Benet's Caitlin Wepfer, Ann Marie Remmes, Kyla Kenney, Valentina Tabares and Rachel Muisenga. Falling behind early in every set is not typically a formula for success. “Especially not here,” said Marist coach Jordan Vidovic, who brought his No. 1-ranked Marist RedHawks to Benet Tuesday afternoon for a rematch of the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic championship match. “You saw it from them … they were fired up. They brought the energy. They brought the fire right from the beginning. They were obviously more aggressive. You can t...
Kingsfield, Montini’s veterans turn back inexperienced Lincoln-Way East
Lincoln-Way East's (from left) Kaleigh Ritter, Nicki Bechtold, Molly Skoda, Jess Pappas and Hannah Kowalczyk. There’s no substitute for experience, especially when you’re using three freshmen to fill in at spots where you graduated some key personnel. Montini leaned on its veterans – 5-foot-11 middle hitter Johanna Kingsfield, outside hitter Caitlyn Meeks, defensive specialist Maddie Pickering and libero Joslyn Boyer – to surprise visiting Lincoln-Way East Monday in Lombard. Kingsfield had 7 kills and 4 blocks, Meeks had 7 kills and 2 ac...
Here they are … the 1st Alliance Volleyball Club/Illprepvb.com top 5 teams in 2018
State title record-holder Mother McAuley opens the season ranked No. 2 in the preseason by Illprepvb.com. Here it is ... the final installment of the 1st Alliance Volleyball Club/Illprepvb.com 2018 Illinois girls high school volleyball rankings, which features teams ranked Nos. 1-5. These are the teams that Illprepvb.com determines to be the best of the best this fall. Last spring, we named Lincoln-Way East to be the No. 1 boys team in the preseason, and the Griffins came through. How accurate will these predictions prove? 1. Marist ...
Joliet Catholic crosses Mother McAuley off its calendar
By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com The Joliet Catholic Academy girls volleyball team had this one circled on the calendar.The Angels didn’t disappoint.In a powerhouse season opener for both squads, Joliet Catholic was dominant in a 25-19, 25-13 victory over Mother McAuley before a large contingent of fans Tuesday in Joliet. The teams have combined for 15 state trophies and each has won three state titles since 2003.The combo of 6-foot-2 hitters Bella Ray and Emily Wilson put down 5 kills apiece to pace Joliet Catholic. The Mighty Macs...
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. Dakota’s 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter Tabytha Toelke is this week’s "Player of the Week." Toelke had 18 kills as Dakota (12-9 overall, 7-2 in the Northwest Upstate...
Huntley overcomes its fear, now puts fear in its opponents
Huntley's (from left) Loren Alberts, Josie Schmitendorf, Sarah Zayas, Taylor Jakubowski, Marissa Deem and Julia Johnson. Fear. It can have a crippling effect on athletes, even on the volleyball court. Huntley experienced a bit of trepidation at the beginning of the season, which included early losses to Fox Valley Conference rivals Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake Central. “I think we had a lack of confidence in ourselves,” said 6-foot senior middle blocker Marissa Deem. “I think we just didn't know how the season was going to go....