Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb 2024 Girls H.S. Preseason Rankings

Marist hopes to end Mother McAuley's run of consecutive Class 4A championships should the two teams meet during the IHSA tournament. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor In our 2023 preseason rankings, Illprepvb.com accurately predicted eight of the 16 IHSA semifinalists – no easy feat since we don’t know who will be assigned where and which sectionals will match up in the supersectional.Those eight teams included the eventual IHSA champions in Class 2A (Breese Mater Dei), 3A (St. Francis) and 4A (Mother McAuley). We also accu...

Tuesday, August 27 results

A Waubonsie Valley attacker tries to hit over the block from a pair of Oswego defenders in a nonconference match Tuesday at Oswego. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Tuesday, August 27 results (Augusta) Southeastern def. Pittsfield 25-13, 25-15(Augusta) Southeastern (1-0 overall, 0-0 in the West Central Conference): Amanda Stephens (16 kills, 8 assists), Kara Stephens (8 kills, 11 assists, 8 digs, 3 blocks).Batavia def. West Aurora 23-25, 25-23, 25-22Batavia (1-0 overall, 0-0 in the DuKane Conference): Hallie Crane (8 kills), McKenna Bremner (7 ki...

Wednesday, August 28 results

Barrington, which has made three consecutive trips to the IHSA Class 4A semifinals, began its quest for trip No. 4 in a row with a 26-24, 25-20 victory over Stevenson Wednesday in Lincolnshire. Wednesday, August 28 results Barrington def. Stevenson 26-24, 25-20Barrington (1-0 overall, 0-0 in the Mid-Suburban West): Whitney Mall (4 kills, 1 service point, 2 blocks), Addie Brookbank (8 kills, 3 digs, 3 service points), Kalyn Brookbank (4 kills), Jaelyn Connole (3 kills, 11 assists, 2 digs, 2 aces, 8 service points), Alex Pelletiere (1...

‘Relaxed’ Stephens wants one more shot; previewing Normal West, WW South; more

Wheaton Warrenville South coach Bill Schreier has the pieces. Now it's just a matter of putting them together. (Cover photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 2024 girls high school volleyball season got underway last week with the start of practice/tryouts, and today Illprepvb.com concludes its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.So, here is (almost) everything you need to know about...

Saturday, August 31 results

Sixth-seeded Loyola Academy defeated No. 4 seed Lincoln-Way East, 25-21, 25-17, to win the Mizuno Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North Saturday at the Great Lakes Volletyball Center. Saturday, August 31 results At Mizuno Crimson Classic Hosted by Plainfield North and sponsored by Sports Performance VBC and Illprepvb.com Loyola Academy def. Lincoln-Way East 25-21, 25-17 (championship)Loyola Academy (5-0 overall, 0-0 in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference): Grace Kreutz (10 kills), Ellen Gundlach (8 k...

Friday, August 30 results

Friday's results Sandburg def. Plainfield North 25-16, 25-16Lockport def. Sandburg 25-22, 27-25Sandburg (2-2 overall, 0-0 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Lucie Chicvara (12 kills), Morgan Begley (10 aces), Ellery Dyra (4 aces, 4 kills, 3 blocks). Lockport def. Grayslake North 25-10, 25-9Lockport (1-1 overall, 0-0 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Mikayla Marshall (5 kills), Jenna Kolosta (4 kills, 4 blocks), Natalie Bochantin (11 assists, 2 aces).Lockport def. Sandburg 25-22, 27-25Lockport (2-1 overa...

Kreutz, Loyola do the ‘unexpected;’ Mother McAuley? It’s business as usual

Loyola Academy middle hitter Ellen Gundlach (12) earned Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com All-Tournament honors after helping to lead the Ramblers to the championship of the Mizuno Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and contested at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“It’s good to be back,” said Loyola Academy’s Grace Kreutz.Kreutz, who had not played for Loyola since tearing an ACL after a sophomore season that saw her lead the Ramblers to an IHSA Class 4A...

Monday, August 26 results

Loyola Academy is one of the 32 teams that will be competing in the 2024 Mizuno Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and sponsored by Sports Performance VBC and Illprepvb.com that will be played at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora Friday and Saturday. Monday, August 26 resultsBloomington Central Catholic def. Deer Creek-Mackinaw 25-12, 25-20Bloomington Central Catholic (1-0 overall, 0-0 in the Illini Prairie Conference): Kampbell Niepagen (8 kills), Aubrey Fair (7 kills), Makayla Wieduwilt (11 digs). Lauren O’Brien (21 ass...