Southeast Missouri State's Laney Malloy (left) and Kayla Closset will be packing their bags for the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championships this week. Bolingbrook graduate and Sports Performance alumna Natalie Mitchem and her Ball State University teammates are headed to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships after defeating Bowling Green to win the Mid-American Conference championship.The 6-2 junior opposite had 11 kills, 3 blocks and 4 digs in the Cardinals’ 25-23, 29-31, 25-16, 21-25, 15-7 victory over the No. 2-seeded Fal...
Hurta bedazzled opponents to earn SPVB/Illprepvb Player of the Year honors
Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Katie Hurta led Nazareth to the school's first IHSA championship in a girls' sport November 12-13 at Redbird Arena. (Photos by Dave Ruggles). Katie Hurta of Nazareth By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFive days.That’s how long it took Nazareth senior Katie Hurta to truly understand what she and her teammates had accomplished.The 2021 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year put down six of her team-high 15 kills during a third-set rally against Belvidere North i...
Here are the final 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com girls H.S. rankings
Emotions ran high Saturday at the IHSA tournament at Redbird Arena among both winners and losers. But win or lose, most agreed they were just happy to be back on the court this fall. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAnother IHSA tournament is in the books. Let’s pray that 2020 is the last time the tournament is cancelled. Recommendation to avoid future cancellations? Encourage folks to get vaccinated. (P.S. Just another reason not to like Aaron Rodgers).My biggest beef of last weekend? The prices at the conc...
IHSA girls high school volleyball state finals in pictures November 13, 2021
IHSA girls high school volleyball semifinals in pictures November 12, 2021
Metea Valley rallies to deny McAuley in Class 4A title game; Barrington takes third
Barrington sophomore Jenna Meitzler (11) collects one of her 3 kills against Edwardsville in the Class 4A third-place match. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Class 4ABy Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – No. 17 will have to wait another year.Metea Valley, which had never even won a regional before this season, shocked the Mother McAuley, 15-25, 25-8, 25-17, at Redbird Arena on Saturday to deny the Mighty Macs a 17th IHSA championship and claim the first state volleyball trophy in the Aurora school’s history.“Oh my God, I can’t even describe...
IHSA tournament results for Saturday, November 13
Class 1AThird placeAquin def. Springfield Lutheran 25-22, 25-17Aquin (39-3): Lucy Arndt (15 kills,11 digs, 1 block), Ava Hiveley (10 kills), Megan Holder (24 assists, 1 kill), Hanna Pizzolato (13 digs, 1 kill).Class 3AThird placeNormal West def. Joliet Catholic 25-20, 26-24Normal West (34-7): Averie Hernandez (16 kills, 4 digs, 1 block, 1 ace), Sydney Sennett (20 assists, 3 kills), Sydnie Hernandez (12 digs, 2 blocks), Joselyn Gale (7 digs).Joliet Catholic (27-15): Crystal Galavic (7 kills, 10 digs), Lillian Ray (8 assists), Samantha Horn (6 a...
Mother McAuley avoids Edwardsville's upset bid; Metea Valley tops Barrington
Barrington's 6-2 sophomore Berkely Ploder (10) tries to beat the block of Metea Valley's Jessica Williams (4) during the first set of Friday's second Class 4A semifinal. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – They're back.Sophomore Ellie White and senior Peyton Brokemond made sure Mother McAuley returned to a familiar place in the state title match as White whammed 23 kills and Brokemond bashed 18 to lead the Might Macs past Edwardsville, 27-29, 25-21, 25-16, in the opening IHSA Class 4A semifinal Friday at ...
Nazareth's defense thwarts Belvidere North in 3A finals; Normal West jars JCA
Normal West libero Sydnie Hernandez (9) stretches to reach a ball during the Wildcats' victory over Joliet Catholic in the Class 3A third-place game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Class 3ABy Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Defense wins championships.And did Nazareth ever defend.The Roadrunners overcame a 12-6 deficit in the third set to defeat No. 1-ranked Belvidere North, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, in the Class 3A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena.Defense was the difference.The IHSA does not keep records for tournament digs, but ...
Belvidere North outslugs Normal West; Nazareth beats Joliet Catholic … again
Nazareth's Lauren Salata flicks a kill down the line in Friday's Class 3A semifinal victory over Joliet Catholic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – When a volleyball team such as Belvidere North has more weapons, it behooves setters like Jayden Flynn to use them.The senior did just that, notching 24 assists as four of her hitters had 6 or more kills in a 25-18, 25-17 victory over Normal West in a Class 3A state tournament semifinal at Redbird Arena on Friday.Ranked No. 1 in 3A by Illprepvb.com, Belvide...