After a season of COVID and club, Metea Valley's got the gang back together

Metea Valley improved to 7-0 on the young season with a 25-15, 25-10 victory Tuesday over visiting Oswego East. Metea Valley coach Dave MacDonald gave his players an option last spring.“We told the girls, ‘Hey, if you can make it, great,’” he said. “’If you have club practice, that’s your priority right now.’ There were a handful of girls who decided to stay with their clubs. I didn't fault them at all.“They all talked to me individually. They said, ‘Hey, I want to do this.’ They want to get recruited and I totally understand. We didn't hav...

Monday, August 30 results

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin junior Rori Hanken (13, far right) tools a kill attempt off the hands of Normal West's Ashlyn Hicks (20) and Emma Rink (18) during the Cyclones' 25-13, 25-17 loss Saturday at Normal West. (Photo by Randy Sharer) Monday, August 30 results Alleman def. Abingdon-Avon 16-25, 25-17, 26-24Alleman (1-2 overall):Anne VanDerHeede (2 aces, 20 assists, 1 kill, 1 dig), Annaliese Dockery-Jackson (1 kill), Brianna Guzman (1 kill), Clair Hulke (1 ace, 7 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs), Claire Sottos (3 kills, 1 dig), Colleen...

McGrath's 'special season' begins with Loyola's Crimson Classic championship

Loyola's Mia McGrath was named MVP of the 2021 Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and Plainfield Central and sponsored by Illprepvb.com after leading the Ramblers to the championship of the 32-team tournament Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) What a difference 24 hours make.“If you consider our first match on Friday to our last match today, it's amazing the growth that happened,” said Loyola coach Mallory Thelander.As long as her team doesn’t grow too much and can’t fit into its Crimson Classic championship T-shirts.The Ramblers...

Glenbard West rallies, surprises Montini for Wheaton North Blue & Gold title

Montini defeated Benet in the semifinals, but could not build on a first-set victory and lost to Glenbard West in the championship match of the Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGlenbard West surprised most everyone except itself. The Hilltoppers won a pair of three-set thrillers Saturday, surviving Wheaton North in the semifinals then rallying past Montini, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, in the title match of the Wheaton North 36th Annual Blue & Gold Girls Volleyball Tournament.The victory av...

Normal West, Hernandez shine brightly against Moline, Sacred Heart-Griffin

Normal West High School setter Sydney Sennett (11) notched 22 assists, seven digs and four aces during a 25-17, 25-14 victory over visiting Moline on Saturday. Facing off across the net is Moline's Rylie Frazelle. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Thanks to a shorter than ever offseason, the August volleyball on display during a triangular at Normal West High School on Saturday has rarely been more polished.In a showdown of three unbeatens, no team shined more brightly than the host Wildcats, who toppe...

Saturday, August 28 results

Katie Hurta (9) had 13 kills, but it wasn't enough as Loyola defeated Nazareth in the championship game of the 2021 Crimson Classic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Saturday, August 28 results Loyola def. Nazareth 25-22, 25-15 (championship)Loyola (5-0): Mia McGrath (7 kills, 1 block 3 digs), Catherine Burke (6 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), Molly Power (4 kills, 3 blocks), Ava Bogan (5 kills, 2 blocks), Vanessa Dempsey (9 assists), Gabby Charlier (13 assists, 1 ace), Maggie Merck (5 digs), Lily Boland (3 digs, 3 aces, 1 ...