Time to switch gears … here is our first look at Illinois' top boys' club 18s teams

SPVB 18 Lenny finished third in the 18 Premier division at the AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge on November 19-21. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhile we were sleeping … While the Illinois high school girls were completing their run to the IHSA finals in Normal, boys’ club teams throughout the state began in earnest. So, it’s time to play a little catch-up.Today, we start with a look at the top 18s teams in Illinois. All but Blue Steel – which competes in the HPSTL Ladder Series in St. Louis -- have completed three of four se...

Presenting the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls All-State Team

All that stood between Chillicothe IVC's Kenna Wollard and the top spot on the IHSA all-time career kill list was a COVID-shortened season in 2020. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2022 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 classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment sta...

Presenting the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Honorable Mention Team

Genoa-Kingston libero Hannah Langton became her school's season and career digs leader this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2022 Girls All-State Volleyball Honorable Mention 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 classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment status. These players excelled on t...

Presenting the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Special Mention Team

Oswego East's Vivian Campbell (far court) led the Wolves to a Southwest Prairie Conference title and one of the best seasons in school historty. On the home page is Joliet Catholic's Ava Neushwander. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2022 Girls All-State Volleyball Special Mention 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 classroom as high school stu...

Aquin feels no pressure in 1A; G-K's Pierce puts dagger in IC Catholic's 2A title bid

Alayna Pierce (16) had 18 kills to lead Genoa-Kingston past IC Catholic Prep in the Class 2A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor NORMAL -- Genoa-Kingston’s Alayna Pierce didn’t have the kind of performance she had hoped for in the Cogs’ semifinal victory Friday over Chillicothe IVC. The 5-foot-11 junior had 8 kills, but those came at the expense of 38 attempts and 9 errors for a -.025 hitting percentage.So, Pierce went back to the drawing board.“At practice this mor...

Be like … Sophie? Arndt is Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year

Lucy Arndt (12) grew up wanting to emulate former Aquin great Sophie Brunner, who led the Bulldogs to two IHSA championships in basketball. Leading Aquin to an IHSA Class 1A championship this fall certainly qualifies. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFreeport Aquin’s Lucy Arndt grew up wanting to emulate Sophie Brunner, who led the Aquin girls’ basketball team to IHSA Class 1A championships in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before playing at Arizona State University and briefly in the WNBA and Italy.Arndt did emulate ...

Aquin's Arndt joins a list of 'Player of the Year' honorees that dates back to 1982

Ryann DeJarld, who played at Mother McSAuley and later at Notre Dame, was the last playerr honored as "Player of the Year" by the Chicago Sun-Times before it discontinued its coverage of all high school sports other than football and boys basketball in the spring of 2015. (Photo courtesy of the University of Notre Dame) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDid you know that girls were not permitted to participate in interscholastic volleyball contests until 1973?Then during the 1974-75 school year, the IHSA sponsored its first volleyball t...

Here are the final 2022 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Girls H.S. Rankings

Genoa-Kingston assistant coach Marv Leavitt (white jacket), who won more than 700 matches as a head coach at St. Charles North, St. Edward and Burlington Central, lets the Cogs know where they placed in the IHSA Class 2A tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) In the immortal words of the late Bill Paxton ("Aliens"), “That's it, man. Game over, man. Game over.” Game over.Last weekend’s IHSA championships were a mixed bag of old and new. Mother McAuley won its state-record 16th IHSA championship, while St. Francis, which won 12 ...

McAuley's chemistry produces IHSA title No. 16; Barrington claims third place

Benet freshman Lynney Tarnow slams a kill past Mother McAuley defenders Ellie White (8) and Ellery Rees (9). (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor NORMAL – No. 16?Mother McAuley had the formula.Junior outside hitter Ellie White had 20 kills, 9 digs and a block and the Mighty Macs shook off a long Benet run that forced a third game to claim its record 16th IHSA championship by beating the Redwings, 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, in the IHSA Class 4A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena.   The difference? Chem...

Saturday, November 12, IHSA final results

Aquin junior Ainsley Stovall had 13 kills in the Class 1A championship match. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Saturday, November 12, IHSA championship resultsClass 4AChampionship Benet sophomore libero Aniya Warren gathers one of her 23 digs in the Class 4A championship match under the watchful eye of coach Brad Baker. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Mother McAuley def. Benet Academy 25-22, 17-25, 25-14Mother McAuley (39-3): Sam Falk (1 assist, 18 digs), Gigi Navarette (4 assists, 20 digs), Olivia Klapp (20 assists, 5 digs), Ellie White (20 kills, 1 ...