Mother McAuley won five matches, four of them in three sets, to win the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament last weekend. As one might expect after three weeks of play, there were a few changes in the rankings since our preseason poll came out in late August. But a few things did not change. Mother McAuley continues to rule Class 4A following its championship at the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament last weekend at the KIVA Center in Louisville. The Mighty Macs broke a 15-15 tie in the third set to defeat (L...
Huntley doesn't panic, races past previously unbeaten Barrington
Barrington's Berkeley Ploder (No. 10 shown here at Redbird Arena last fall) ended a marathon second set with a block Wednesday, but the 6-2 junior and her teammates eventually succumbed to Huntley in the third set. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Huntley's Allyson Panzloff By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHuntley coach Karen Naymola admitted she was tempted to call a timeout with her team trailing 11-6 in the third set of its nonconference match Wednesday at Barrington.“I didn't take the timeout,” she said. “I didn't want to use one right a...
Student tops master as Lexington upsets previously unbeaten El Paso-Gridley
Lexington players rush the court after they complete their victory over previously unbeaten El Paso-Gridley. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comEL PASO – Back when Kelli Aho was the star setter for Coach Andi Hardwick’s 2010 IHSA Class 1A championship team at Heyworth, the two could read each other’s minds.On Thursday, that was still true as the Aho-coached Lexington Lady Minutemen upset the previously unbeaten Hardwick-coached El Paso-Gridley Titans, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19.“It’s always fun seeing her,” said Aho, wh...
Benet turns up the pressure, rallies to beat Lyons for ninth Wheaton Classic title
Benet outside hitter Gabija Staniskis redirects a kill past a pair of Wheaton Warrenville South defenders during quarterfnal play Saturday at the Wheaton Classic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBenet Academy’s girls were anxious to wrap up play Saturday at the Wheaton Classic with homecoming festivities ongoing at the school’s Lisle campus.But all that went out the window after the Redwings dropped the first set of the championship match to No. 1 seed Lyons Township.“After we lost the first set, we knew homeco...
Normal U-High bests St. Thomas More in showdown of 1A, 3A state powers
Sophomore outside hitter Levyn Snow (5) and the Normal U-High Pioneers, coming off a 3-2 performance at last weekend's Illprepvb.com Plainfield North Crimson Classic, rallied to defeat defending IHSA Class 1A champion St. Thomas More on Monday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – The question of how far apart elite teams are in different classes got an answer on Monday when reigning IHSA Class 1A champion Champaign St. Thomas More traveled 58 miles to visit Class 3A’s No. 1-ranked Normal University Hi...
‘It’s a Miracle!’ Martensen returns two years after freak accident nearly claimed her life
Alleman head coach Morgan DeBruine, who is amazed Miracle Martensen (kneeeling, second from right) is even playing at all, now calls her one of the most versatile players on the team. Alleman's Miracle Martensen By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMiracle Martensen wasn’t always thrilled with her unique name.The Rock Island Alleman senior doesn’t personally know anyone else named Miracle.“It always kind of annoyed me when I was younger because my name was talked about so much,” Martensen said. “But now it’s cool that there is a meani...
Montini putting the puzzle together, befuddles visiting Genoa-Kingston
York's Emelyn Stettin tries to work around the block of Glenbard West's Penelope Vilkama during the team's West Suburban Silver opener Tuesday in Glen Ellyn. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't count out Montini.Led by a monster match from senior Jordan Heatherly, the defending IHSA Class 2A champions showed that despite a .500 record over their first 10 matches, they aren't done yet. Heatherly had 9 kills, 4 blocks, 17 assists and 14 digs as Montini never trailed and held off a furious rally in the sec...
Marist soul-searching sears St. Francis; Metamora vexes Normal West in 3A tussle
Metamora sophomore Esma Frieden (8) banged out 22 kills to lead the Redbirds to a 25-22, 17-25, 25-19 victory Tuesday at Normal West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) CHICAGO -- Between 2017-19, the Marist girls’ volleyball team lost a total of seven matches in winning back-to-back Class 4A state titles and then placing third.Last Saturday, the RedHawks dropped two matches in a row and finished fourth at the Crimson Classic, which led them to do some soul-searching.“I feel like it motivated me to be more of an impact player,” said Marist outside h...
Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year preparing for freshman year at Penn State
Nazareth graduate Katie Hurta changed her college plans in February and opted to play for former Mother McAuley great Katie Schumacher-Cawley at Penn State. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Katie Hurta helped to lead her Nazareth team past Belvidere North in the IHSA Class 3A championship match last November. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comIndiana’s loss is Pennsylvania’s gain.A year ago, Katie Hurta was preparing for her senior season at Nazareth. In the 12 months that followed, much has happened, including a decision by the 2021-22 Ga...
Naperville North celebrates Urban's 500th win, beats WW South for victory No. 501
Six-foot-5 middle hitter Ava Bogan (7) and the Loyola Ramblers, who lost to Glenbrook South, 25-19, 25-23, in the semifinals of the New Trier tournament Saturday, turned the tables on the Titans Wednesday, defeating Glenbrook South, 25-23, 23-25, 26-24. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNaperville North coach Jennifer Urban recorded her 500th career victory when the Huskies beat Rolling Meadows on Friday.The Huskies recognized the achievement with a brief announcement on Wednesday, then went out and got Ur...