Breelyn Borum (17) and Sterling will try to become the first Class 3A team to win back-to-back IHSA championships since St. Francis won the third of its three consecutive titles in 2014. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: HerscherConference: Illinois Central Eight (new)Head coach: Joel Huizenga Last season’s highlights: 22-13 overall, 10-1 in conference (Interstate 8), lost to Fieldcrest, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, in a...
Prairie Ridge turns to Baudin, Sheridan; we look at L-W East, Rochester & 15 more
Hannah Baudin stepped in at setter for Prairie Ridge last fall when Jayden Otto was injured. Baudin and Trinity Sheridan will be asked to shoulder a bigger load this fall with the graduation of four starters off last year's fourth-place Class 4A finisher. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: Elgin Conference: Upstate 8Head coach: Amy Zapata Last season’s highlights: 16-18 overall, 3-6 in conference, won Westminster ...
50 (more or less) more reasons to watch Illinois high school girls’ volleyball in 2019
Joliet Catholic's Jillian Gray (4) and Pleasant Plains' Anna Kanilakan (18) are just two more reasons to watch Illinois high school girls' volleyball in 2019. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com lists 50 (give or take) more reasons to watch girls’ volleyball in 2019.Hope Allen, 5-9, Sr., OH, Chillicothe IVCLily Barry, 5-8, Fr., OH, Normal U-HighFrankie Bertucci, 5-4, Jr., L, De La SalleMaddie Blake, 6-0, Sr., OH, Crystal Lake CentralKat Blasé, 6-0, Jr., OH, CharlestonNicole Boelens, 5-7, So., OH, PoloChloe Britton, 5-9, Jr., OH, L...
101 reasons to watch Illinois high school girls’ volleyball in 2019
Today, Illprepvb.com lists 101 reasons to watch Illinois girls high school volleyball in 2019, including Grayville's Sydney Foster (home page) and Huntley setter Taylor Jakubowski (12). Here are 101 players who Illprepvb.com believes should be on everybody’s “must-see” list during the 2019 girls high school season. Brooke Amann, 5-11, Sr., OH, Woodstock NorthKaileigh Ammons, 6-2, Sr., MB, Wheaton Warrenville SouthGrace Asleson, 5-9, Sr., S, Lyons Maddie Arundel, 5-9, Sr., OH, MaristGigi Barr, 6-1, Jr., MH/OH, YorkKendra Battle, 6-1, Sr....
Newark ready to defend 1A title, West Aurora faces challenge in SPC & more
With minimal losses to graduation and players like Madi Malone and Mattie Chapman returning from last year's 40-2 Class 1A champion, Newark is a heavy favorite to repeat in 2019. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) School: Addison Trail Conference: West Suburban GoldHead coach: Dan StylerLast season’s highlights: 17-19 overall, 4-2 in conference (third place), fifth place (of 16 teams) at Metea Valley/Oswego tournament, third place (of eight teams) at Willowbrook tournament, lost to Glenbard North, 25-23, 25-22, in a Class 4A regional s...
Warren seeks one team for 24-team boys invitational in spring 2020
(Gurnee) Warren is looking for one more team to join a 24-team boys varsity volleyball tournament April 9 and 11, 2020. The invite will be falling on the Easter weekend, so pool play will be held beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, with bracket play beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. If interested, please contact Warren head coach Yun Chen at ychen@wths.net. ...
Massac County, Montini drop down, look up; will Spartans surprise again?
Massac County and Montini are two teams dropping down from Class 3A to 2A for the 2019 and 2020 seasons thanks to the IHSA's new enrollment reclassification policy. School: BarringtonConference: Mid-Suburban WestHead coach: Michelle Jakubowski Last season’s highlights: 24-12 overall, 9-1 in conference, defeated Buffalo Grove, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, to win Mid-Suburban League championship, lost to Cary-Grove, 25-20, 25-16, in Class 4A regional semifinal.Top returnees: 5-11 senior middle blocker Noelle Daehler, 5-3 seni...
Ketelhut strengthens Plainfield North lineup; we also look at Newton, St. Ignatius & more
Six-foot-3 middle hitter Gretchen Ketehut has recovered from injuries suffered in a car accident during the summer of 2018 and joins returning starters (from left) Anna Gawron, Lilly Summers, Ali Jansen and Ella Wrobel to give Plainfield North one of the top lineups in Illinois. School: Aurora Central Catholic Conference: Metro Suburban BlueHead coach: Claire GartlandLast season’s highlights: 13-19 overall, 0-5 in conference,lost to Wheaton Academy,25-17, 21-25, 25-18, in a Class 3A regional semifinal. Top returnees: 5-9 junior outside hitt...
‘Weird’ is the new normal for Benet in its bid for fourth title in nine years
Necessity forced Benet to juggle its lineup in 2018 and play several players out of their normal positions. However, that won't be the case this fall. Quick. Without cheating. Who was the only Illinois team to defeat Class 4A champion Marist last season?If you guessed Benet Academy, give yourself a mighty slap on the back.In between a 25-23, 23-25, 25-19 loss in the championship match of the Tiger Classic on September 15 and a 25-18, 25-15 defeat in an IHSA Class 4A semifinal on November 9, the Redwings took down the eventual state cham...
Bolingbrook moves on without Mitchem, and we look at 18 other schools
Bolingbrook set a school record with 24 wins last fall, but star 6-foot-2 outside hitter Natalie Mitchem is now attending Ball State, and the Raiders must carry on without her. Illprepvb.com begins its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with the first set of previews. School: Bloomington Central Catholic Conference: Illini PrairieHead coach: Teresa UlrichLast season’s highlights: 21-15 overall, 5-4 in conference (fourth place), finished third at Saints Fall Classic, fifth at Sterling invi...