Fairfield won a Class 2A sectional in 2018 before its season was derailed in the supersectional by Nashville. Despite losing six seniors, the Mules should enjoy another long tournament run in 2019. Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: FairfieldConference: Black Diamond EastHead coach: Chet SnyderLast season's highlights: 31-9 overall, 8-2 in conference (conference co-champs), won Benton invitational, won regional and sectional tournaments, lost...
Waubonsie Valley prizes sectional title; Funk should be Titan-ic for El Paso-Gridley
Waubonsie Valley's (from left) Elenzie France, Melissa Walden and Gabi Croll headline what should be one of the best teams in all of Illinois. Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: BataviaConference: DuKaneHead coach: Lori Trippi-PayneLast season’s highlights: 14-22 overall, 3-4 in conference, finished fifth at the Maine West Pumpkin tournament, awarded the AVCA All-Academic All-American Award for the 22nd year in a row with a 3.84 cumulative team...
Meyer, Burau to power WW South; Fremd, Hersey on MSL collision course?
Wheaton Warrenville South and its two outstanding setters -- Zayna Meyer and Sarah Burau -- have more hardware (and photo posing) on their minds in 2019. Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: Buffalo GroveConference: Mid-Suburban EastHead coach: Matt PribanLast season’s highlights: 21-12 overall, 9-1 in conference (Mid-Suburban East co-champions), lost to Hersey, 25-18, 25-23, in a Class 4A regional championship. Top returnees: 6-0 ju...
Sterling poised to go back-to-back; Herscher, Offerman look to bounce back & more
Breelyn Borum (17) and Sterling will try to become the first Class 3A team to win back-to-back IHSA championships since St. Francis won the third of its three consecutive titles in 2014. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: HerscherConference: Illinois Central Eight (new)Head coach: Joel Huizenga Last season’s highlights: 22-13 overall, 10-1 in conference (Interstate 8), lost to Fieldcrest, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, in a...
Prairie Ridge turns to Baudin, Sheridan; we look at L-W East, Rochester & 15 more
Hannah Baudin stepped in at setter for Prairie Ridge last fall when Jayden Otto was injured. Baudin and Trinity Sheridan will be asked to shoulder a bigger load this fall with the graduation of four starters off last year's fourth-place Class 4A finisher. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: Elgin Conference: Upstate 8Head coach: Amy Zapata Last season’s highlights: 16-18 overall, 3-6 in conference, won Westminster ...
50 (more or less) more reasons to watch Illinois high school girls’ volleyball in 2019
Joliet Catholic's Jillian Gray (4) and Pleasant Plains' Anna Kanilakan (18) are just two more reasons to watch Illinois high school girls' volleyball in 2019. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com lists 50 (give or take) more reasons to watch girls’ volleyball in 2019.Hope Allen, 5-9, Sr., OH, Chillicothe IVCLily Barry, 5-8, Fr., OH, Normal U-HighFrankie Bertucci, 5-4, Jr., L, De La SalleMaddie Blake, 6-0, Sr., OH, Crystal Lake CentralKat Blasé, 6-0, Jr., OH, CharlestonNicole Boelens, 5-7, So., OH, PoloChloe Britton, 5-9, Jr., OH, L...
101 reasons to watch Illinois high school girls’ volleyball in 2019
Today, Illprepvb.com lists 101 reasons to watch Illinois girls high school volleyball in 2019, including Grayville's Sydney Foster (home page) and Huntley setter Taylor Jakubowski (12). Here are 101 players who Illprepvb.com believes should be on everybody’s “must-see” list during the 2019 girls high school season. Brooke Amann, 5-11, Sr., OH, Woodstock NorthKaileigh Ammons, 6-2, Sr., MB, Wheaton Warrenville SouthGrace Asleson, 5-9, Sr., S, Lyons Maddie Arundel, 5-9, Sr., OH, MaristGigi Barr, 6-1, Jr., MH/OH, YorkKendra Battle, 6-1, Sr....
Newark ready to defend 1A title, West Aurora faces challenge in SPC & more
With minimal losses to graduation and players like Madi Malone and Mattie Chapman returning from last year's 40-2 Class 1A champion, Newark is a heavy favorite to repeat in 2019. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) School: Addison Trail Conference: West Suburban GoldHead coach: Dan StylerLast season’s highlights: 17-19 overall, 4-2 in conference (third place), fifth place (of 16 teams) at Metea Valley/Oswego tournament, third place (of eight teams) at Willowbrook tournament, lost to Glenbard North, 25-23, 25-22, in a Class 4A regional s...
Massac County, Montini drop down, look up; will Spartans surprise again?
Massac County and Montini are two teams dropping down from Class 3A to 2A for the 2019 and 2020 seasons thanks to the IHSA's new enrollment reclassification policy. School: BarringtonConference: Mid-Suburban WestHead coach: Michelle Jakubowski Last season’s highlights: 24-12 overall, 9-1 in conference, defeated Buffalo Grove, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, to win Mid-Suburban League championship, lost to Cary-Grove, 25-20, 25-16, in Class 4A regional semifinal.Top returnees: 5-11 senior middle blocker Noelle Daehler, 5-3 seni...
Ketelhut strengthens Plainfield North lineup; we also look at Newton, St. Ignatius & more
Six-foot-3 middle hitter Gretchen Ketehut has recovered from injuries suffered in a car accident during the summer of 2018 and joins returning starters (from left) Anna Gawron, Lilly Summers, Ali Jansen and Ella Wrobel to give Plainfield North one of the top lineups in Illinois. School: Aurora Central Catholic Conference: Metro Suburban BlueHead coach: Claire GartlandLast season’s highlights: 13-19 overall, 0-5 in conference,lost to Wheaton Academy,25-17, 21-25, 25-18, in a Class 3A regional semifinal. Top returnees: 5-9 junior outside hitt...