Lauren (Wicinski) Kosecki led Michigan State to a pair of NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances after starring at Northern Illinois University for two seasons. (Photos courtesy of Michigan State Athletic Department) Lauren (Wicinski) Kosecki. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLauren Kosecki had no intention of going home.The former Geneva star was enjoying life deep in the heart of Texas, teaching and coaching in the Houston area, where she met her husband, Matthew.“At the time, I was like, ‘I’m not coming home, I don’t want to be cold...
Pickering, Montini breeze past Mater Dei; Pleasant Plains exploits Chicago Christian
Montini had a lot to celebrate Friday, rolling past Breese Mater Dei, 25-10, 25-11, in an IHSA Class 2A semifinal at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Class 2A Class 2A By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNormal – Can anyone stop Montini?Breese Mater Dei certainly couldn’t.“You just watched the best team in the state dominate a team that was really, really strong,” said Breese Mater Dei coach Chad Rakers after watching his team succumb to the Broncos, 25-11, 25-10, in an IHSA Class 2A semifinal Friday at Redbird Arena.Montini s...
Saturday, October 23 tournament results
Downers Grove South (far court) split two matches at Saturday's Lyons invite, beating Elgin Larkin and falling to Normal Community West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Saturday, October 23 tournament scores At Lyons Lyons Township def. Normal Community 25-27, 25-14, 25-22Lyons Township def. St. Ignatius 28-26, 25-22Normal West def. St. Ignatius 25-21, 19-25, 26-24Normal West def. Downers Grove South 25-15, 25-23Normal Community def. New Trier 25-17, 25-22New Trier def. York 25-12, 25-27, 25-14Downers Grove South def. Elgin Larkin 25-13, 25...
Wednesday, March 24 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Wednesday, March 24 results Benet Academy def. Marian Central Catholic 25-3, 25-16Benet Academy (3-0 overall, 3-0 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Kyla Kenney (10 kills, digs 5), Daria Rodriquez (8 kills, 2 digs), Ann Marie Remmes (7 kill, 1 dig), Rachel Muisenga (2 kill, 24 assists, 5 digs), Katherine Mojica (2 kills), Caroline Doyle (6 digs), Jaci Budrek (8 digs), Kiara Zamar (7 digs), Annie Eschenbach (1 block), Caelin Abramic (9 assists, 3 d...
Friday, October 15 tournament results
Ashley Kushner (1) and Naperville North advanced to the quarterfinals of the Fall Harvest Festival at Plainfield Central, defeating Richards and Joliet West in pool play Friday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, October 15 tournament results Chicago Christian def. St Charles North 25-20, 25-22Marist def. Chicago Christian 25-15, 25-27, 15-10Chicago Christian (23-6 overall): Logan Grevengoed (24 kills), Delanie Grevengoed (17 kills), Keely Colyer (44 assists).Saturday’s scheduleGold bracket (at Plainfiel...
Where will Wrobel land on list of Sports Performance greats? 'That's up to her'
Plainfield North's Ella Wrobel (88) and her SPVB 18 Elite teammates are working toward winning a national AAU title next month in Orlando. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Kelly Murphy. Lauren Carlini. Colleen Ward. Kelsey Robinson. Taylor Landfair. Nellie Spicer. Tracey Marshall.Ella Wrobel?Sports Performance has produced some of the best volleyball players in the country. U.S. Olympians. All-Americans. NCAA champions.Could Wrobel be the next player to join that exemplary list?“Hopefully,” said Sports Performance’s Rick Butler. “That’s not up to me...
Hall has herself a ball as North tops Central in neighborhood rivalry
Kaitlyn Skowronski (7) was one of three Naperville Central players with 3 kills, but it wasn't enough Tuesday as the Redhawks fell to neighborhood rival Naperville North. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEllie Hall turned the Naperville North gym into a house of horrors for Naperville Central on Tuesday.The 6-foot middle blocker seemed to be everywhere at once and the visiting Redhawks could never find a way out.Hall played like a girl on a mission, leading all players with 7 kills and 4 blocks to lead Nape...
Friday, October 15 results
Romeoville (far court) and Joliet Central recently tangled in a Southwest Prairie Conference match with the Spartans prevailing, 25-18, 25-19. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, October 15 resultBeecher def. Milford 25-21, 20-25, 25-18Milford (22-7 overall): Caley Mowrey (11 kills, 5 blocks), Hunter Mowrey (11 kills, 17 assists), Anna McEwen (24 digs, 6 kills). Late Thursday, October14 results Coal City def. Reed-Custer 25-16, 25-23Reed-Custer (3-16 overall, 3-9 in the Illinois Central Eight Conference): Olivia Smith (3 aces, 1 kill, 12 a...
There's something special about playing for your mom, and for moms coaching their daughters
Dakota's Tabytha Toelke likely would have finished in the top three on the IHSA all-time career kills list but for the pandemic-shortened season. The four-year starter led the state with 562 kills as a junior. https://youtu.be/RHMmGZ6fp4E By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comTheir hometowns are separated by hundreds of miles and they have never met, but Dakota’s Tabytha Toelke, Paris’ Emma Pinkston and Herrin’s Kelsey Jurich have a lot in common.All three volleyball stars are multisport athletes, team captains, outstanding students...
Ella Ramsay's cerebral approach has Maroon fans thinking 'red'
Four-year starter and Loyola University recruit Ella Ramsay (14) of Moline worked tirelessly to turn herself into a six-rotation player for the Maroons. (Photo by Randy Sharer) Moline's Ella Ramsay By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMOLINE – Moline High School volleyball fans have their fingers crossed.They haven’t been able to cheer their Maroons to a state tournament berth since 2002, but now they see Ella Ramsay’s approach could lead to a Class 4A Final Four appearance at Redbird Arena on November 12-13.Fans have actually seen two...