Richards' Sarah Murczek, Lindsey Dryier, Alexa Curta, Jenna Weiland and Lauren Birmingham. From the time her uncle, former Marist standout and San Diego State assistant coach Ken Murczek, put a volleyball in her hands when she was a young girl, Richard’s 5-foot-10 outside hitter Sarah Murczek has been one of the hardest-working players in the Chicago area. “She's a special player,” said Richards coach Troy Grevengoed. “That kid has worked so hard to get where she has. She hasn't done that just by showing up. She does something ext...
Mercy? Sterling will have none of it against LaSalle-Peru
Sterling remained unbeaten Tuesday with its straight-set win over rival LaSalle-Peru. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNo mercy.That’s what the Sterling girls volleyball team showed Tuesday against LaSalle-Peru.No. 2-ranked Sterling defeated its Northern Illinois Big Twelve Conference rival, 25-14, 25-17, in Sterling.The Borum sisters accounted for 25 kills in the win. The victory keeps Sterling (19-0, 4-0) undefeated. The Cavaliers (13-3, 2-2) fell two games behind the Golden Warriors at the midway point of the confe...
Marian Catholic doesn’t stop believing, beats Mother McAuley at Rich East
Marian Catholic rallied from a 9-point deficit in the first set to defeat Mother McAuley and win the Rich East tournament.By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com"Don't Stop Believin.'"No, the Journey song was not played at Rich East High School on Saturday evening. But if it had been, it would have been the theme song of the Marian Catholic girls’ volleyball team.Down by 9 points midway through the opening set, the Spartans charged back, saved 4 set points and rallied for a 26-24, 25-18 victory over Mother McAuley to capture the championshi...
Upsets mark first day of Tiger Classic as L-W East, WW South fall in pool play
Naperville Central stunned No. 2 seed Lincoln-Way East Thursday at the Tiger Classic. https://youtu.be/64Bs8RT4ZnQ Second-seeded Lincoln-Way East went down twice. No. 7 seed Wheaton Warrenville South fell once. Unbeaten Marist survived a challenge from Glenbrook North with Marty Jepsen home sick. It was that kind of night Thursday at the 17th Annual Tiger Classic hosted by Wheaton Warrenville South. Naperville Central got the upset ball rolling when it stunned Lincoln-Way East, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21, in the first round of Pool B. ...
Oblazny returns, Stagg stymies Shepard; WW South stifles Geneva in DuKane debut
Junior middle hitter Kyler Nielsen and Wheaton Warrenville South had little trouble with visiting Geneva in both teams' DuKane Conference opener Tuesday in Wheaton.(photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comStagg is looking to hit its stride. With a healthy Jeff Oblazny back in the lineup, the Chargers hope to make some noise as the season progresses. They pulled away down the stretch of both sets to defeat Shepard, 25-17, 25-18, in the battle of Palos in a nonconference match-up Tuesday at Shepard. Obl...
Who is making their mark from the Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022?
(Photos by Dave Ruggles) So who was good this fall? Who has been making an impact on their club teams this winter and spring? Who will be some of the top players next fall when the high school season resumes? After reporting on the 2018 high school season, the Windy City Power League and the Great Lakes Power League Division I, and following the progress of Illinois teams at various tournaments and national qualifiers, Illprepvb.com goes out on a not-so-long limb to recognize some of the top players in their respective classes. We are certai...
Who is this week’s Illprepvb.com “Player of the Week?”
Each week during the season, Illprepvb.com will name a "Player of the Week" selected from nominations provided by Illinois volleyball coaches. Coaches can nominate their players by providing a 100-150 word summary of their achievement and a large quality headshot and sending it to illprepvb@gmail.com by noon on Sunday of the week for which they wish to nominate a player.This week’s Illprepvb.com “Player of the Week” has not played a single match, a single set or even a single point this season. But she has been an inspiration to her teammates...
Jepsen, Marist celebrate coach’s birthday with a victory over Joliet Catholic
By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com There was one order of business the Marist volleyball team had to do directly after its 25-17, 25-17 win Tuesday over Joliet Catholic – sing “Happy Birthday” to their coach, Jordan Vidovic. But the real present that Vidovic has this season is his team’s depth. That showed through as the RedHawks brought in a variety of players to contribute in the East Suburban Catholic Conference opener for both teams. “They remembered it all day,” Vidovic said of his birthday. “That's just the type of kids we
Lincoln-Way West overcomes mistakes and a (finally) healthy Providence team
(Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com Shorthanded No. 2-ranked Lincoln-Way West remained unbeaten heading into this weekend’s big Wheaton-Warrenville South Tiger Classic, but it wasn’t easy. Minus middle hitter Chris Dargan and setter David Flores, who are on spring break trips with their families, Lincoln-Way West's depth showed through again Monday as it toppled Providence 27-25, 25-22, in a battle of schools located fewer than 2 miles apart in New Lenox. Just as he had done two days earlier in a 25-22...
Short-handed L-WW tops R-B at Joliet West; MVP Howard, Loyola reign at Vernon Hills
(Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com Without a pair of starters, the Lincoln-Way West boys volleyball team showed its depth. The No. 2 ranked Warriors rallied past a very game Riverside-Brookfield team on Saturday to capture the championship of the Joliet West Tiger Challenge. The Warriors (6-0) who return all but two players from last season’s IHSA quarterfinal team, were playing without middle hitter Chris Dargan and setter David Flores. Both were gone on spring break family trips. “These guys are definitely ...