Sandburg's (left to right) Rachel DeFries, Rachel Krasowski, Shelby Stefanon and Erica Staunton. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com A 9-0 run ended a nine-year losing streak for the Sandburg girls‘ volleyball team. The Eagles entered Tuesday’s big match without a victory over Mother McAuley since 2009. To make matters worse for the home team, they are always reminded that McAuley had eliminated them from the postseason 10 times in a 12-year span between 2005-2016. But none of that mattered to this season’s Sandburg squad....
Williams, Newark turn back Hartsburg-Emden to win Class 1A championship
Newark's Madi Malone puts down one of her 11 kills during Saturday's Class 1A championship match at Redbird Arena. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – When Hartsburg-Emden tied the second set of Saturday’s Class 1A championship game at 23-23, Newark’s 6-foot freshman outside hitter Megan Williams was ready. “I knew I was going to have to go in for one more play,” Williams said. “I felt confident in myself and in the passes that Meggie (Scott) was having. I knew it was going to get up to Olivia (Nelson), then whether it was me or Mattie Chap...
1st Alliance Volleyball Club/Illprepvb.com 2018 Week Three Girls Rankings
O'Fallon won the Lincoln Tournament after defeating Deer Creek-Mackinaw in the finals.1st Alliance Volleyball Club/Illprepvb.com 2018 Week Three Girls Rankings(Last week’s ranking in parenthesis)1. Marist (1) 10-0RedHawks rematch with Marian Catholic on Tuesday. 2. Sterling (2) 15-0Gretchen, Grace Gould complement Borums, Rodriguez. 3. Benet (4) 7-2Sophie Gregus, Caitlin Wepfer need the ball to shake off rust.4. St. Charles North (8) 10-1Katie Lanz, Gigi Crescenzo a tough combination to handle. 5. Marian Catholic (3) 7-2Can Spar...
IHSA Girls State Volleyball Saturday’s Finals
St. Thomas More's Allie Trame (Photo by Dave Ruggles) IHSA Girls State Volleyball Tournament Saturday’s finals Class 1A Championship Newark def. Hartsburg-Emden 25-16, 25-23 Newark (40-2): Evelyn Martin (4 digs), Mattie Chapman (5 kills, 3 digs), Olivia Nelson (1 kill, 25 assists, 1 dig), Megan Williams (9 kills, 3 digs, 1 block), Alyssa Gittins (1 dig), Madi Malone (11 kills, 7 digs, 1 block), Maggie Scott (17 digs). Hartsburg-Emden (36-5): Emily Graig (1 ace, 2 digs), Grace Beekman (8 kills, 11 assists, 10 digs), Anna...
Illprepvb.com 2018 Girls All-State Volleyball Team
Player of the Year: Anna Hayes, Hartsburg EmdenCoach of the Year: Mark Wasik, Downers Grove NorthTeam of the Year: Sterling First Team Josilyn Borum, 6-0, Sr., S/RS, SterlingKarinna Gall, 6-1, Jr., MH, Belleville AlthoffAnna Hayes, 6-0, Sr., OH, Hartsburg-EmdenTaylor Jakubowski, 5-7, Jr., S, HuntleyTaylor Landfair, 6-4, Jr., OH, Plainfield CentralKatie Lanz, 6-0, Sr., OH, St. Charles NorthMadi Malone, 6-0, So., OH, NewarkMaddie Misner, 5-11, Sr., OH, CarbondaleHattie Monson, 5-5, Jr., L, BenetMegan Schlechte, 5-11, Sr., OH, Wind...
Youth rules at St. Viator, Carmel; Teutopolis can play a little volleyball, too
St. Viator moves up to Class 4A after finishing fourth in 3A last fall. School: Arcola Conference: Little Okaw ValleyHead coach: Jill HohlbauchLast season’s highlights: 6-20 overall, 2-6 in conference, lost 25-19, 25-10 to Bement in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal.Top returnees: 6-0 senior middle hitter Olivia Key, 5-5 senior setter Gabby Becerra, 6-o sophomore middle hitter Hallee Gauna.Coach’s quote: “With more experience under our belt this year, we are hoping to improve on our overall record from last year.” Did you know? Fifteen of...
Muisenga, Benet roll in Wheaton North tournament openers
Romeoville's (left to right) Mackenzie Blizniak, Lexi Zajda, Crystal Galaviz, Alayna Rooks and Corinne Doty. Rachel Muisenga is a setter. Rachel Muisenga is a middle blocker. Rachel Muisenga was an all-tournament selection at the National Junior Classic hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center last spring and an all-Great Lakes 16 Super Open Power League choice.And oh, by the way, she’s going to Penn State … eventually. That’s not a bad resume for a 6-foot sophomore.Wednesday at the Blue & Gold Wheaton North Tournament, Muisenga p...
Sterling ‘golden’ against Joliet Catholic; Belleville Althoff passes Latin test
Defending state champion Belleville Althoff will face Sterling for the Class 3A state championship Saturday in Normal. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com NORMAL – Sterling entered the season believing this was its year. Now the Golden Warriors are one win away. The trio of Borum sisters – Josilyn, Breelyn and Brooklyn -- banged 32 kills, and the Gould sisters – Gretchen and Grace – chipped in with 5 kills of their own as Sterling rallied down the stretch of the first set and went onto a 27-25, 25-20 victory over Joliet Ca...
Marist ends Downers Grove North’s magical run, repeats as Class 4A champion
Marist's 6-2 junior Camryn Hannah had 7 kills as Marist won back-to-back Class 4A state titles Saturday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – Almost as much as it wanted a second consecutive Class 4A state championship for its volleyball team, the Marist fans wanted 5-foot-5 junior Tess Brennan. The diminutive defensive specialist didn’t disappoint. Inserted into the match to serve with Marist leading 22-11 in the second set, Brennan served out the match following consecutive hitting errors by Downers Grove North and a kill by 5-10 junior...
No. 2-ranked Sterling makes quick work of United Township
Sterling's Breelyn Borum, Lexi Rodriquez, Brooklyn Borum and Josilyn Borum. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSterling sophomore Breelyn Borum had a direct answer when asked about her teams goal this season.“To win state,” Borum said of the Class 3A title. “We're really playing together as a team and making our connections.”That's something Sterling has been doing all season. The Golden Warriors remained undefeated with a 25-8, 25-20 victory over (East Moline) United Township in a nonconference match Tuesday at Sterling.The Borum sister...