Lemont (far court) went 4-1 to win the Silver division at the Wheaton Classic on Saturday and solidify its position as one of the state's top Class 3A teams. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) There’s a new No. 1.At least until October 22, if not sooner.Benet and Marist tangled for the third consecutive year in the championship match of the Wheaton Classic on Saturday, and unlike the previous two times the teams met, this time it was Benet coming away with the three-set win, 22-25, 29-27, 25-22.But the road ahead is filled with pitfalls for both ...
Mother McAuley breaks into the win column, defeats visiting St. Francis
Mother McAuley earned its first win of the season Wednesday against visiting St. Francis. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMother McAuley knew the victory would come. The Mighty Macs just didn't know when.It came Wednesday evening as the Mighty Macs clicked like they believed they could and pulled away down the stretch of each set for a 25-17, 25-19 victory over visiting St. Francis. The win was the first of the season for McAuley (1-4), which likely had more than a few folks scrambling for the record books during their ina...
Tested, Tall, New Trier wants it all; Marmion eyes another league title, more
Colin Heath and New Trier are one of the top teams in Illinois this spring and seek the school's first boys' volleyball championship since 1996. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Note: Although Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzer’s most recent “stay at home” order extended school closings until April 8, Illprepvb.com will continue to publish content relevant to the 2020 high school boys’ volleyball season in the hope that it will be resumed at some point this spring.School: Marmion AcademyConference: Chicago Catholic League WhiteHead coach: Barb EbertLast ...
Stockton hopes to surprise despite key loss; Lucas, Young vie for city dominance
Stockton graduated several key players off last year's regional championship team, but hopes to build on a strong summer heading into the 2019 season. Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois high school girls' volleyball season with another set of team previews. School: FentonConference: Upstate EightHead coach: David MelloLast season’s highlights: 24-12 overall (most wins since 1991), 3-3 in conference (Metro Suburban), lost to Glenbard East, 25-14, 25-14, in a Class 4A regional semifinal.Top returnees: senior middle ...
Benet’s 10-1 closing run in third set ends Marist’s reign at Wheaton Classic
Benet middle hitter Maeve Nelligan slams a kill past Wheaton Warrenville South's Kaileigh Ammons during the Redwings' quarterfinal victory Saturday at the Wheaton Classic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Momentum. It’s fickle. Momentum is a cliché in volleyball. Every coach and every player talks about it. But it was never more applicable than in Saturday’s championship match of the Wheaton Classic at Wheaton Warrenville South.After Marist took a timeout trailing 14-10 to Benet in the third set of the championship match, the two-time defending to...
Don't mess with Hinsdale Central; WW South, Naperville Central, and more
Wheaton Warrenville South's Josh Gottlieb (left), who is committed to Loyola, will reunite with Zeo Meyer as the Tigers look to reverse last season's fortunes. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Note: Although Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzer’s recent “shelter-in-place” order extended school closings until April 8, Illprepvb.com will continue to publish content relevant to the 2020 high school boys’ volleyball season in the hope that it will be resumed at some point this spring.School: ElginConference: Upstate EightHead coach: Andy LeGoffLast season’s...
Brown, New Trier show ’em what they ‘can’ do to win Northside Classic crown
New Trier rallied from a 20-16 deficit and fought off two match points in the third set to defeat Oak Park-River Forest and win the Northside Classic Saturday at Glenbrook North. https://youtu.be/exxcEp93N_A New Trier showed ‘em.At full strength for the first time this season, New Trier rallied after squandering a 23-17 lead in Game 1 to defeat Oak Park-River Forest, 23-25, 27-25, 27-25, and claim the championship of the Northside Classic hosted by Glenbrook North Saturday in Northbrook. “O, my God,” said New Trier junior outside hitte...
Marist routs Benet to end Redwings’ perfect season, earn share of ESCC title
A huge crowd was on hand Tuesday to watch Marist blast error-prone Benet and hand the Redwings their first loss of the season. It had everything … except perhaps drama.A huge crowd. A recognition of teachers. A ring ceremony for the 2019 IHSA championship boys’ team (minus Marty Jepsen, who was the team’s heart and soul). A conference championship at stake.At one point in the second set, the officials even had to stop play to warn the Marist student section on the stage to stop relaying zone serving signals to the Marist players on the othe...
Schuele answers the call to the pen; Lenny takes the road less desired to advance
Future 18 Elite advanced to the Gold bracket of the Boys 18 Open division at the Winter Volleyball Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana, despite its late Sunday afternoon loss to SPVB B18 Elite. Gavin Swartz and his SPVB 18 Lenny teammates took the hard road to the Gold semifinals of the 18 USA division. Indianapolis, Indiana – Four points into its match with Academy 18 Adidas early Sunday at the Winter Volleyball Championship, Sports Performance 18 Elite had to go the bullpen. Kevin Schuele turned out to be quite a reliever.Schuele,...
Sterling repeats as Class 3A champion; Nazareth downs U-High for third place
Joliet Catholic's Bella Ray (14) tries to hit through the block of Sterling's Brooklyn Borum (10) and Kierra Collins (15). Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com NORMAL – Sterling believed all season. Now the Golden Warriors are back-to-back IHSA Class 3A champions. Brooklyn Borum bashed 16 kills, and what Grace Egan imagined came through as the freshman outside hitter added 11 kills and 5 digs, as Sterling stopped Joliet Catholic with a 25-16, 25-19 victory Saturday in the Class 3A championship match at R...