An eight-day layoff between matches, precipitated by a malfunctioning ventilation system in its gym, had little effect on Willowbrook's performance Wednesday. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWillowbrook’s second match of the season on August 25 was cancelled, but it had nothing to do with COVID.“We were supposed to have a game with East Aurora, but our gym had a malfunction with the ventilation system,” said Willowbrook coach Irene Mason. “Fire alarms were going off and we had to cancel.”That meant the Warriors had eight days off bef...

Metea Valley improved to 7-0 on the young season with a 25-15, 25-10 victory Tuesday over visiting Oswego East. Metea Valley coach Dave MacDonald gave his players an option last spring.“We told the girls, ‘Hey, if you can make it, great,’” he said. “’If you have club practice, that’s your priority right now.’ There were a handful of girls who decided to stay with their clubs. I didn't fault them at all.“They all talked to me individually. They said, ‘Hey, I want to do this.’ They want to get recruited and I totally understand. We didn't hav...

Barrington was in quarantine for two weeks due to the pandemic, then played three times in 24 hours minus any practice, 6-7 junior Jack O'Riordan, two starting junior middle hitters and a freshman outside hitter in a squeaker Saturday against Schaumburg. https://youtu.be/hcbZ6LM3Lss It was a recipe for disaster.Two weeks without touching a ball while in quarantine. Arguably your best player in Las Vegas playing in a club tournament. Three conference games in less than 24 hours, including back-to-back matches on Saturday with one mat...

Montini could not protect big leads in both sets and dropped its first match of the season Monday to De La Salle. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comIsabella LaCoco is back.That’s a good thing for De La Salle. For Montini, though, it proved to be a problem.LaCoco missed De La Salle’s home loss to Montini last week with a back injury, but the Western Illinois-bound senior setter was in fine form Monday and made Montini feel the pain.LaCoco, who also worked on the right side while splitting setting duties with Daniela Scalise, had a team-...

St. Francis setter Michelle Kocher led the Spartans to two IHSA championships and a runner-up finish, then guided Texas to the NCAA Final four twice. (Above photo courtesy of Texas Athletics, cover photo courtesy of Northwestern Athletics) Today, we continue our countdown of the 100 All-Times Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players with Nos. 81-90. Volleyball has come a long way since the IHSA began sponsoring a state tournament series in 1974. You might be hard-pressed to recognize the game. Not only have the rules changed, but so ha...

The 2016 Mother McAuley volleyball team won the IHSA Class 4A championship, the school's second under Jen DeJarld and the school's 15th overall, and was named the No. 1 team in the nation. (Photo courtesy of Mother McAuley) There have been many great teams throughout the history of IHSA girls’ high school volleyball – undefeated champions, once-beaten champions, and some teams that did not win a state championship despite their pedigree. Today, Illprepvb.com continues its countdown of the 20 All-Time Best Illinois Girls High Scho...