Rockford Lutheran's Lauren Spangler hits against the block of St. Teresa's Addison Newbon (35) and Valerie Nutakor (25). (Photo by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – Breese Mater Dei coach Chad Rakers didn’t have time to think about what went right. “I’m still thinking about all the things we have to fix (before tomorrow),” he said. The first thing, he said, is nerves. “This can be a big, scary place at times,” he said. It was almost a chamber of horrors for his Knights. Breese Mater Dei watched St. Joseph-Ogden erase an 18-11 deficit in Game 2, the...
IHSA finals preview: who will raise a championship trophy this weekend?
Camryn Hannah (6) and her Marist teammates will go for their third consecutive Class 4A championship this weekend at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Wheaton Warrenville South’s Bill Schreier has won more state titles than any other Illinois volleyball coach … on the boys’ side.But the veteran coach has not taken a girls’ team to the IHSA semifinals since 2002, when the Tigers finished fourth. That changed last Friday when Wheaton Warrenville South (32-8) overcame deficits of 8-2 in Game 1 and 18-10 and 21-13 in Game 2 to defeat Huntl...
Friday, November 8 results
Friday, November 8 resultsAt Freeport AquinNewark def. Dakota 25-23, 25-12Newark (39-2 overall): Madi Malone (19 kills, 10 digs, 2 blocks), Taylor Christian (22 assists), Mattie Chapman (3 blocks), Megan Williams (4 kills, 1 block), Naomi Sweeney (1 kill, 7 digs), Meggie Scott (17 digs). At Hinsdale SouthJoliet Catholic d. De La Salle 25-15, 25-20Joliet Catholic (25-15 overall): Jillian Gray (9 kills, 6 digs), Bella Ray (6 kills, 3 block kills), Riley Hungate (5 kills, 8 digs), Ryan Hinshaw (16 assists, 3 service points, 1 ace, 1 kill), Erin O...
Decker, Hurta punch Nazareth’s first-ever ticket to IHSA semifinals
Izzy Decker (3) had 14 kills to help lead Nazareth over St. Francis in a Class 3A supersectional Friday in Wheaton. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Nazareth is going to state. It’s going to take a little while for that to sink in. The Roadrunners advanced to the IHSA semifinals for the first time in school history by knocking off St. Francis, 25-19, 25-21, Friday to win the Class 3A supersectional in Wheaton. Nazareth (27-7) will play Sterling at 4:00 p.m. next Friday at Redbird Arena in Normal. “It feels unr...
M-R’s Gillen, BHRA’s Meidel head 2019 Girls All-State Honorable Mention Team
Joliet Catholic's Bella Ray (left) led the Angels to a second-place finish in Class 3A. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Today, we continue to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with those players named Honorable Mention. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the Illprepvb.com all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment status. Players represent all...
Wheaton Warrenville South follows the script, mounts big rallies to defeat Huntley
Wheaton Warrenville South setter Sarah Burau clutches the supersectional plaque after the Tigers rallied to defeat Huntley Friday at Streamwood. Wheaton Warrenville South has practically elevated that whole rising from the grave thing to an art form. “It’s crazy,” said Wheaton Warrenville South setter Sarah Burau. “One of the things were really good at is getting down in the beginning, which we should not be good at. So we’ve learned to come back, which again, we shouldn't have to be good at.” But if practice, even at something bad, ...
Announcing the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Special Mention Volleyball Team
Sophomore Kennedi Burnett (left) led St. Joseph-Ogden to a third-place finish in the IHSA Class 2A tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we begin to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with those players named Special Mention. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the Illprepvb.com all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment status. Playe...
From eighth grade to center stage, Egan helps Sterling escape Belvidere North
Brooklyn Borum (10) and her Sterling teammates needed a lot of help Friday from Grace Egan, who was in eighth grade in 2018, to earn a shot at defending their IHSA Class 3A title. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith its season on the line defending IHSA Class 3A champion Sterling turned to a player who wasn’t on the team last year. Because she wasn’t even in high school.Grace Egan put down the match-winning kill on a tip as Sterling survived upstart Belvidere North, 23-25, 25-15, 28-26, in the championship match of a Cla...
Normal U-High dazzles Centralia, sets sights on erasing memory of 2018
After losing in the sectional finals to Joliet Catholic in 2018, Normal U-High will get another crack at the Angels in an IHSA Class 3A semifinal Friday at Redbird Arena. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com The Normal University High School volleyball team was so efficient on Friday in the Class 3A supersectional at Taylorville, it really didn't need the two kills dumped in by their setters during a 25-12, 25-15 win over Centralia. “They know what kind of weapons we have on offense and how aggressively we attack the ball,” said U-High c...
Benet leaves little doubt as to who’s No. 1, beats WW South for Class 4A crown
Sophie Gregus (21) led Benet with 8 kills during Saturday's IHSA Class 4A championship match at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet juniors Kyla Kenney (left) and Caroline Doyle collide while going for a dig during Saturday's championship match. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – Benet saved the last point for Colleen McGuire.And the 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter delivered.“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” McGuire said. “This is my last point, and being able to go out on that is something I never could have even asked for. It’s ...