The season starts Saturday for Waubonsie Valley, but Benet can't wait

Benet improved to 3-1 with Friday's win over Waubonsie Valley behind (far right) junior Drew Rogers' 6 kills and 2 aces. Any similarity between the Waubonsie Valley team that takes the court next Tuesday and the one that took the court Friday at Benet will be purely coincidental.Senior Vincent Johnson, the Warriors’ starting setter two years ago, will rejoin the team at practice early Saturday morning and be ready to go when Waubonsie Valley begins DuPage Valley Conference play Tuesday at Naperville Central.Johnson missed the team’s first ...

'Underdog' Plainfield East surprises Minooka in Southwest Prairie finale

Plainfield East defeated Southwest Prairie Conference regular-season champion Minooka on Saturday to win the league's season-ending tournament in Minooka. Minooka’s plaque might be bigger, but Plainfield East got the last word.Plainfield East overcame a 24-21 deficit in the first set and fought back after squandering an early 9-5 led in the second to defeat regular-season champion Minooka, 28-26, 25-21, and win the season-ending Southwest Prairie Conference Tournament Saturday in Minooka.“It's absolutely amazing,” said Plainfield East se...

Young upstart Limestone, senior night emotions get the better of Morton

With seven seniors who helped Morton High School reach the 2018 Class 3A Elite Eight, the Potters had hoped to win a state trophy this season before the pandemic nixed the state tournament. During an emotional Senior Night match on Tuesday, Morton lost to Bartonville Limestone, 25-13, 25-20. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMORTON – It’s happened before.A team of young upstarts with nothing to lose – in this case Bartonville Limestone – surprises a squad of highly regarded veterans struggling with senior nigh...

Saturday, April 3 results

Saturday, April 3 resultsDakota def. Stillman Valley 25-8, 25-12Dakota (7-1 overall, 5-0 in the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference): Tabytha Toelke (17 kills, 1 ace), Abi Schlueter (10 kills, 4 aces), Lexi Brashaw (5 kills), Jadyn Sweet (24 assists, 1 ace), Falyn McPeek (5 assists), Kelsie Minkie (1 ace), Lexi Rote (2 aces).Eureka def. Heyworth 25-22, 25-13Eureka (8-2 overall, 8-2 in the Heart of Illinois Conference): Hannah Hetz (6 digs), Delaney Phillips (8 kills, 13 service points), Lynnde Dingledine (14 assists), Ella Ausmus (8 kills).Jol...

Friday, April 30 results

(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, April 30 results Belvidere def. Harlem 25-20, 26-24 Belvidere: Gavin McClenthen (19 assists), Nole Hefty (6 kills), Jack Maville (4 kills, 8 blocks), Mikey Loeding (16 digs). Benet def. Waubonsie Valley 25-16, 25-23Benet (3-1 overall, 1-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Auggie Mazza (6 kills, 1 ace, 1 assist), Drew Rogers (6 kills, 1 block, 2 aces), Nicholas Guth (7 assists), Nial Gallagher (3 kills, 2 blocks), Peter Shanley (1 kill), Ethan Sturm (3 kills, 1 block), Ryan Treacy (7 assists).Waubo...

Friday, April 16 results

(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, April 16 resultsBolingbrook def. Oswego 25-14, 25-20Bolingbrook (9-3 overall, 6-2 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Lauren Shroba (13 kills, 11 digs, 3 blocks), Ashleigh Curtiss (5 kills, 6 digs ), Chloe Knaak (21 assists), Kaylee Wnek (2 aces, 6 digs), Nicole Kadziola (6 digs).Carlyle def. Greenville 25-17, 19-25, 25-18Greenville: Ava Curry (8 service points, 2 aces, 19 digs), Gwyn Mitchell (8 service points, 2 aces, 7 kills, 2 blocks), Natalie Iberg (15 kills), Justyce Stephenson (21 assists), Alison R...

There's something special about playing for your mom, and for moms coaching their daughters

Dakota's Tabytha Toelke likely would have finished in the top three on the IHSA all-time career kills list but for the pandemic-shortened season. The four-year starter led the state with 562 kills as a junior. https://youtu.be/RHMmGZ6fp4E By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comTheir hometowns are separated by hundreds of miles and they have never met, but Dakota’s Tabytha Toelke, Paris’ Emma Pinkston and Herrin’s Kelsey Jurich have a lot in common.All three volleyball stars are multisport athletes, team captains, outstanding students...

Saturday, April 17 results

Congratulations to Joliet Catholic coach Christine Scheibe, who got her 600th career win Saturday when the Angels defeated St. Francis. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Saturday, April 17 results Girls volleyball Dakota def. Sycamore 25-15, 25-22Dakota (13-3, overall, 7-2 in the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference): Tabytha Toelke (14 kills, 2 aces, 1 block, 3 assists, 7 digs), Abi Schlueter (11 kills, 4 aces, 4 assists, 7 digs), Lexi Brashaw (2 blocks), Falyn McPeek (20 assists, 1 ace), Mary Zettle (1 ace, 5 digs), Lexi Rote (5 digs), ...

Young Joliet West stops COVID-curbed Bolingbrook in Saturday matinee

Joliet West coach Al Mart is flanked by (from left) freshman libero Olivia Baxter, junior outside hitter Olivia Ryan, freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed and senior defensive specialist Brianne Doran, the lone senior on his roster. Bolingbrook's Lauren Shroba and Cydney Anderson. Bolingbrook’s Lauren Shroba had not seen her teammates in person in 10 days, even the one who occupies the bedroom next to hers.“We just stayed in our rooms the whole time,” she said. “It was really weird. I don't think I saw her for a whole week until the la...

Friday, April 2 results

Late Thursday, April 1 results Chicago Christian def. Riverside Brookfield 25-15, 25-12Riverside-Brookfield (4-3 overall, 4-3 in the Metro Suburban West Conference): Colette Barnes (6 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs), Emeli Romo (9 assists, 6 digs). Dakota def. Orangeville 25-13, 25-20Dakota (7-1 overall, 5-0 in the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference): Tabytha Toelke (14 kills, 1 block , 1 ace, 5 digs), Abi Schlueter (10 kills, 1 block, 5 digs), Lexi Brashaw (4 kills, 3 blocks), Brooke Schuler (1 kill), Olivia Schlueter (1 kil...