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 ...
Rolling Meadows’ Lucy Pufundt and friends are looking to (rule) the East
Lucy Pufundt (7) is flanked by fellow Rolling Meadows' co-captains Carmen Powers (1) and Gaby Zielinski (10). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHersey has dominated the Mid-Suburban East for as long as anyone can remember.But 5-10 outside hitter Lucy Pufundt and her Rolling Meadows teammates are hoping to change that this season.Pufundt had 7 kills and 2 aces to lead Rolling Meadows to a 25-21, 25-19 victory over Buffalo Grove on Tuesday as the Mustangs improved to 17-4 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-Suburban East, a record that includes a ...
Benet libero Aniya Warren is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
Benet Academy libero Aniya Warren is widely considered one of the best in the business, not only in Illinois, but nationally. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAnother tournament. Another MVP award for Benet Academy libero Aniya Warren.Coming off a junior year when she was named the MVP at the Wheaton Classic, the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup and Autumnfest at Glenbard East, Warren added another MVP award to her collection after leading the Redwings to the championship of last weekend’s Wheaton Classic....
Volleyball, basketball, softball, classroom: Oak Lawn’s Kaitlyn Berkery excels at all
Oak Lawn's Kaitlyn Berkery (lower right) and her teammates celebrate a point during a recent win. By the end of the school year, Berkery will have earned 12 varsity letters. Oak Lawn will host the Spartan Classic this weekend. Oak Lawn's Kaitlyn Berkery By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Oak Lawn senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Berkery estimated she stopped growing during her sophomore year.Yet her athleticism – and determination – continues to expand.The 5-foot-5 Berkery is a rarity – an average-sized player at a position pop...
Carl Sandburg tabs Madisen Babich to lead the school’s boys volleyball program
Former Lyons Township and Cal State-Fullerton standout (far right) and current Downers Grove South girls volleyball head coach Madisen Babich has been named the new boys volleyball coach at Carl Sandburg. Madisen Babich Former Lyons Township and Cal State-Fullerton standout and current Downers Grove South girls volleyball coach Madisen Babich has been named the new head boys volleyball coach at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park.Babich succeeds long-time boys coach David Vales, who recently successfully completed his second battle...
Here are the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls H.S. Rankings
Lynney Tarnow (12) and Benet Academy defeated Lincoln-Way East, 25-16, 25-10, to win last weekend's Wheaton Classic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe IHSA released the sectional assignments for the 2024 IHSA Girls Volleyball Tournament last week, and to almost no one’s surprise, they look almost the same as last year. The more we look, the more the same they look.Not that we would expect anything different.But next year, when the current two-year enrollment classification period expires, a few changes...