Benet rallied from a 19-14 deficit in Game 2 to defeat Hailey Sperling (2) and Minooka in the championship match of the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) No one expected Benet to blow past Minooka 25-9 in the first game of their championship match Saturday at the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora.And likely no one expected Benet to find itself trailing 5-0, 10-5 and 19-14 in the second game. “I think the other team step...
The Latest 1st Alliance Volleyball Club/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Rankings
Eric Epenesa and Edwardsville will host Southwestern Conference rival O'Fallon Tuesday. (photos by Dave Ruggles) Marty Jepsen and Marist repeated as Smack Attack champions, beating Glenbard West in the finals for the second time in two years. Meanwhile, Oak Park defeated Barrington to win the Richard Griesheim Invitational at Downers Grove South, and Palatine only dropped one set while winning its own invite. Next up: the Lincoln-Way East tournament. Here are the top 25 teams heading into Week Six. (previous ranking in parentheses...
Minooka stuns Lockport with late rally; Benet closes out Joliet Catholic
Lockport's Leena Ajibola (shown here earlier in the season against Plainfield North) had 7 kills for the Porters, but it wasn't enough as Minooka erased an 18-10 deficit in Game 2 to win the match in three sets. )Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMinooka was down, but not out.For a set-and-two-thirds, Lockport had its way with the host Indians. It appeared that the Porters were well on the way to a breakthrough victory. Not so fast. The Indians regrouped and ended the last two sets with combined bursts...
Sandburg, Stefanon twins stop Nazareth at Illprepvb.com/Crimson Classic
Sandburg celebrates a point during its semifinal win over Minooka Saturday at the Illprepvb.com/Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Sandburg outside hitter Shelby Stefanon is not afraid to tell her setter when she’s feeling it.Especially since one of the setters in Sandburg’s 6-2 offense is her twin sister, Julia.“Sometimes she's like, ‘I'm feeling it. Get me the ball,’” Julia said“Yeah, yesterday it was like, ‘Set me more,’” Shelby replied. Julia knew just where she wanted to go with Sandburg clinging to ...
Shorthanded Michio Chicago 16 National hanging on until reinforcements arrive
Michio Chicago 16 National has yet to field its complete lineup this season, but hopes to have everyone back by the time it competes in the Mideast Qualifier in late March. https://youtu.be/YRzI_HfBbTw Michio Chicago 16 National’s bench is getting to be a very lonely place.But when the cavalry does arrive in a few weeks or so, the girls from the south side figure to be a force to be reckoned with.Last weekend in the Windy City Power League, Michio played without 5-9 setter Caroline Macander (concussion) from Mother McAuley, 5-7 defen...
1st Alliance 16 Black plays second fiddle to no one at the Windy City Power League
1st Alliance 16 Black has shown with its play on the court that it's a No. 2 team in name only. https://youtu.be/650uA-vrHT4 There are “No. 2” teams, and then there are “No. 2” teams that are really “No. 1s” in sheep’s clothing.Technically, 1st Alliance 16 Black may the Woodridge club’s “No. 2” 16s team, but you would have a hard time convincing anybody competing in the Windy City Power League 15&16 Open division.Saturday at the Sky High Volleyball Center in Crystal Lake, 1st Alliance 16 Black defeated UNO Girls 16 Elite (25-12, 2...
A difference-maker and class act, Jepsen is the 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year
Marty Jepsen celebrates with his teammates after Marist won the 2019 IHSA Boys Volleyball championship. (Photo courtesy of Joe Hovanes) 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Marty Jepsen of Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarist had just edged Glenbard West 25-21, 25-23 in a hard-fought IHSA championship match. The two teams congratulated each other after they received their medals.As the Marist players shook hands with her and her team, Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer took time to give o...
Benet avenges last year’s loss to Huntley in Autumnfest championship match
Huntley defeated Mother McAuley in the semifinals of Autumnfest, avenging an earlier loss to the Mighty Macs at the Asics Challenge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBenet’s masterful season continues. The undefeated Redwings, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Illprepvb.com, rarely let up and defeated No. 10 Huntley, 25-11, 25-21, in the title match of the Autumnfest tournament Saturday at Glenbard East in Lombard. Sophie Gregus led a balanced attack for Benet (34-0) with 6 kills, junior setter and tournament m...
1st Alliance VBC presents some of the top teams for the girls' 2021 "spring" season
Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (foreground) has enough pieces returning to make another run at Redbird Arena and a Class 1A championship in 2021. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The IHSA has made its decision and pushed girls' volleyball back to "spring." If we assume (not always a good thing when it comes to the IHSA) that girls will not have to decide between high school and club teams, here is what the 2021 field could look like: Class 4A1. Benet (41-1) – Brad Baker has some holes to fill with the departure of five seniors, but there’s more th...
Barrington hunts down Palatine in battle for Mid-Suburban West lead
Palatine dropped out of a tie for the Mid-Suburban West lead Tuesday with a loss at Barrington. The hunter vs. the hunted.“We’ve talked all season about being the hunted or the hunter,” said Palatine coach Pete Gavin. “Tonight, for sure, we were the ones being hunted.” No. 11 Palatine (26-4 overall, 6-2 in the Mid-Suburban West), which defeated No. 12 Barrington earlier this season in Palatine to gain an upper hand in the conference race, found itself on the wrong side of a 25-23, 25-20 score Tuesday in Barrington.Coupled with a loss to Fre...