Naperville North's Paige Lauterwasser (14) smashed 17 kills Thursday, but it wasn't enough as Yorkville rallied for a 15-25, 25-20, 25-15 victory in the Class 4A regional championship match at Yorkville. (Photos by Dave Ruggles). Yorkville freshman Elle Norquist served the final seven points of Thursday's regional championship match. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNervous? Who, me?It was hard to tell whether Yorkville’s 5-5 freshman defensive specialist Elle Norquist was more nervous when she stepped to the service line late in Th...
Where are they now? A look at where 150+ Illinois boys are playing college volleyball
Neuqua Valley's Kevin Kauling is now plying his talents at Lewis University in Romeoville, where he was a second team All-MIVA selection as a freshman. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illinois not only ranks second among all states in the number of boys who play high school volleyball (trailing only California in the most recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations), it is also near the top of the list for the number of its student-athletes who go on to play volleyball in college.So we asked club directors to send us ...
Byas comes up big for Lincoln-Way East; Molnar seals Downers South's victory
Lincoln-Way East (near court) won the far south suburban sectional title for the sixth time in the past eight years Tuesday, turning back Marist (far court), 23-25, 25-22, 25-21. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJared Byas made sure Lincoln-Way East was the team that was moving on. The Lincoln-Way East outside hitter had a match-high 18 kills and added 8 digs and 10 service points as the Griffins punched their ticket back to the IHSA quarterfinals with a thrilling, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, victory over Marist in ...
Geneseo's Barickman twins Abbi and Maddi spoil the party for Newark's seniors
Newark junior outside hitter Megan Williams (11) had 7 kills in Wednesday's loss to Geneseo. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGeneseo twins Abbi and Maddi Barickman enjoy the feeling of winning on senior night.That’s especially true when it’s the other team that’s honoring their seniors.The Barickman sisters had a lot to celebrate Wednesday. Both played starring roles as the visiting Maple Leafs knocked off two-time defending IHSA Class 1A champion Newark in a 25-22, 20-25, 25-20 thriller.The North Central Co...
150 reasons to watch boys' high school volleyball in the spring of 2021, Part I
Led by outside hitter KJ Glab, St. Francis should be among the top teams in the state next spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 boys’ high school season, shutting down what had promised to be a highly competitive and entertaining quest to crown the 29th champion since the IHSA began sanctioning high school volleyball tournaments in 1992. Although we regret that so many talented seniors were denied a better ending to their high school careers, it’s not too early to look ahead to next spring when ...
Marist moves to the top of the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com rankings
Plainfield East's Jace Milka (4) battles Bolingbrook's Tristan Benbow (7) and Andrew Sulima (9) during a match last week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) A beats B, B beats C, C beats …. who? Marist moves up to the No. 1 spot in the first regular-season Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Rankings following its win over Lincoln-Way East, which in turn defeated previously No. 1-ranked Glenbard West, which in turn can reclaim the top spot if Marist falters at Warren. Or should Marist stumble, will it be supplanted by 2021 surp...
Rio rides to the rescue as Kaneland rallies past hosts at Glenbard South regional
Kaneland's Bella Rio (16) dropped 19 kills on the hosts Tuesday at the Class 3A Glenbard South Regional to help rally the Knights to a 19-25, 25-11, 25-9 victory. https://youtu.be/onEu9VSGh5o By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor In tales from medieval times, the dashing knight, positively exuding nobility and virtue, would rush to the aid of fair maidens in distress.Tuesday in Glen Ellyn, it was the other way around.Kaneland senior outside hitter Bella Rio smashed 19 kills, including six in each of the final two sets, to help...
Adversity takes second at USAVs, first in Illprepvb.com/1st Alliance VBC 18s Rankings
Adversity G18 Adidas poses with their silver medals Sunday at the 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Adversity nearly overcame.Nearly.After dropping the first set, 25-19, to Premier Nebraska 18 Gold (Omaha, Nebraska), in the championship match of the 18 Open division at the 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, Adversity rallied to take the second set, 25-19.The girls from Vernon Hills then eased to leads of 8-6 and 10-8 in the third set. But Premier went on a ...
Nazareth's defense thwarts Belvidere North in 3A finals; Normal West jars JCA
Normal West libero Sydnie Hernandez (9) stretches to reach a ball during the Wildcats' victory over Joliet Catholic in the Class 3A third-place game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Class 3ABy Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Defense wins championships.And did Nazareth ever defend.The Roadrunners overcame a 12-6 deficit in the third set to defeat No. 1-ranked Belvidere North, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, in the Class 3A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena.Defense was the difference.The IHSA does not keep records for tournament digs, but ...
Champions Cup series continues under cloud of uncertainty over what comes next
Neuqua Valley's 5-10 outside hitter Bryanna Jones (76) is one of five newcomers on Sports Performance's 16 Elite team. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) CI Elite 17 Elite's Molly Warner (23) of tiny downstate Williamsfield tries to push the ball between a pair of defenders. Naperville North would have been crazy good this fall. The Huskies still might be this winter or spring. But that’s out of Paige Lauterwasser’s control.“It’s so crazy,” said Lauterwasser, a 5-10 sophomore who played on Naperville North’s 24-13 varsity team in 2019 as a fresh...