Has it really been two years since Marist's Marty Simpson (2) guided the RedHawks to a state championship at Hoffman Estates? (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Editor's note: Unless action is taken, boys' volleyball stands to lose a state tournament for the second consecutive year. Below is a letter from a reader and concerned parent, Jeff Lange of Hinsdale, to Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH); Aaron Beswic, Senior Policy Advisor, IDPH; and Jess Ruiz, Illinois Lieutenant Governor, providing several reasons why th...
Wednesday, May 19 results
(Photos of Wednesday's South Suburban Conference match between Bremen and Shepard by by Dave Ruggles) Wednesday, May 19 results Alton Marquette def. Belleville West 25-21, 25-22Deerfield def. Niles North 16-25, 25-20, 25-15Glenbard West def. Lake Park 22-25, 25-18, 26-24Glenbard West (19-2 overall, 4-1 in the West Suburban Silver): Tommy Lohman (28 assists, 4 kills, 17 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace), Danny Pasinksi (18 kills, 6 digs, 1 block), Gavin Swartz (6 kills, 4 dig, 1 block), Quinn Hardesty (4 kills, 2 blocks), Nick Jones ...
Benet's Muisenga named Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year
Benet Academy's Rachel Muisenga (18, far left) led the Redwings to a 51-1 record and an IHSA Class 4A championship during her two years as the team's setter. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Rachel Muisenga of Benet Academy. CHICAGO (May 6, 2021) — In its 36th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Rachel Muisenga of Benet Academy as its 2020-21 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year. Muisenga is the second Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year to...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Sports Performance VBC Girls H.S. Player of the Year
Rachel Muisenga led Benet to a 51-1 record during her two years as the Redwings' setter, capped by a 23-25, 25-11, 25-22 victory over Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet's Rachel Muisenga By Matt Le CrenSpecial for Illprepvb.comThere is an aura that all great athletes project during competition.They play with a self-assuredness that ensures no challenge is too large for them to overcome, and no task too small for them to complete.For those fans who get to watch...
Tuesday, May 18 results
Tuesday, May 18 resultsBartlett def. West Chicago 25-9, 25-10West Chicago (4-3 overall, 3-1 in the Upstate Eight Conference): Brendan Sulit (7 digs), Brendan Prebis (4 kills), Matt Stavenger (3 kills), Ethan Martins (6 assists).Belleville East def. Granite City 25-9, 25-7Belvidere def. Harlem 25-12, 27-25Edwardsville def. Alton 25-8, 25-14Edwardsville (7-0 overall, 5-0 in the Southwestern Conference): Preston Weaver (14 service points, 4 aces, 16 assists, 6 digs), Jacob Geisen (7 kills, 0.400 hitting percentage, 7 digs), Tyler Chrenka (9 digs)...
Fedmasu growing into his role with Plainfield North, helps beat Plainfield East
Plainfield East fell to 7-3 in the Suburban Prairie Conference with its loss to Plainfield North on Tuesday, but coach Alex Rodriguez isn't panicking and believes his team will be ready by the time regionals roll around. Andrew Fedmasu isn’t expected to shoulder much of the load when he plays alongside the likes of Marist’s Nyherowo Omene, Timothy Christian’s Kyle Teune, and St. Francis’ Kevin Schuele and Aiden Benson on his nationally-ranked club team.But it’s a different story when the 6-foot-5 junior steps on the court for his high sch...
IHSA board of directors OKs state series for boys volleyball this spring
Marist was the last boys state volleyball champion crown by the IHSA back in 2019. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). It’s on. The IHSA board of directors Wednesday approved a full state series for boys’ volleyball, adding the sectional and state final levels.Regional tournaments will be held June 7-10. The eight traditional boys’ volleyball sectionals will take place Saturday, June 12 and Tuesday, June 15. Sites are still being finalized. Schools that are interested in hosting are asked to contact Stacy Lambert slambert@ihsa.org at the IH...
Wednesday, May 5 results
Wednesday, May 5 resultsArgo def. T.F. United 25-21, 25-21 Benet def. Montini 23-25, 25-9, 25-20Montini: Daniel Cyze (11 kills, 2 blocks), Miguel Jaojoco (5 kills), Andrew Briones (12 assists, 3 kills).Montini coach Brian Opoka: “My kids faced adversity all match and never showed any quit. We were down 5 points twice and battled back to tie it up. My kids are learning how to compete with the best teams in the state. I am so proud of our effort tonight. We took another big step forward.”Buffalo Grove def. Fremd 25-19, 21-25, 25-19Fremd (4-2 ove...
Monday, May 17 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Monday, May 17 results Argo def. Lemont 25-22, 20-25, 25-18Belleville East def. Metro East Lutheran 25-12, 25-5Benet def. Metea Valley 25-19, 25-17Benet (12-2 overall, 4-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Ethan Sturm (3 kills, 3 blocks), Niall Gallagher (5 kills, 2 blocks), Augie Mazza (5 kills), Drew Rogers (6 kills), Peter Shanley (2 kills, 3 blocks), Ryan Treacy (4 assists, 2 digs), Nick Guth (15 assists, 2 digs).Carmel def. Lake Zurich 23-25, 25-18, 25-18Carmel (10-2 overall, 4-2 in the East Suburban...
Wheaton North, Knoerr take down Geneva in front of (gasp!) a crowd of people
Geneva lost for just the third time in DuKane Conference play, falling at Wheaton North, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21, in front of a large senior night crowd Tuesday. There was something different about this game.The playing court was the same size. The height of the net was unchanged. There were six players on each side. Two officials – one up, one down. The ball was regulation. Rally scoring was used.So what was it that made this match different?People.“This is the first volleyball game all season that we’ve actually had a crowd,” said Geneva co...