Ben Rosenow had 5 kills and 3 aces in Oswego's win over Plainfield North on Thursday in Oswego. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOswego had a three-pronged game plan following its tough 17-25, 25-18, 25-16 loss Tuesday to Plainfield East, the Panthers’ first in Southwest Prairie Conference play.Part I: Fix what was broken.“We worked on what we needed to work on in practice (Wednesday),” said Oswego’s 6-foot libero Alex Rosenow.Part II: Talk about how you respond following a loss, and stick to it.“We want to win c...
Nearly 80 girls from Illinois clubs named all-tournament at USAV, AAU nationals
Sports Perfromance 18 Kahl's Claire Simpson has some encouraging words for teammate and all-tournament selection Seiler Hruska (92) during the AAU tournament in Orlando. On the home page, Top Flight 17U Elite's Lauren Buxton of Pleasant Plains was an all-tournament selection in the 17 LIberty division at the USAV nationals in Indianapolis. Seventy-eight girls representing Illinois volleyball clubs were named to the all-tournament teams at the recently-concluded USAV and AAU national tournaments:2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship ...
Tuesday, April 5 results
Brian Hagen's St. Rita Mustangs defeated visiting St. Laurence, 25-8, 25-17, Tuesday on the south side. Tuesday, April 5 results Barrington def. Conant 25-13, 23-25, 25-15Barrington (8-0 overall, 2-0 in the Mid-Suburban West): Jack O'Riordan (16 kills, 2 aces), Cole Hartke (5 kills, 1 dig, 2 aces), Carsten Wegh (24 assists, 3 kills, 1 ace, 1 dig), Marc Gryzlo (3 digs, 3 aces).Chicago Christian def. Elmwood Park 25-6, 25-18Chicago Christian (6-2 overall, 1-0 in the Metro Suburban Conference): Jack Dryfhout (4 aces, 3 kills, 1 block, 4 a...
Hinsdale Central pockets three of a kind, defeats Whitney Young in two
After losing three straight, Hinsdale Central won its third match in as many days Thursday by defeating Whitney Young in Hinsdale. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThree seems to be Hinsdale Central’s magic number so far this season – for better or worse.The Red Devils won their first three matches before losing three in a row.Now they’re back on track after winning their third game in as many days on Thursday.Outside hitters Erika Kalman and Ellie Henneman pounded 9 kills apiece and junior rightside Elizabeth Sessa landed 8 to lead t...
Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year preparing for freshman year at Penn State
Nazareth graduate Katie Hurta changed her college plans in February and opted to play for former Mother McAuley great Katie Schumacher-Cawley at Penn State. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Katie Hurta helped to lead her Nazareth team past Belvidere North in the IHSA Class 3A championship match last November. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comIndiana’s loss is Pennsylvania’s gain.A year ago, Katie Hurta was preparing for her senior season at Nazareth. In the 12 months that followed, much has happened, including a decision by the 2021-22 Ga...
Plainfield East maps a 'trust'-worthy victory over visiting Lincoln-Way West
Geography. Led by Matthew Molnar, Downers Grove South defeated Downers Grove North on Tuesday. Twenty-four hours later, Plainfield East surprises Lincoln-Way West. And tomorrow, another key geographic showdown when Glenbard West visits Lincoln-Way East. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comOne thing is apparent about the new Plainfield East boys volleyball head coach Jeff Wilkie.He trusts his players. That trust paid off in his coaching debut Wednesday. The Bengals held off a rally in the opener and...
Chemistry fuels 1st Alliance 17 Gold; emotion is the potion for Sky High 17 Elite
Kamryn Chaney of 1st Alliance 17 Gold and Marist smashes a kill past the outstretched arms of two VC United 171 defenders during the final day of Windy City Power League seeding Saturday at 1st Alliance in Woodridge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat a week for 1st Alliance 17 Gold.First, the girls from the western suburbs earned an Open bid to the USAV Girls Junior National Championship by crushing the field at the 2022 Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier last weekend in Omaha, Nebraska.Then Saturday, 17 Gold ...
No. 6 Mahomet-Seymour shorthanded during three-set loss to No. 1 U-High
Mahomet-Seymour setter Madalyn Gaede set the ball for teammate Sydney McKinney during Thursday's 25-12, 22-25, 25-16 loss at Normal University High. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Two state-ranked teams on a roll collided in the Normal University High Gym on Thursday and it was the host Pioneers who rocked on.Ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by Illprepvb.com, U-High won its 13th consecutive match with a 25-12, 22-25, 25-16 decision over No. 6 Mahomet-Seymour.After that Game 2 meltdown, Pioneer coach&...
Vander Wal, Warren head Illprepvb.com’s top-ranked players in the Class of 2025
Maureen Pokryfke (right) was second on West Aurora's varsity team in kills and blocks last fall and is currently playing for Fusion 15 Red. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we rank the top players in the Class of 2025. The list is headed by 6-3 outside hitter Abby Vander Wal (Timothy Christian), who has powered 1st Alliance 15 Gold to a 16-3 record in the Windy City Power League, and 5-8 Aniya Warren, who is carrying on the tradition of great liberos at Benet Academy. The list also includes two downstate Illinois freshmen who showca...
Fairfield's Robbins, Evansville United get warm welcome at SPVB Presidents Day
Kaylee Sharkey (80) and SPVB 18 Kahl stayed perfect in the 2022 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center on Saturday by outlasting Xcel 18 Elite (Hendersonville, North Carolina), 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 24-26, 15-11. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/FFy6ZN1HQ8o By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen you grow up playing volleyball in Fairfield, Illinois, you really only have two choices if you plan to play club – St. Louis, Missouri, slightly more than 120 miles to the west, or Evansville, Indiana, sl...