Hartsburg-Emden High School coach Jenn Hayes (right) picked up her 699th victory in a 27-year career on Thursday as her Stags (17-1) defeated visiting Mount Pulaski, 25-21, 25-22, with blocking help from Cassie Crabtree (12) and Avah Classen (7). Hitting for the Lady Toppers was Alexis Wade (3). (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comHARTSBURG – The 699th victory of Jenn Hayes’ 27-year volleyball coaching career was a lot like the previous 698.Her Hartsburg-Emden High School Stags mixed sound fundamentals with ...

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 ...

Mother McAuley's Ellie White (on the home page) and Marist's Mary Clare Brusek (5, above) were two of just six players named to the all-tournament team at the Asics Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere’s something about Marist.“They bring out our true selves,” said Mother McAuley’s Ellie White.Marist certainly brings out the best in White.The 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter pounded out 27 kills, including 12 in the third set, as the Mighty Macs defeated Marist, 25-15, 23-2...

Libero Sydnie Hernandez (Illini Elite VBC) helped lead Normal Community West to the IHSA Class 3A semifinals at Redbird Arena this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we rank the top 100 players in the Class of 2024. The list features some of the best young talent in the state of Illinois, led by 5-11 setter/rightside hitter Ellie White, who had more than 500 kills and 280 digs this fall to lead Mother McAuley to the IHSA Class 4A championship game.The list also includes some of the best power hitters in the state regardless of class, ...

1st Alliance 15 Gold finished fifth in the 15 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship in Indianapolis this week, falling to the eventual national champions in a Gold bracket quarterfinal. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Somebody should have told 1st Alliance 15 Gold that the shortest distance between two points in a straight line.Instead, 1st Alliance took a roundabout route to the championship bracket of the 15 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at the Indianapolis Convention Center this wee...

Grace Egan, who was instrumental in Sterling's second consecutive IHSA Class 3A championship in 2019, toils for 1st Alliance 17 Gold during the club season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com ranks the top 100 players in the Class of 2023.The list features more than a dozen players who have already committed to Division I schools, led by 6-3 outside hitter and Florida recruit Kira Hutson /(Team One VBC), who led Metea Valley to an IHSA Class 4A championship in the school’s first-ever appearance downstate.Also at the top of the lis...