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 ...
'Exhausted,' 'predictable,' St. Rita falls to Glenbard West in three sets
St. Rita is in the midst of a brutal stretch of games that includes Sandburg, Glenbard West, Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way West and St. Francis. Zach Carroll came off the floor looking like he had just run an ultra marathon. “I'm very exhausted,” he said.He had reason to be.The 6-foot-3 outside hitter and his St. Rita teammates laid it all on the line through the first two sets of their non-conference match Thursday at Glenbard West, leading 25-20, 14-11, and seemingly on the verge of a huge win heading into the IHSA tournament in 11 da...
Thursday, October 21 results
Libertyville defeated Stevenson Wednesday in Lincolnshire to win the North Suburban Conference title. After starting the season 3-8, the Wildcats have won 19 of their last 24 matches and finished 6-1 in the conference. Thursday, October 21 resultsAquin def. Orangeville 25-9, 25-20Aquin (27-2-1 overall, 12-0 in the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference): Lucy Arndt (12 kills, 1 ace), Ava Hiveley (6 kills, 9 digs), Megan Holder (22 assists, 1 block).Beecher def. Illinois Lutheran 25-22, 21-25, 25-15Illinois Lutheran (17-13 overall; 10-2 in th...
Lincoln-Way East seniors get a little help from sophomore Ava Nepkin to win SWSC Blue
Lincoln-Way East team members pose with the championship plaque following the victory over Sandburg that gave them sole possession of the Southwest Suburban Conference Blue division title. Lincoln-Way East sophomores Jada James (left) and Ava Nepkin. Lincoln-Way East’s seniors will go out as Southwest Suburban Conference champions – the school’s first league title since 2017 and just the second since 2006.But they owe a huge debt of gratitude to 6-2 sophomore outside hitter Ava Nepkin, who almost single-handedly gift-wrapped the victory...
Presenting the Michio Chicago VBA Illprepvb.com 2021 Girls All-State Team
Willowbrook is the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Team of the Year after starting the season with 30 consecutive wins, handing eventual Class 4A champion Metea Valley one of its two losses and reaching the sectional finals at Class 4A runner-up Mother McAuley. Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2021 Girls All-State Volleyball Team. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the clas...
IHSA tournament results for Tuesday, October 26
West Aurora's Izabel Valadez (2) and Maureen Pokryfke converge on a ball in the back row during Tuesday's 25-18, 25-18 regional semifinal loss to Benet at West Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Tuesday, October 26 tournament results Class 1A At Clay CityNorth Clay def. Oblong 25-19, 25-16Oblong (9-26 overall): Madisyn McIntosh (2 kills, 5 assists, 1 dig), Jenna Bailey (7 kills, 1 dig), Grace Lemmon (1 kill), Grace Flexter (1 kill, 1 ace, 10 digs), Alaina Holcomb (1 kill, 1 assist, 1 dig), Jorie Weber (5 assists, 1 ace, 1 dig), Ava Manue...
Thursday, April 29 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, April 29 results Addison Trail def. Leyden 25-18, 25-17Addison Trail (2-0 overall): Andrew Drogosz (1 kill), Basile Vassos (1 ace, 2 digs), Enzo Ciaccio (2 aces, 5 kills, 1 block, 1 dig), Filippo Cacucciolo (2 aces, 7 kills, 2 bocks), Patrick Plasznik (1 ace, 13 kills, 1 dig), Salvatore Culotta (1 ace, 1 dig), Vince Cazante (1 block).Leyden: Alec Bunag (5 kills), Jakub Ochal (4 kills), Angel Linares (11 assists).Benet def. St. Viator: 25-18, 25-21Benet (2-1 overall): Augie Mazza (5 kills, 3 aces), Drew R...
Two weeks later, Barrington (minus a starter or four) gets back on the court
Barrington was in quarantine for two weeks due to the pandemic, then played three times in 24 hours minus any practice, 6-7 junior Jack O'Riordan, two starting junior middle hitters and a freshman outside hitter in a squeaker Saturday against Schaumburg. https://youtu.be/hcbZ6LM3Lss It was a recipe for disaster.Two weeks without touching a ball while in quarantine. Arguably your best player in Las Vegas playing in a club tournament. Three conference games in less than 24 hours, including back-to-back matches on Saturday with one mat...
Friday, May 21 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, May 21 resultsCarmel def. Antioch 25-17, 25-23Carmel (12-2 overall, 5-2 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Andersen Ptasienski (12 kills, 1 block), Timmy Harvey (4 kills), Dylan Franada (4 kills), Zach Marcheschi (3 kills), Tommy Sulfridge (2 kills), Mario Durnil (24 assists), Ryan Hogan (14 digs, 2 aces).Fremd def. Barrington 25-16, 19-25, 25-14Fremd (9-3 overall, 8-1 in the Mid-Suburban West): Aaron Sallade (10 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs), Greg Harmon (5 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks), Camden Seaver (9 kills, ...
The future's so bright … Forty-seven teams headed to USAV nationals … so far
SPVB B18 Lenny has gone 17-2 in the two national tournaments in which it participated this season and will be looking to bring home Sports Performance's second national title in the 18 USA division in three years. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Who’s in? Who’s out?Here is a list of the Illinois-based qualifiers for the USA Volleyball championships as of March 25.The 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship will be held in Columbus, Ohio, April 23-25, the 2021 USAV Girls Junior National Championship will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, June...