Jakubowski goes the extra mile for inexperienced Huntley team

Seton Hall-bound setter Taylor Jakubowski has led Huntley to a 18-2 record despite the graduation of seven seniors and several key starters from last year's 35-4 team. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) (Editor's note: This story originally ran on October 9, 2019) Huntley's 5-foot-8 senior setter Taylor Jakubowski. Although no exacting scientific study has been published on the subject, some estimates put the distance a setter runs during a match at anywhere from a half-mile to three miles.Then there are days where a setter may feel like the...

Thursday, October 31 results

Massac County def. Mt. Carmel to win the Class 2A regional at Hamilton County. Thursday, October 31 resultsAt BenetBenet Academy def. Plainfield Central 25-19, 25-22Benet Academy (36-1 overall, 6-1 in the East Suburban Catholic): Rachel Muisenga (1 kill, 24 assists, 1 dig), Sophie Gregus (10 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks), Maeve Nelligan (3 kills), Colleen McGuire (3 kills, 2 assists), Kayla Kenney (5 kills, 13 digs, 5 blocks), Ann Marie Remmes (4 kills, 5 blocks), Hattie Monson (1 assist, 16 digs), Annie Sobolewski (1 dig), Caroline Doyle (2 digs...

Naperville Central’s road warriors do it again, this time at Neuqua Valley

Naperville Central celebrates its Class 4A regional championship Thursday at Neuqua Valley. (Photos by Dave Ruggle) Naperville Central felt right at home playing on the road in a Class 4A regional championship match Thursday.After all, on the road is where the Redhawks have played 32 of their 37 matches this season.“If we just keep working hard, we’re good no matter where we go,” said Naperville Central outside hitter Madeline Bylak.Bylak had 10 kills, 3 digs and a block, and Kayla Closset had 10 kills, 10 digs and 2 aces as Naperville Cent...

Faoro powers Homewood-Flossmoor to first regional title since 2002

Homewood-Flossmoor avenged a regional semifinal loss to Shepard in 2018 by defeating the Astros Thursday in Flossmoor. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAllison Faoro was born in 2002.That was the last time that Homewood-Flossmoor won a regional championship. Until Thursday night.Faoro finagled a match-high 9 kills and added 5 digs as the host Vikings defeated Shepard, 25-16, 25-20, in the title match of the Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional. Homewood-Flossmoor (30-6) will face Andrew Monday in the second semifinal of the ...

Wednesday, October 30 results

Wednesday, October 30 resultsAt Cerro GordoWindsor def. Heritage 25-12, 25-23At DakotaDakota def. Pecatonica 25-15, 25-20At East DubuqueLena-Winslow def. Stockton 25-17, 25-11 Lena-Winslow: Jenna Bidlingmaier (14 assists, 2 digs), Jaden Julius (1 ace, 7 kills, 10 assists, 4 digs, 1 block), Madi Schultz (6 kills, 14 digs), Kassidy Humphrey (2 digs), Izzy Flaminio (1 ace, 4 digs, 1 block), Paige Sowie-Diffenderfer (3 kills, 3 digs), Sadie Mowery (5 kills, 2 digs, 1 block).At Eastland Eastland def. Polo 25-16, 25-19Polo: Addy Grobe (3 kills, 1 as...

Mid-Suburban League announces all-conference, player of the year selections

Hersey's all-tine kill leader and Boston College recruit Katie Kaburov was named the Mid-Suburban East Player of the Year. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The Mid-Suburban League has announced its all-conference and Player of the Year selections. The selections are: Mid-Suburban EastPlayer of the Year: Katie Kaburov, senior, HerseyShannon Coglianese, junior, Buffalo GroveMegan Mitsunaga, junior, Buffalo GroveMegan Murray, senior, Elk GroveKaiya Eshoo, senior, HerseyJuliette VanDenHerik, senior, HerseyJanine Boyan, senior, HerseyMaddie Mullin...

Tuesday, October 29 results

Holy Trinity (pictured from earlier this season) will play host Francis Parker in a Class 2A regional championship Thursday. Tuesday, October 29 results At Addison TrailAddison Trail def. Wheaton North 25-23, 23-25, 25-16Addison Trail (23-13 overall): Ally Severino (8 kills, 3 blocks, 9 digs), Amy Reyes (29 assists, 5 digs), Jess D’Ambrose (4 aces, 10 kills, 1 block, 19 digs), Katrina Bielanski (3 aces, 4 kills, 14 digs), Mia Johnson (6 kills, 1 block), Nicole Bartosik (8 digs), Pauline Wirbicki (3 aces, 15 digs), Diane Villegas (1 dig)....

Trippi-Payne announces retirement after loss to Waubonsie; West Aurora advances

Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne gathers with her team for one of the last times before announcing her retirement following Tuesday's loss to Waubonsie Valley. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Two Batavia players collide going to a ball during Tuesday's loss to Waubonsie Valley. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) After 33 years of coaching and more than 535 wins, Batavia’s Lori Trippi-Payne announced her retirement following Tuesday’s 25-12, 25-10 loss to Waubonsie Valley in a Class 4A regional semifinal at Waubonsie Valley.“I could have retired after las...