Barrington junior Kalyn Brookbank ranks among the top attackers in Illinois this fall with more than 350 kills. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTalk about tough acts to follow.Barrington’s 6-1 junior Kalyn Brookbank hails from a strong lineage of outstanding athletes. Her mom, Betsy Spicer-Brookbank, was a two-time All-Big Ten volleyball selection at Illinois. Her aunt, Nellie Spicer-Coleman, starred at UCLA and was a member of the U.S. national team.Last season as a sophomore, Kalyn played high school ball...
Here are the best 10 things we saw at the Saints Fall Classic in Bloomington
Mascoutah finished fourth at the Saints Fall Classic Saturday in Bloomington, and had a good time doing it. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorHere are the best 10 things we saw (and heard) at the Saints Fall Classic Saturday in Bloomington1. The championship match.Bloomington Central Catholic and Normal U-High met up for the second and final time this season – the Saints are Class 2A-bound in the postseason and U-High is solid contender in Class 3A – in the championship match Saturday. It did not disappoint. The Saints overcame deficits o...
No ‘babying’ or ‘sugarcoating,’ just family love at Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Johnsburg
Johnsburg's Adelaide Bruns (left) and Abriana Bruns flank their mother and head coach, Abby. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comGood luck naming a sport that doesn’t include relationships.Volleyball, for one, is chock full of them.But what happens when the relationship between a coach and player involves tough love crossing paths with familial love?Things can get complicated. Feelings might get hurt.Folks around the volleyball programs at Johnsburg and Georgetown-Ridge Farm high schools, however, can attest that teams creating a fa...
Saturday, October 11 results
Morton finished third at the Saints Fall Classic played at the Illini Elite Volleyball Center in Bloomington. Saturday, October 11 results At Bloomington Central Catholic Normal U-High def. Bloomington Central Catholic 18-25, 26-24, 15-7 (championship)Normal U-High (29-4 overall, 9-0 in the Central State Eight): Emma Jean Lehnen (1 assist, 1 ace), Addison Donahue (2 kills), Morgan Petelin (13 assists, 5 kills, 2 bocks, 1 ace), Taylor Penn (1 kill), Ava Crabtree (7 kills, 1 ace), Alyssa Wolf (1 kill), Laney Snow (10 kills, 1 block, 2 ...
Friday, October 10 results
Maizy Agnello (7) and Prairie Ridge will vie for the tournament title at Huntley on Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, October 10 results At Huntley Huntley def. Mundelein 25-15, 25-19Huntley def. Johnsburg 25-14, 25-8Huntley (17-6 overall, 12-2 in the Fox Valley Conference): Sophia Tocmo (1 kill, 1 assist, 15 digs, 1 ace), Rachel Hein (3 assists, 1 block, 6 digs), Emily Ernst (3 kills, 12 assists, 2 blocks, 1 dig), Mia Jacobelli (9 kills, 1 block, 10 digs, 5 aces), Riley Galanis (6 kills, 1 assist, 1 block), Su...
Thursday, October 9 results
Ava Yeakel (14) and Mahomet-Seymour defeated Taylorville, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14, Thursday in Mahomet. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, October 8 results Barrington def. Fremd 25-23, 25-20Barrington (17-10 overall, 7-1 in the Mid-Suburban East): Kalyn Brookbank (11 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace), Jaelyn Connole (8 kills, 2 assists, 7 digs), Alessandra Mirkovich (3 kills, 3 blocks), Eve Adler (27 assists, 7 digs), Ella Krull (9 digs), Toni Rojas (2 digs, 3 service points), Kinley Shinhoster (3 digs, 1 ace), Lexi Szlezak (8 kills, 2 digs).Fremd...
The culture change at DeKalb includes expecting to win, not moral victories
DeKalb took DuPage Valley Conference-leading Naperville North to the limit Wednesday. but changing the culture at the smallest school in the conference does not include talk about moral victories. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDeKalb’s volleyball records are a little shaky between 2017 and the time when Keith Foster arrived in 2024.In fact, according to the IHSA record books, they’re non-existent.Now, Foster is trying to help the Barbs write a few chapters worth remembering.Foster came to DeKalb after spending 14 season as head coach...
Wednesday, October 8 results
New Trier junior setter Nora Murdock and the Trevians host Deerfield Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Wednesday, October 8 results Civic Memorial def. Alton Marquette 21-25, 25-23, 25-21Civic Memorial (13-7-2 overall, 2-5 in the Mississippi Valley Conference): Addison Jeffery (14 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), Adi Pasley (8 assists, 1 dig), Olivia Monroe (6 kills, 2 aces, 5 digs), Kaitlyn Ogden (8 kills, 2 assists, 5 digs), Emersyn Olmsted (4 digs), Abby Breuckner (1 kill, 20 assists, 5 digs), Audrey Frankford (2 kills), Hunt (4 kills). Co...
Tuesday, October 7 results
After defeating Skutt Catholic to finish fifth at last weekend's ASICS Challenge, Cassidy Cage (23) and her Marist teammates continued their winning ways by defeating visiting Loyola Academy Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Tuesday, October 7 results Barrington def. Hersey 16-25, 25-22, 25-23Barrington (16-10 overall, 6-1 in the Mid-Suburban East): Kalyn Brookbank (26 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace), Jaelyn Connole (3 kills, 5 assists, 16 digs, 1 block), Alessandra Mirkovich (3 kills, 1 block), Eve Adler (41 assists, 8 digs), Ella Krull (9 digs)...
Monday, October 6 results
Fresh off last weekend's second-place finish at the ASICS Challenge, Mother McAuley is scheduled to visit Downers Grove North on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Monday, October 6 results Arthur Lovington-Atwood Hammond def. Okaw Valley 25-12, 25-13Arthur Lovington-Atwood Hammond (16-7 overall, 6-0 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference): Karaline Vanausdoll (3 aces, 2 blocks, 9 digs), Morgan Casteel (1 dig, 5 assists), Annabelle Vanausdoll (2 aces, 3 digs, 11 assists), Summer Melton (7 kills), Bella Romine (7 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig), Leight...