Brown County went 17-4 in the spring and hopes to duplicate, if not exceed, that success this fall behind (front row, from left) Gabby McGath, Cortni Law and Makenna Post; (middle row, from left) Brooke Garthaus, Justyce Hunter, Cyrah Dunlap and Lea Houston; and (back row, from left) Ashlee Markert, Klare Flynn, Katey Flynn and Gracie Hedden. Not pictured is Kaci McKeon. Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of (Mt. Sterling) Brown County, which is on a quest to make history this fall a...

Newark's KJ Friestad (No. 18 on the home page walking toward the bench) is one of two players who were members of the Lady Norsemen's 2019 championship team that must now defend its title without the services of Madi Malone (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of several teams Like St. Viator and Kaneland hoping to build on their success in the spring and others like Prairie Ridge looking to move up the ladder in their respe...

Marist's Kylie Brosius, Mary Clare Brusek, Bella Bullington, Chloe Artega and Elise Ward took on Wheaton Warrenville South Monday minus injured junior Kamryn Chaney (far right). Rebecca Bellows is following in the footsteps of Darby Harris and taking one for the team.Two years ago, Wheaton Warrenville South coach Bill Schreier gave some thought to running a 6-2 with Sarah Burau and Zayna Meyer sharing the setter’s position. That experiment was short-lived, however, and Meyer moved to outside hitter.Meanwhile, Harris, also a setter by trade...

Freeport Aquin has an enrollment of 88.50 students (how do you classify as a half-student?), but Lucy Arndt (12) and the Lady Bulldogs are among the favorites to reach Redbird Arena in Class 1A later this fall. Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of several teams hoping to build on their success in the spring and others that are facing a total revamp after suffering heavy graduation losses. (Last spring's record in parenthesis): Barrington (14-2)Start with the Mid-Suburban League Player...

Tara Glynn (above) and Abby Kenzinger (on the home page) are two reasons Richards is expected to vie for the South Suburban Conference Red Division title again this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of several teams hoping to build on their success in the spring and others looking to move up the heirarchy in their respective leagues. (Last season's record in parenthesis):Crystal Lake South (7-6)After a slow start, the Gators won four of their final five...

On the home page, Mother McAuley's 5-11 sophomore Ellie White (far right) is expected to lead the Mighty Macs in a number of categories, including blocking. (Photo by Dave Ruggles. Above photo of Batavia coach McKenna Kelsay courtesy of U. of I. athletic department). Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with previews of a team that looks to build on perfection, a downstate school with a new coach after a 22-win campaign in the spring, a perennial state power that finds itself in a new class, and a team that's looking to...

Sam Buckley (middle row, third from left), who played rightside hitter for Benet last spring, is the lone returning starter for the Redwings this fall, and she will not be returning to the position she played as a junior. A minor bump in the road?Or a pothole the size of Pontiac?Benet has won four of the last nine Class 4A championships – 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2019. It has won 13 consecutive regional championships, played in 12 sectional championships over the last 13 years (winning eight of them), and has won a state trophy seven times d...