Despite heavy graduation losses, Payson-Seymour still has its sights set on repeating as Class 1A state champion. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLet's do it again, like we did last fall.With the postseason opening this week, that could be the rallying cry for last year’s two Class 1A state finalist girls’ volleyball teams. Last fall, Payson Seymour capped off an incredible run during which it only lost three sets all year with a 25-12, 27-25 victory over Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg in the title match at Redbird Arena on the campus...

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Marist's Katie Mather, Avery Jedry, Camryn Hannah, Maddie Arundel and Mairead Boyle. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarist’s girls volleyball team, which has dropped only four matches during the past two seasons, obviously isn't used to losing.But earlier this week, a loss to Benet Academy may have lit the spark under the RedHawks as they prepare to defend their Class 4A state championship.It certainly looked like it Thursday as the RedHawks dominated all areas in knocking off No. 2 Nazareth 25-14, 25-14 in the final East Suburban ...

After sitting out Friday over safety concerns, Montini went 4-0 Saturday at the Latin tournament. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprespvb.com The 39th Annual Latin Invitational didn't go exactly as scheduled. But when all was said and done, many smaller school volleyball teams got a taste of some good competition as the postseason approaches. The tournament was scheduled for eight teams with pool play starting Friday. However, when the verdict in the case involving Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in the shooting death of 17-year-o...

No. 1-ranked Marist rallied after dropping the first set Wednesday to visiting St. Francis. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAs both the defending Illinois Class 4A state champion and defending national champion, it's easy to say that the Marist girls volleyball team is versatile.But after the RedHawks were trounced Wednesday in the opening set of their home matchup with Wheaton St. Francis, that versatility really showed.After starting the match at libero, Maddie Arundel switched to her usual position at outside hitter. That was the...

Barrington won its 12th Mid-Suburban League championship and first since 2013 by defeating Buffalo Grove 25-22, 23-25, 25-21 after trailing 9-0 in the first set Wednesday. Coaches consider timeouts precious commodities, to be used judiciously and often to prevent a lead from slipping away. Or not. Barrington coach Michelle Jakubowski burned two timeouts in the first 8 points of the opening set of the Mid-Suburban League Girls Volleyball Championship match Wednesday at Buffalo Grove. She took her first timeout after the Bison sco...

Edwardsville's Storm Suhre, Alexa Harris, Maddie Isringhausen and Corrine Timmerman. The St. Charles East Scholastic Cup at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora is a homecoming of sorts for Normal Community West coach Kelsey Mueller, who grew up in the far western suburbs and played her high school volleyball at Kaneland. “My parents are retired and still live in Elburn, but they come to a lot of our games,” said Mueller, who was Kelsey Drendel when she played for the Knights. “They come down to Normal all the time. “I think...

Benet's Valentina Tabares, Ally Van Eekeren, Hattie Monson, Kyla Kenney and Rachel Muisenga. Bloomington bounced back from a quarterfinal loss to nationally-ranked Leon to place fifth. Despite being the No. 1 overall seed, Benet’s path to the championship of the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup Saturday at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora was no walk in the park.First, Benet had to overcome Leon (Tallahassee, Florida), ranked No. 32 in the nation by Prepvolleyball.com – some 41 spots higher than the Redwings – in the semifin...

Lemont sophomore Amanda Rice, junior Ella Pelen, junior Amy Schwem and junior Nicole Komendant. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com It was the final home match of the season for the Lemont volleyball team, but it wasn't Senior Night. That's because there are no seniors on the Lemont roster. So instead of Senior Night, the Indians held a “Volley For The Cause” event and raised around $1,000 to help fight multiple sclerosis. “We were glad to do a volley for the cause instead of Senior Night,” said Lemont coach Chris Zogata, ...