Paul Ickes' 2007 Brother Rice team, led by Sun-Times Player of the Year Josh Scaletta (back row, fifth from left), was 39-0 heading into the IHSA quarterfinals before being upset by New Trier, a team it has defeated earlier that season. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPaul Ickes is going back to his roots, and the former Brother Rice volleyball coach could not be happier.Ickes, 56, who won 552 matches and took five teams to the IHSA state finals, is now at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. He is a theology teacher and wi...
Illprepvb.com presents 570 reasons to watch girls high school volleyball this fall, Pt. II
Normal U-High's Lily Barry (far right) projects to be a libero in college but will continue to man the pin for the Pioneers, who hope to return to Redbird Arena in 2021. On the cover is Normal Community West's Averie Hernandez. (Barry photo by Dave Ruggles) Yes, the start of the 2021 fall girls’ volleyball season is still a few weeks away, but it’s never too early to speculate about what or who we’ll be seeing on high school courts across Illinois. Today, Illprepvb.com continues its look at 570 reasons to watch girls high school voll...
Scheibe steps down, leaving behind litany of achievements and memories of 'Angels'
Taking home state trophies became a commonplace occurrence during Chris Scheibe's tenure at Joliet Catholic. Chris Scheibe, here flanked by Erin O'Grady and Bella Ray, would often be seen supporting her players during club season. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFor Christine Scheibe, it was just time.After a phenomenally successful career as the head girls’ volleyball coach at Joliet Catholic Academy, Scheibe has decided to step down. She leaves with a 21-year career record of 602-198-10 and enough memories to last many lifetim...
Monday morning missteps, revenge take center stage at Winter Championship
1st Alliance 18 Silver was Illinois' top finisher in the Girls 18 Open division at the Winter Volleyball Championship, finishing fifth. Indianapolis, Indiana – After his team’s 19-25, 25-17, 16-14 loss to FVP B18 Blue in a Round Two pool finale Sunday, SPVB 18 Lenny coach Zach Splitt said his team had to learn to handle pressure situations better.They’re still learning.Twenty-four hours after that loss, Lenny fell to FVP B18 Blue again, 25-17, 26-24, in the championship match of the Boys 18 USA division Monday at the Winter Volleyball Cham...
Walden, Waubonsie Valley top WW South to reach Crimson Classic quarterfinals
Waubonsie Valley defeated Oswego and Wheaton Warrenville South on Friday to advance to the championship quarterfinals of the Illprepvb.com/Crimson Classic at Plainfield North. Melissa Walden made the difficult decision to graduate early and get a head start on her volleyball career at Texas A & M.But that’s nothing new for the 6-foot setter, who has been making difficult decisions from the moment she joined the varsity team at Waubonsie Valley as a freshman. “I’m going in January,” she said. “Part of it is that I will be able to get use...
Tuscola's Kate Dean gets all the motivation she needs from sister, Karli
Kate Dean (left) calls older sister Karli "her best friend." (Cover photo by Douglas Cottle) Karli Dean is now a freshman at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. (Photo by Douglas Cottle) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com TUSCOLA – As they seek to maintain a level-playing field, sports rule enforcers keep an eye on performance enhancers. Kate Dean, however, has surely found a performance enhancing loophole that will never be outlawed in volleyball: her big sister, Karli, a 6-foot-1 freshman middle hitter at the University of...
Illprepvb.com's look at the 2020 boys high school volleyball season starts today
Rockford Boylan's Nikos Zydakis (11) is one of four key returnees from a team that went 35-3 and reached a sectional semifinal last season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The 2020 IHSA boys volleyball season officially kicks off with the first day of practice on Monday, March 9. Illprepvb.com begins its look at the 2020 boys' high school volleyball season today with our first set of team previews. Illprepvb.com will continue to provide the best in boys high school volleyball coverage throughout the season.School: Bolingbrook Conferenc...
Benet, Crystal Lake Central claim No. 1 spots in Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com rankings
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 ...