New Trier outside hitter Julia Hall (12) tries to split a pair of Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky) defenders during last weekend's Asics Challenge at Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The Asics Challenge has come and gone. Mother McAuley and Marist met for the second time this season, albeit it for third place, not first, and the result was the same, although the rematch was much closer than the teams' first meeting. Not that there wasn’t any interest in an all-Kentucky championship match, but there’s something special about the...
Top Notch 'invites' athletes by offering balance between toughness, 'funship'
Top Notch club director Jen Holliday, a former All-American at Florida and standout at Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, knows when it's time to be serious and when it's time to have fun. Top Notch 16-1 setter Megan Becker from Springfield High School. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comSPRINGFIELD – As a measure of coaching excellence, few statistics reveal more than the number of invitations to weddings.Great coaches win, of course, but the best also win when wedding invitations arrive from former players, clear evidence a coach ...
Loyola, New Trier survive; Marist, Lincoln-Way East advance to sectional final
Loyola's 6-foot-6 junior middle hitter Liam Roberts had 6 kills and 4 blocks in Friday's thrilling 25-23, 22-25, 25-15 victory over Glenbrook North in Northbrook. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Loyola's Jack Howard. At Glenbrook North The much-anticipated showdown between top-seeded Loyola and No. 2 New Trier became a reality following Friday's sectional semifinals at Glenbrook North, but not before both teams had to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. Loyola scored the final 6 points of the first set and ran away with the third to defe...
Illprepvb.com presents the 100 All-Time Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players, Nos. 31-40
Naperville North's Colleen Ward began her college career at Florida before transferring to Illinois where she led the Illini to the NCAA semifinals in 2011. Today, we continue our countdown of the 100 All-Times Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players with Nos. 31-40. Volleyball has come a long way since the IHSA began sponsoring a state tournament series in 1974. You might be hard-pressed to recognize the game. Not only have the rules changed, but so has the caliber of the athletes who compete.The growth of club volleyball, improved tr...
From eighth grade to center stage, Egan helps Sterling escape Belvidere North
Brooklyn Borum (10) and her Sterling teammates needed a lot of help Friday from Grace Egan, who was in eighth grade in 2018, to earn a shot at defending their IHSA Class 3A title. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith its season on the line defending IHSA Class 3A champion Sterling turned to a player who wasn’t on the team last year. Because she wasn’t even in high school.Grace Egan put down the match-winning kill on a tip as Sterling survived upstart Belvidere North, 23-25, 25-15, 28-26, in the championship match of a Cla...
Wolfpack's Eastman excited to help pioneer new program at Illinois Wesleyan
St. Ignatius' Michael Eastman is the first player to commit to joining the new men's volleyball program at Illinois Wesleyan University. (Photo by Tim O'Brien) Michael Eastman By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMichael Eastman is holding out hope that his final high school season will be played. Either way, the St. Ignatius senior will not only start anew next year, he will also help establish a new collegiate program.“I hope so,” Eastman said about the possibility that part of this season could still be played if the coron...
Michio Chicago's bid for national title ends with loss to club only 20 miles away
Michio Chicago 17 National advanced to the championship match of the 17 National division at the USAV championships in Las Vegas, but fell in three sets to Epic United/Diamond Elite from nearby Hammond, Indiana. Las Vegas, Nevada -- Michio Chicago 17 National took a circuitous route to the 17 National division finals of the 2021 USAV Girls Junior National Championships Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.And after travelling 1,800 miles and weathering two must-win matches Saturday, who was waiting for south siders in the championship...
Assist king Burchett continues to give back to the game he once dominated
Former Wheaton Warrenville South and Illinois men's club volleyball setter Doug Burchett recently shared some of his knowledge with middle school and high school players at 630 Volleyball Club in Darien. Doug Burchett led Wheaton Warrenville South to two of its record seven state boys' volleyball titles. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.comDoug Burchett believes someone will break his Illinois’ high school all-time assist record. But it likely won't happen anytime soon.“There's a lot of really solid setters out there,” said Burchett, whos...
Lincoln-Way East Invitational provides more than a few surprises
Glenbard West's Gavin Swartz (shown here playing for Ultimate B18 Gold at the Winter Volleyball Championships), had 9 kills in the championship match of the Lincoln-Way East Invitational. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Glenbard West outside hitter Ryan Swartz. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhere there's a Wil, there's a way.Led by outstanding efforts from Trevor Lewis and tournament MVP Wil McPhillips, Lincoln-Way East rallied to defeat No. 2 Glenbard West, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10, to win the title of its own invi...
UNO, JCA teammates express optimism about club and high school seasons
Volleyball clubs around the state were among the victims of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's latest executive order related to the pandemic, but many girls remain optimistic that they will be able to play sometime in the new year, if not sooner. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith the COVID-19 pandemic setting record numbers in recent days, all of them in the wrong direction, there remains uncertainty over the upcoming club and high school seasons.That uncertainty was further amplified when Illinois Gov. J.B....