Normal West High School setter Sydney Sennett (11) notched 22 assists, seven digs and four aces during a 25-17, 25-14 victory over visiting Moline on Saturday. Facing off across the net is Moline's Rylie Frazelle. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Thanks to a shorter than ever offseason, the August volleyball on display during a triangular at Normal West High School on Saturday has rarely been more polished.In a showdown of three unbeatens, no team shined more brightly than the host Wildcats, who toppe...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Michio Chicago VBA 2021 'Team(s) of the Year'
Would Benet have won its fifth Class 4A title in 10 years had not the fall season been postponed and the spring season shortened by the pandemic? We'll never know, but after watching the Redwings defeat Mother McAuley, which was unbeaten at the time, and later Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament finals, you would have to like their chances. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The IHSA wouldn’t decide. There were no statewide polls to settle matters. Nobody drew straws or flipped a coin. Ask most fans and/or media, and you are u...
Adversity G18 Adidas has all the ingredients for a successful run to nationals
Adversity G18 Adidas' second-place finish in St. Louis imparted a few lessons to a team that has set its sights on an Open bid to the USA Volleyball Girls 18 Junior National Championship. Putting together a volleyball roster can be a little like making pot roast … sometimes it takes a while for all the ingredients to come together.Adversity G18 Adidas just needs a bit more seasoning.After losses to MAVS KC 18-1 (Kansas City, Missouri) and Premier Nebraska 18 Gold (Omaha) knocked Adversity out of bid contention at the Northern Lights Q...
Bourque, Yorkville riding wave of success, but the Foxes aren't done by a long shot
Plainfield Central will take a much needed breather before resuming play next Tuesday when the Wildcats host Romeoville on senior night. Yorkville's Ella Bourque By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorElla Bourque has experienced the highs and lows of high school volleyball.The 5-11 senior setter is just weeks away from wrapping up her fourth and final season on Yorkville’s varsity. As a freshman, Bourque and the Foxes went 26-8 before being derailed by Lockport in a regional semifinal. Less memorable seasons of 17-18 and 7-7 followed.Ho...
There could be no denying Kaneland, and West may be the new normal in Normal
Newark's KJ Friestad (No. 18 on the home page walking toward the bench) is one of two players who were members of the Lady Norsemen's 2019 championship team that must now defend its title without the services of Madi Malone (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of several teams Like St. Viator and Kaneland hoping to build on their success in the spring and others like Prairie Ridge looking to move up the ladder in their respe...
Here are the final 2021 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys All Club Rankings
Pipeline 18-1 advanced to the championship match of the 18 USA division at the USAV Boys Junior National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. The party is over … for at least a few weeks.A chaotic boys’ club volleyball season – which began last fall with tryouts, took a brief hiatus during an abbreviated boys’ high school season, and resumed with practice ahead of the USAV Boys Junior National Championships, all with the specter of COVID hanging over participants and spectators alike – is finally over. Time to res...
His varsity career likely ended after one week, but his future still looks bright
St. Viator senior Daniel Fecko (foreground) personifies the definition of "student-athlete," according to his volleyball coach, Katie Post. St. Viator's Daniel Fecko (4). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDaniel Fecko always puts forth an extra effort.The fact that the St. Viator senior achieved a perfect score of 36 on his ACT exam is certainly proof of that.Fecko has been playing soccer and volleyball at St. Viator since he was a freshman. This spring, however, would have been his first opportunity to play on a varsity team.But w...
St. Thomas More's addition, Tri-Valley's subtraction equals victory for Sabres
Parkland College recruit Landry Warfel (5) of (Downers) Tri-Valley had 13 assists in Thursday's 27-25, 25-14 loss to visiting (Champaign) St. Thomas More. (Photo by Randy Sharer) Ohio State recruit Anna McClure of Champaign St. Thomas More returned from a broken leg to help the Sabers defeat Tri-Valley, 27-25, 25-14, at Downs on Thursday. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comDOWNS – The math worked out in favor of Champaign St. Thomas Morel’s volleyball team on Thursday as the Sabers, ranked No. 1 in ...
Walenga, L-W East send Porters packing; Spartans, 'Toppers, Lancers move on
Glenbard West's Danny Pasinski (7) will lead the host Hilltoppers into Saturday's IHSA 12:00 p.m. semifinal against Lake Park. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Glenbard West coach Christine Guinta-Mayer had little reason to be displeased with her team's performance Friday. You never want to let your older brother outshine you, especially when he’s sitting on the bench just a few feet away from you, watching your every move.But that’s the situation in which Lincoln-Way East sophomore Tyler Walenga finds himself.Eight years ago, his older brothe...
Loyola joins list of survivors on opening day of 2021 Crimson Classic
No. 6 Loyola was among the top seeds that had a little trouble out of the gate Friday at the 2021 Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and Plainfield Central and sponsored by Illprepvb.com. No. 2 Wheaton Warrenville South found itself trailing 23-15 in the first set of its opener against Rockford Guilford, then needed three sets to beat Normal Community.No. 5 Minooka and No. 7 Marist needed three sets to win their opening-round matches, but Minooka did not survive its second.And No. 6 Loyola fought off two set points in the first...