Benet Academy's Rachel Muisenga (18, far left) led the Redwings to a 51-1 record and an IHSA Class 4A championship during her two years as the team's setter. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Rachel Muisenga of Benet Academy. CHICAGO (May 6, 2021) — In its 36th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Rachel Muisenga of Benet Academy as its 2020-21 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year. Muisenga is the second Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year to...
Monday, March 22 results
Downers Grove South entertained York in a West Suburban Conference crossover match Monday. York won, 15-25, 25-19, 25-20. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Monday, March 22 resultsAnnawan def. Galva 25-11, 25-13Arthur-Lovington Atwood-Hammond def. (Broadlands) Heritage 25-9, 25-23Arthur-Lovington Atwood-Hammond (1-0 overall, 1-0 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference): Mackenzi Bowles (4 kills), Cheyenne Chupp (6 kills, 2 assists), Michaela Powell (3 aces), Sarah Rafferty (10 assists), Alisha Frederick 3 aces, 1 kill, 12 assists), Charley Condill 7 kills...
Saturday, June 19 results
Glenbrook North junior libero Paul Wyszynski digs a ball during the Spartans' 25-22, 18-25, 25-19 victory over Lake Park in the IHSA boys volleyball championship game Saturday at Glenbard West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Saturday, June 19 results IHSA boys semifinals Glenbrook North def. Lincoln-Way East 25-17, 25-14Lincoln-Way East (20-6 overall): Tyler Walenga (8 kills, 1 assist, 1 ace, 2 digs), Ian Nicholson (4 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs), Owen Morrow (17 assists, 2 kills, 1 dig), Jason Kougan (1 kill, 2 blocks), Jon Guch (4 kills, 3 di...
Here are the final regular-season 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys Club Rankings
A number of Illinois club teams will head to the 2021 SCVA Junior Boys Invitational at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, from May 21-23, to either improve their seeding position for nationals or to qualify. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The boys’ club season is winding down – save for the 2021 Southern California Volleyball Association (SCVA) Junior Boys Invitational at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, from May 21-23, and the big one in Kansas City in late June.Twenty-six Illinois-based teams h...
Here are the latest 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys 18 Club Rankings
SPVB 18 Lenny came up short in its bid to win a third consecutive 18 USA title at last weekend's Winter Volleyball Championship in Indianapolis. In two weekends, the boys from Aurora will go for their second consecutive USA crown at the 21 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic in St. Louis. Indianapolis was not hospitable to a lot of teams from Illinois last weekend, but then again, like their sisters, the boys from the Land of Lincoln have been behind the eight ball compared to their brethren from outside Illinois where COVID-19 restrictions...
Naperville North's perfect, albeit short season ends with perfect sendoff for eight seniors
Naperville North bid farewell to eight seniors Thursday while wrapping up a 10-0 season with a 25-16, 25-9 victory over visiting Waubonsie Valley. Naperville North has enjoyed some great success during head coach Jen Urban’s tenure.There was the 2004 team that went 34-6 and reached the Class AA supersectional before losing to Downers Grove South, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23. There was the 31-7 team in 2006 led by future University of Illinois All-American Colleen Ward.And there was last year’s team, which overcame the loss of 6-foot-2 outside hitt...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Sports Performance VBC Girls H.S. Player of the Year
Rachel Muisenga led Benet to a 51-1 record during her two years as the Redwings' setter, capped by a 23-25, 25-11, 25-22 victory over Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet's Rachel Muisenga By Matt Le CrenSpecial for Illprepvb.comThere is an aura that all great athletes project during competition.They play with a self-assuredness that ensures no challenge is too large for them to overcome, and no task too small for them to complete.For those fans who get to watch...
St. Charles East rallies behind Skyler Misch to topple young St. Francis
St. Francis coach Lisa Ston flanked by some of her players. By Phil BrozynskiFor Illprepvb.comSkyler Misch probably could have taken a dozen more swings if needed. “My arm is pretty good,” she said. “I play softball. I’m a pitcher, so my arm is pretty warm all the time.”Misch wasn’t just warm Saturday night, she was smokin’. The 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter had a team-high 14 kills to lead St. Charles East (2-0) to a 21-25, 25-15, 25-13 victory over St. Francis Saturday night in Wheaton.Misch’s strategy is simple.“It's not about hitti...
The boys are back in town, but who will wear the crown … if there's a crown to wear?
Marist won it all in 2019, and if the RedHawks are to successully defend their title (providing there is a state tournament beyond the promised regionals), it will be due in large part to 6-8 senior Nyherowo Omene (center, standing behind Marty Jepsen), the one holdover from that championship team. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). (Updated 4/23)Marist won the IHSA boys’ championship in 2019, the last time a state series was conducted, the last time a boys’ volleyball season was conducted in Illinois.Who would have won it all in 2020? We can only s...
Former McAuley star Katie O'Connell is leading the way for Ferris State
Former Mother McAuley star Katie O'Connell (No. 7, left) and Minooka standout Samantha Hermann (3) are two of the reasons Ferris State was ranked No. 17 in the AVCA Division II preseason poll. (Photos courtesy of Ferris State Athletics) Ferris State's Katie O'Connell. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comKatie O’Connell is doing it again.The Evergreen Park resident and former Mother McAuley and Michio Chicago Volleyball Academy star earned All-American honors in each of the past two seasons for Ferris State and she appears headed...