St. Francis' Addy Horner (22) recently achieved both her 1,000th career assist and 1,000 career kill. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSome players are fortunate and skilled enough to accumulate 1,000 assists in their high school careers.Other players may be so talented as to amass 1,000 kills.But very few achieve both milestones. St. Francis’ Addy Horner is one of those few.Horner, a 6-3 setter/opposite/rightside hitter and two-time IHSA Class 3A champion who is committed to the University of Wisc...
Skutt scuttles McAuley’s three-peat bid at ASICS, Macs stop Marist (again) for third
Mother McAuley's Abbey Williams tries to work off the block attempt of Skutt Catholic's Kiera Link (18) and Avery White. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSince the ASICS Challenge was established at Mother McAuley in 1987, only one team (Assumption, 2011-2013) has won three-consecutive championships.That trend continued Saturday as Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Nebraska) ended Mother McAuley’s three-peat bid in the semifinals, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23. Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Kentucky), which defeated Marist, 2...
Haley Burgdorf gets career kill No. 1,000, leaves a few dents on floor at St. Francis
St. Charles North junior outside htter Haley Burgdorf (23) is joined (from left) junior middle hitter Sidney Wright, junior setter Mia McCall, libero Meg Kalenowski and junior outside hitter Amber Czerniak. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe balloons were ready. So, too, were the flowers and flashbulbs.St. Charles North’s 6-0 junior outside hitter Haley Burgdorf eclipsed the 1,000-career kill mark early in the second set Wednesday at St. Francis.The North Stars immediately called a timeout to allow Burgdorf to celebrate with her team...
Where are Illinois’ top girls’ volleyball recruits in the classes of ’24, ’25 and ’26 headed?
(Updated August 2) Six-foot-4 sophomore middle hitter Lynney Tarnow of Benet Academy has verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated 7:45 p.m., Friday, August 2)Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2024 and 2025 who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. All coaches and club directors have been invited to provide the names of their players who should be on the list. The attached list features the names of players...
Lincoln-Way East’s Tamia Maddox is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week
Tamia Maddox (12) led Lincoln-Way East to eight victories over a recently-completed eight-day stretch during which the Griffins' lone loss was to Benet Acadeny in the finals of the Wheaton Classic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNine matches in eight days would test any team’s physical and mental endurance.But not if they have Tamia Maddox on their side of the net.“She's the one who keeps our team motivated,” said Lincoln-Way East coach Sean Burns. “She’s always very vocal … keeping the girls focused.”L...
Normal U-High tops Bloomington Central Catholic, survives Intercity gauntlet
Bloomington Central Catholic setter Lauren O'Brien (9) battled against Normal University High in the 45th Bloomington-Normal Intercity Tournament at Normal Community High School on Monday. U-High repeated as champion while Central Catholic tied for second with Normal West and Normal Community. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – The 45th annual Bloomington-Normal Intercity Tournament, featuring three teams ranked in the top five of three different classes, came to a jubilant conclusion for Normal Universi...
Mother McAuley earns south side bragging rights (for now) at Marist
Marist's 6-2 middle blocker Cassidy Cage (23) had 5 kills and 5 blocks, but Mother McAuley prevailed 26-24, 25-23, in front of a packed house Thursday at Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhen Marist and Mother McAuley tangle on the volleyball court, they come from near and far to witness it.“It's always intense, it's always tough,” said Mother McAuley coach Jen DeJarld. “There's a lot of pride on the south side. It's always fun to see the alumni here. We had an alumnus who now lives in Alaska come here...
Once, twice, three times Lincoln-Way East goes the distance at Joliet West quad
Lincoln-Way East won three-three-set matches Saturday at the quadrangular hosted by Joliet West. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTired legs. Weary arms.Playing its seventh, eighth and ninth matches in eight days, Lincoln-Way East had plenty of reason to throw the towel at some point during the quadrangular Saturday hosted by Joliet West and featuring Downers Grove North and Moline.But the Griffins refused to fold, gutting out three three-set matches to improve to 16-3 overall and remain 2-0 in the Southwest Suburban Conference.Lincoln-...
Presenting this week’s Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls H.S. Rankings
Mother McAuley libero Samantha Falk and the Mighty Macs defeated Marist, 27-25, 25-23, in front of a packed house on 115th and Pulaski Road last Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThirteen in-state schools will join 11 schools from throughout the Midwest and Florida for the annual ASICS Challenge this weekend at Mother McAuley.The local hopefuls include Downers Grove North, Huntley, Joliet Catholic Academy, Marist, Minooka,Mother McAuley, Montini, Nazareth Academy, New Trier, Sandburg, St. Charl...
Addi Eisenmann brings farm-kid grit, work ethic to Mahomet-Seymour
Mahomet-Seymour High School volleyball team captain Adaline (Addi) Eisenmann has shown champion pigs, cattle and sheep at livestock shows in Missouri, Indiana and Illinois for a decade. Adaline (Addi) Eisenmann, right, has honed her skills as a senior libero at Mahomet-Seymour High School by training with the Prime Time Volleyball Club in Champaign. Her other passion is showing champion sheep, cattle and pigs at livestock shows throughout the Midwest. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMAHOMET – Building a capable volleyball player ...