Montini continues to lead the Chicago Catholic League White Division despite the loss to Loyola Tuesday in Lombard. Loyola’s Ryan Merk has been waiting a long time for this opportunity.“I’ve been telling (Loyola head coach Lionel Ebeling) since freshman year that I wanted to hit,” said Merk, who has earned a reputation as one of the top liberos, if not the top libero, in the state. “He finally gave me the chance, and I love it.“It’s fun to hit,” he added. “I’ve been waiting four years for this. We’re doing really well right now, so …”Merk...
Thursday, September 2 results
Sophomore Sienna Steines (10) and Hinsdale Central finished third at last weekend's Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and Plainfield Central and sponsored by Illprepvb.com. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, September 2 resultsAquin def. Stockton 25-14, 25-14 Aquin (2-0 overall, 0-0 in the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference): Ava Hiveley (11 kills, 4 aces), Hanna Pizzolato (8 digs, 2 assists), Megan Holder (24 assists) Lucy Arndt (9 kills, 2 aces, 6 digs), Elyse Luecke (2 blocks). Benet Academy def. St. Charles North 25-22, 25-13Be...
Middle, outside or back row, DGN's Wolkow excels everywhere she goes
As a freshman, Downers Grove North's Gwen Wolkow (back row, fourth from right) was a starting middle hitter on the team that finished second in the state in Class 4A. Downers Grove North's Gwen Wolkow Gwen Wolkow loves to fish. She doesn’t like fish. But she loves fishing.Wolkow also loves volleyball. Since her freshman year, when she was a starting middle hitter on the Downers Grove North team that finished second in the state in Class 4A, she has developed into one of the top outside hitters and all-around players in Illinois.“She's th...
SPVB 15 Elite wins 15/16 Open division at Birmingham (Ala.) Blitz
Wednesday, September 1 results
Illini West split two matches Wednesday at the Suns Classic and will play Western at 5:00 p.m. Thursday as the tournament continues. Wednesday, September 1 resultsAntioch def. Marian Central Catholic 25-20, 23-25, 15-25Marian Central Catholic (0-2 overall): Kate Rodden (2 blocks, 3 aces, 8 kills, 8 digs), Valle Leggett (2 blocks, 1 ace, 10 kills, 4 digs), Ella Conlon (4 blocks, 4 kills), Kaitlyn Mullen (1 block, 1 kill, 10 assists), Grace Adams (career high 14 assists, 1 kill).Antioch (4-1 overall).Marian Central Catholic coach Robin Secris...
Former St. Francis star shares passion, knowledge as coach with U.S. team
Former St. Francis star and U.S. national team associate coach Erin Virtue (back row, third from right) said the team's goal this year is to do something the women have never done -- win an Olympic gold medal. Erin Virtue coached on the collegiate level for 12 years before accepting a position with the U.S. national team. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEven though she played for legendary coach St. Francis coach Peg Kopec in high school, Erin Virtue didn’t think about coaching until her senior year at Illinois.The star setter w...
Friday, September 10 results
Downers Grove South's senior outside hitter Kayden Dempsey (8) tools a kill off the block by a pair of Leyden defenders in action earlier this week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, September 10 results Antioch def. Mundelein 25-11, 25-17Mundelein (2-9 overall, 1-0 in the North Suburban Conference): Isabella Feijoo (2 aces, 7 digs), Sydney Cox (3 digs), Micah Holly (2 kills, 1 dig), Millicent Rehm (1 dig), Skyler Brown (7 digs, 5 assists), Olivia Benjamin (1 kill, 2 digs), Libby Fritz (1 dig), Margaret O’Brien (3 kills, 1 bock, 1 dig), J...
Willowbrook shrugs off delay, comes out smokin' against Glenbard North
An eight-day layoff between matches, precipitated by a malfunctioning ventilation system in its gym, had little effect on Willowbrook's performance Wednesday. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWillowbrook’s second match of the season on August 25 was cancelled, but it had nothing to do with COVID.“We were supposed to have a game with East Aurora, but our gym had a malfunction with the ventilation system,” said Willowbrook coach Irene Mason. “Fire alarms were going off and we had to cancel.”That meant the Warriors had eight days off bef...
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...
