Metea Valley's Kira Hutson (far left), who led the Mustangs to an IHSA Class 4A championship last fall, exited Monday's game against Benet Academy after her right shoulder popped out and back in after diving for a ball in ther back row during the first set. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBenet Academy’s 6-3 junior outside hitter Ava Novak was looking forward to Monday’s meeting with defending IHSA Class 4A champion Metea Valley and 6-5 Florida recruit Kira Hutson.“We want to get the best competition we can,” N...

Willowbrook outside hitter Natalie Cipriano (1) and her teammates reached the cxhampionship match of their own tournament Saturday, but Metea Valley stoped the Warriors in the finale of the eight-team tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAbout 30 miles separated Barrington and Glenbrook South at their respective tournaments Saturday.In eight weeks or so – should history repeat itself – that distance could be measured in feet.Barrington, which ousted Glenbrook South, 25-21, 25-18, from the IHSA Class 4A ...

Lincolnwood returns six of its top eight players from last season's 32-6-1 campaign that ended with a 25-17, 25-19 loss to Brown County in a Class A sectional semifinal. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe real fun begins tomorrow, so today Illprepvb.com takes a look at some of the teams and players who will be gracing gymnasiums throughout Illinois this fall with their athleticism, cohesiveness and determination. Due to the number of teams responding to our request for information and the amount of information we have gathered, we ...

Barrington defeated Lockport at the Andrew invite Saturday to improve to 12-0. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s 6-1 junior setter/opposite Jenna Meitzler knows when it’s coming.“The first five points (of a match) are really big for us, because if we go down during the first five points, we just let them run the next 10,” she said.So, when Lockport jumped out to a 5-1 lead in Game 1 of the championship match Saturday at Andrew, it was no surprise to Meitzler and her teammates to find themselves down 15-5 before Barrington c...

Nazareth setter/outside hitter Kitty Sandt returns this fall hoping to leead the defending Class 3A champioons to another IHSA championship. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com begins a series listing some of the top players in Illinois expected to return to compete for their respective high schools this fall.The following are 100 of the state's best players regardless of graduation year, most of whom earned all-state honors in 2021 from either Illprepvb.com or another statewide publication. Later, we will be publishing lists of t...

Sports Performance 15 Red defeated Mizuno Northern Lights 15-Red to win the 15 Aspire division at the 49th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championship Wednesday in Orlando, Florida. Orlando, Florida – The Marshall plan was simple: get the ball to Lauren Jansen. Or Anabelle Troy. Or Lauren Jansen. Or Annabelle Troy.Everybody else? Fight, scratch, claw and play relentless defense.After Sports Performance 17 Marshall surrendered the first set of the 17 Club championship match at the 49th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championship...

Marist's 6-0 sophomore Isabella Bullington (15) should team with senior Kamryn Chaney to give Marist a strong 1-2 punch at the pins. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com wraps up our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2025 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Class of 2025Gabbie Anderson, 5-9, So., S/RS, Crystal Lake CentralAudrey Asleson, 5-10, So., S, Benet AcademyMorgan Asleson, 5-7, So., L/DS, Benet AcademyChelsea Bell, 5-11, So., MH, TriopiaVi...

Identical twins Zach (left) and Luke Pekol excel on the court and in the classroom thanks to their work ethic and time management skills. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLuke and Zach Pekol saw plenty of interesting things while walking along the famed Las Vegas Strip earlier this summer.But the Joliet Catholic stars found themselves to be the center of attention. The Pekols, who are identical twins and stand 6-foot-9, are used to it.“Wherever we go, people always ask us how tall we are, and the next question is usually, ‘Do you ...

Lockport's 6-1 sophomore middle blocker Jenna Kolosta (18) is greeted at the net by Lincoln-Way East's Hayven Smith (16) and Tamia Maddox (12) during the Crimson Classic championship match at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere was something about finishing last season only one game over .500 that didn’t sit well with Lincoln-Way East veterans Ava Nepkin and Jada James.“Going into last season, we all anticipated having a good year,” Nepkin said. “Unfortunately, it wasn't.”But ...