgoing player. She is fearless, fierce, loud and an absolute leader when between the posts. Gluting can get creative and adapt to any situation, remaining positive regardless of what is happening. She's very quick in terms of her reactions and her decision making.   [player_tooltip player_id='106755' first='Grier' last='Isaacson'], Defender, Plainfield North, Class of 2025   Across town from Folliard is an outstanding defender in Isaacson, who can play both center back and outside back. She plays at Plainfield North, and shares a club with most people on this list, playing at Galaxy SC. Isaacson is a very aggressive defender, one who competes every minute of every match. She is gritty, she is dedicated and she is physical. She shows an advanced understanding of the game, and plays with passion. She keeps a positive attitude, leads the team and always puts the team first.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/08/image0-1-2-crop-1777x1167-1692125450.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-145293" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='22129' first='Ivana' last='Vukas'], Forward/Midfielder, Benet Academy, Class of 2026   Vukas, a sophomore at Benet Academy, plays club with Eclipse Select, playing ECNL with the 2008 team. She is a versatile player who can play as a forward and a midfielder. Vukas is quick and because of that, can operate in tight spaces, showing the necessary foot skills to do as well. She is confident and decisive, which is helped by the fact she has tremendous vision. She is excellent in 1v1 situations, she has explosive speed and is always a threat and is dangerous from any attacking position. Vukas is extremely creative and hard to mark.   [player_tooltip player_id='104869' first='Paislee' last='Welge'], Forward/Midfielder, Mahomet-Seymour, Class of 2026   Welge plays for Central Illinois United and plays high school at Mahomet-Seymour, where she is a sophomore. She can play forward or midfielder, showing her versatility. Welge is constantly trying to apply pressure to the back line. She is excellent in maximizing her size and speed in space. She is aggressive, keeping defenders on their toes. She is also a leader and very coachable, a player that her teammates love to take the field with.   [player_tooltip player_id='145214' first='Izzi' last='Wirtz'], Outside Defender/Defensive Midfielder, Class of 2024   Wirtz is a senior from Lyons Township, playing ECNL for the 05/06 team at Chicago Inter. Wirtz is a versatile player who can play as an outside defender or a holding mid. What you get from Wirtz is a smart player who is calm on the ball. She works very hard, giving her team everything she's got. She is crafty when on the ball, she plays without fear and plays with a dedication and a physicality that makes her standout.

The final installment of the three-part series on players from Illinois includes seven girls who range from seniors to sophomore, and who stand out in a variety of ways. These seven are starting to elevate themselves above a huge portion of the field.