In case you missed it … AVCA announces Phenom List

The following athletes from Illinois were recently named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Phenom List. Student-athletes named to the Phenom List are eligible to register for the Phenom College Preparatory Program to be held in conjunction with the AVCA Annual Convention in Minneapolis in December. Participants and their parents attend educational sessions, the Under Armour High School All-America Volleyball Match & Skills Competition, NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship matches, interact with AVCA Co...

Wednesday, September 26 results

No. 3 Benet def. St. Viator 25-18, 25-5 Benet (16-4 overall, 3-1 in the East Suburban Catholic): Ally VanEekeren (2 kills, 19 assists), Annie Sobolewski (2 digs), Hattie Monson (11 digs, 1 ace), Kyla Kenney (6 kills, 6 digs, 1 ace), Rachel Muisenga (2 kills, 3 digs, 2 aces),  Valentina Tabares (4 kills), Caroline Gard (5 digs), Sophie Gregus (2 kills), Caroline Doyle (3 digs), Kiara Zamar (2 digs, 1 ace), Olivia Gonnella (1 kill), Maeve Nelligan (2 kills, 1 block), Annie Remmes (2 kills). Cristo Rey def. Holy Trinity 25-23, 14-25, 25-20...

Tuesday, September 25 results

Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond def. Bement 25-17, 26-24Bement (2-14): Shelby Strack (4 kills, 2 aces, 10 digs, 1 block), Trinity Stroisch (5 digs, 2 blocks), Addie Fritz (1 ace, 1 dig, 7 blocks), Madison Price (2 kills, 8 blocks), Ellie Shonkwiler (4 kills, 1 ace, 6 digs, 1 block), Tatum Auth (1 ace, 9 digs, 3 blocks, 9 assists), Brittani Dalton (1 ace, 6 digs).    Barrington def. Palatine 22-25, 25-19, 25-19Barrington (11-8 overall, 4-1 in the Mid-Suburban West) : Peyton Tilly  (13 kills, 3 digs, 4 aces, 7 points), Bailey Madrzyk (3 kills, ...

Match of the Week: Hard-working Murczek helps Richards turn back Shepard

Richards' Sarah Murczek, Lindsey Dryier, Alexa Curta, Jenna Weiland and Lauren Birmingham. From the time her uncle, former Marist standout and San Diego State assistant coach Ken Murczek, put a volleyball in her hands when she was a young girl, Richard’s 5-foot-10 outside hitter Sarah Murczek has been one of the hardest-working players in the Chicago area. “She's a special player,” said Richards coach Troy Grevengoed. “That kid has worked so hard to get where she has. She hasn't done that just by showing up. She does something ext...

Tuesday, September 18 results

Addison Trail def. Leyden 25-17, 25-12Leyden: Destiny Corral (10 kills).Addison Trail (10-7 overall, 2-1 in the West Suburban Gold): Jess D’Ambrose (1 ace, 7 kills, 1 block, 7 digs), Ally Severino (1 kill, 3 digs), Katrina Bielanski (7 kills, 3 aces, 2 digs), Pauline Wirbicki (1 ace, 13 digs), Rachel Verdi (2 digs), Nina Muell (8 kills, 1 ace, 2 digs).Aurora Central Catholic def. Ridgewood 25-21, 19-25, 25-20Aurora Central Catholic (10-11): Kyra Grainger (6 aces), Kaileigh Remlinger (8 kills, 3 aces, 9 digs), Megan Anderson (24 assists, 3 a...

Murphysboro defeats Massac County, keeps conference hopes alive

Photos by Paul W. Brinker Five-time defending conference champion Murphysboro earned a share of the Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division lead by defeating Massac County 25-20, 14-25, 25-22 at home Thursday.“It was a three-set thriller and the fans got their money’s worth as Murphysboro now evens the score and takes a share of the lead for its pursuit of its sixth straight conference title,” said Murphysboro coach Mike Layne.Murphysboro (13-6 overall and 5-1 in conference) was led by 5-foot-10 sophomore Kylee Kerrens, who had 12 k...

Mercy? Sterling will have none of it against LaSalle-Peru

                Sterling remained unbeaten Tuesday with its straight-set win over rival LaSalle-Peru. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNo mercy.That’s what the Sterling girls volleyball team showed Tuesday against LaSalle-Peru.No. 2-ranked Sterling defeated its Northern Illinois Big Twelve Conference rival, 25-14, 25-17, in Sterling.The Borum sisters accounted for 25 kills in the win. The victory keeps Sterling (19-0, 4-0) undefeated. The Cavaliers (13-3, 2-2) fell two games behind the Golden Warriors at the midway point of the confe...

Marian Catholic doesn’t stop believing, beats Mother McAuley at Rich East

Marian Catholic rallied from a 9-point deficit in the first set to defeat Mother McAuley and win the Rich East tournament.By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com"Don't Stop Believin.'"No, the Journey song was not played at Rich East High School on Saturday evening. But if it had been, it would have been the theme song of the Marian Catholic girls’ volleyball team.Down by 9 points midway through the opening set, the Spartans charged back, saved 4 set points and rallied for a 26-24, 25-18 victory over Mother McAuley to capture the championshi...