Normal University High sophomore Levyn Snow (5) helped her No. 2-state ranked team down No. 10 Rochester, 25-21, 25-17, on Thursday at Normal. Attempting to block were Rochester's Grace Jameson (11) and Charlotte Beatty (12). (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – In general, Rochester’s volleyball team knew where trouble was going to come from on Thursday.Knowing specifically where to place blockers and passers, however, against a team with as many weapons as Normal University High proved problematic as...
This ‘Sting’ really hurts: 1st Alliance 15 Gold falls just short in National title bid
1st Alliance 15 Gold reached the finals of the 15 National division at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place on Saturday before falling to MKE Sting 15 Gold. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorRiding high in April. Shot down in May.Something had to give when 1st Alliance 15 Gold and MKE Sting 15 Gold met in Saturday’s championship match of the 15 National division at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place.The teams had split two previous matches, with 1st Alliance 15 Gold wi...
Presenting the Sports Performance VBC Illprepvb.com Coaches Hall of Fame Class of ’23
Legendary coach Larry Sample guided Jacksonville to an IHSA Class AA championship, the first won by a downstate school in the big-school class, in 1988, then later coached (Chatham) Glenwood for three years before retiring following the 2008 season. (Photo courtesy of the Springfield State Journal-Register). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFive years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, at the time, nothing ever came of that phone call...
Monday, May 8 results
Grayslake Central, which recently won its own Ram Slam tournament, is the fourth seed in Sub-Sectional A of the Fox Lake Grant sectional and will host a regional. Save 20% Off Wave Rider 26 With Code 20FORMOM Monday, May 8 resultsBenet Academy def. Marian Catholic 20-25, 25-13, 25-14Benet Academy (21-10 overall, 5-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference).Carmel def. Lake Zurich 25-18, 25-17Carmel (16-13 overall, 3-2 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Michael Schofield (15 kills, 3 aces, 6 digs), Isaac Alvarez (6 kills), Will...
Presenting the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls H.S. Rankings
Junior Addie Brookbank (5) and Barrington will try to improve to 12-1 when they visit Mid-Suburban West rival Fremd on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThree weeks in the books and we still have more questions than answers.This week's Wheaton Classic may answer a few of those questions in Class 4A, or it could leave us with a preponderance of riddles much like the Lincoln and Effingham tournaments did last weekend.Meanwhile, while some schools already know if they are hosting regionals, we are lookin...
Tuesday, May 30, IHSA boys sectional results
Downers Grove North's Cooper Hansen had 3 kills and a block but the Trojans fell to the Lions of Lyons Township, 25-17, 25-23, in the sectional championship match at Oswego. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) Tuesday, May 30, IHSA sectional results(in bracket order with sectional seeds indicated)At Glenbrook North sectional No. 1 Glenbrook South def. No. 2 Glenbrook North 25-17, 25-22Glenbrook South (37-1 overall, 10-0 in the Central Suburban South): Chance Shampine (11 kills, 1 block, 4 digs), Alex Rupprecht 4 kills, 1 block, 7 digs), Kr...
Slow-starting Benet finishes fast, beats Normal West to win Scholastic Cup
Lynney Tarnow (12) had 10 kills, 3 blocks and an ace in Benet Academy's victory in the championship match of the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup on Saturday at the Great lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSlow starts are enough to drive any coach mad.But it’s not how you start that matters, it’s how you finish. And Benet Academy finished with a bang.After falling behind 14-6 in the opening set of Saturday’s championship match of the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup tournament at t...
Together at last, Minooka’s Brass sisters hope to create golden memories on the court
Minooka's Brooklyn Brass (far right) played club volleyball for Sports Performance's 15 Elite team last season. This fall at Minooka, she'll finally be able to play with her two older sisters, twins Kennedi and Makenzie, (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPeople often assume that Minooka sisters Kennedi, Makenzie and Brooklyn Brass are triplets.They are only two-thirds right.Seniors Kennedi and Makenzie are triplets, but with their brother Trey, who plays basketball.Brooklyn, a sophomore, is two years younge...
Wednesday, May 10 results
Joliet Catholic (far court) siffered its first loss of the season in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Wednesday at Marist. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). Save 20% Off Wave Rider 26 With Code 20FORMOM Wednesday, May 10 resultsAndrew def. Willowbrook 24-26, 25-20, 25-22Andrew (16-13 overall, 2-3 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Cian Collins (11 kills, 6 assists), TJ Dziekan (19 assists, 5 aces), Tyler Sempek (15 digs). Downers Grove North def. Morton 25-18, 25-19Downers Grove North (20-8 overall, 3-2 in the West Suburban Sil...
Wednesday, April 19 results
Junior outside hitter Adam Janowiak (10) and the Downers Grove North Trojans hit the road for a nonconference match with Wheaton North on Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) SHOP OUTLET ITEMS FOR UP TO 40% OFF AT WILSON! HTTPS://WILSON.SJV.IO/C/2340877/1616671/9003 Wednesday, April 19 resultsCarmel def. Belvidere (Coop) 25-17, 25-14Carmel (9-9 overall, 0-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference).Belvidere (1-7 overall, 0-5 in the NIC-10 Conference).Downers Grove South def. Glenbard East 25-22, 11-25, 25-15Glenbard East (10-5 overall...