Downers Grove South coach Madisen Babich ran players in and out during the second set of the Mustangs' match Tuesday at Willowbrook, giving her bench extensive playing time in her team's 25-10, 25-18 sweep. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDowners Grove South coach Madisen Babich looked down her bench after the first set of Tuesday’s game with Willowbrook in Villa Park and knew what she had to do.“These girls are teenagers,” Babich said. “They're full of emotion. So, when you beat a team 25-10 and you look down...
Here are the most recent Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls H.S. Rankings
Ellie Stiernagle and Benet Academy, who had their 17-match win streak snapped by Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Indiana), 25-13, 25-23, Saturday at the Crown Point, Indiana, tournament, will host Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Nebraska) on Thursday before the girls from the Cornhusker state compete in the ASICS Challenge at Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe IHSA finally released its sectional assignments for the girls state tournament late last week.Here are some interesting notes and personal...
Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week Kolby Ross leading Griffins’ resurgence
Even as a freshman last season, Kolby Ross (7) was making an impact for a team that went 32-6, went unbeaten in the Southwest Suburban Conference and advanced to a Class 4A sectional semifinal before losing to eventual IHSA champion Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThis is hardly the season Lincoln-Way East coach Sean Burns envisioned in early August.Expected to feature two of the top outside hitters in Illinois – Indiana recruit Alaina Pollard and 5-9 sophomore Kolby Ross – the Griffins were pick...
You can throw the records out when Naperville North, Central get together
After serving as an assistant under former Naperville North head coach Jen Urban, Nate Bornancin, who previously served as the boys head coach, took over the girtls program this fall. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere’s a tired old cliché in sports that when certain teams meet, you can throw the records out.Except in Naperville, it’s not a cliché, it’s gospel.Naperville Central, hovering around the .500 mark this season, built leads of 16-9 and 22-15 in the first set of its DuPage Valley Conference mat...
Mother McAuley turns to a freshman to turn back Marist in south side slugfest
Peyton Heatherly and Mother McAuley, who defeated Marist on the road last year on September 26, turned the trick again Wednesday, besting the RedHawks, 25-17, 19-25, 25-22, in front of a packed house on 99th and Pulaski. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comChyla Jukes had never played in a volleyball match against Marist.The Mother McAuley freshman middle blocker sure didn't act like it.Jukes jolted 9 kills and added 4 blocks, with many of them at key times, and outside hitter Cayla Prohaska pounded 14 ki...
Normal U-High overpowers Rochester in Central State Eight Conference showdown
Normal University High School outside hitter Laney Snow (18) controlled the net against Rochester's Cami Berberet (12) and Cami Tinder (2) on Tuesday in Normal. U-High went on to win, 25-13, 25-12. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – This is the sort of volleyball season where the third-place team in the Central State Eight Conference could still win a state championship.In fact, no one should rule out the league possibly winning more than one title.At least Rochester, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A by Illprepv...
Here are the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls H.S. Rankings
To the best of our knowledge, there are no more outdoor volleyball matches scheduled like the one between DePaul College Prep and St. Ignatius or Rockford Christian's outdoor get-together with Rockford Boylan, but it will be interesting to see if the boys pick up on the trend in the spring. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor As we await the IHSA’s release of the sectional assignments for the girls volleyball tournament, there were very few changes (in some classes, none at all) in this week’s rankings. The biggest news out of...
Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week Brooklynn Brass does it all for Benet
The MVP of the Wheaton Classic, Benet Academy's Brooklynn Brass (5) had 8 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces and an assist during the Redwings' win over Downers Grove North in the championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“One more, coach. One more.”“Brook …. stop,” the coach replies.Benet Academy’s 5-11 outside hitter and University of Maryland recruit Brooklynn Brass relentlessly pleads with head coach Brad Baker to allow her to put down just one more ball during hitting drills at practice. “I tel...
Benet Academy aces Wheaton Classic final against Downers Grove North
Benet Academy junior setter-turned-middle hitter Sophia Youssef hits over the block of Downers Grove North's Nicole Liu (6) and Nora Benjamins (13) during Saturday's championship match of the Wheaton Classic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorSometimes when things aren’t going you way, you have to lighten the mood.“This is a team who lost 10-25 to start the day,” said Downers Grove North coach Mark Wasik. “That's why they came out a little bit loose in the second set, because I made a joke, ‘They don't know what'...
Freshman Ella Horn, Joliet Catholic stun previously unbeaten Providence Catholic
Joliet Catholic, which celebrated after defeating Marian Catholic on Tuesday, followed up that effort by stunning Providence Catholic on Thursday. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comElla Horn loves a challenge. The freshman outside hitter certainly was up to the challenge against a ranked team. Horn had a team-high 8 kills, but half of those came down the stretch of the third set as Joliet Catholic surprised previously undefeated Providence Catholic, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, Thursday in Joliet.“Oh yeah, I'm a competitor, so I love a challe...