Mark Febonio (right), seen here conversing with fellow official Dave Harlan, has been officiating Illinois high school volleyball for 24 years. He says he will continue to officiate volleyball after his job takes him to California this summer. Editor's note: The IHSA tournament gets underway Monday, so we thought we'd begin by taking a look at one of the people who make the tournament possible. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMark Febonio didn’t get the chance to play high school volleyball while he was growing up in Massachusett...
Belvidere North outslugs Normal West; Nazareth beats Joliet Catholic … again
Nazareth's Lauren Salata flicks a kill down the line in Friday's Class 3A semifinal victory over Joliet Catholic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – When a volleyball team such as Belvidere North has more weapons, it behooves setters like Jayden Flynn to use them.The senior did just that, notching 24 assists as four of her hitters had 6 or more kills in a 25-18, 25-17 victory over Normal West in a Class 3A state tournament semifinal at Redbird Arena on Friday.Ranked No. 1 in 3A by Illprepvb.com, Belvide...
McGrath's 'special season' begins with Loyola's Crimson Classic championship
Loyola's Mia McGrath was named MVP of the 2021 Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and Plainfield Central and sponsored by Illprepvb.com after leading the Ramblers to the championship of the 32-team tournament Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) What a difference 24 hours make.“If you consider our first match on Friday to our last match today, it's amazing the growth that happened,” said Loyola coach Mallory Thelander.As long as her team doesn’t grow too much and can’t fit into its Crimson Classic championship T-shirts.The Ramblers...
Glenbard West rallies, surprises Montini for Wheaton North Blue & Gold title
Montini defeated Benet in the semifinals, but could not build on a first-set victory and lost to Glenbard West in the championship match of the Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGlenbard West surprised most everyone except itself. The Hilltoppers won a pair of three-set thrillers Saturday, surviving Wheaton North in the semifinals then rallying past Montini, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, in the title match of the Wheaton North 36th Annual Blue & Gold Girls Volleyball Tournament.The victory av...
IC Catholic Prep, Lincoln-Way East ponder what might have been, get set for fall
IC Catholic Prep is getting ready for the fall 2021 season after finishing the state tournament-less spring campaign at 17-0 without dropping a set. What if? What if there had been a state tournament last year? What if we just forget last spring altogether? There are teams on both sides of the coin. Yes, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened had there been a state series last season. Yes, there are some teams that are thankful to have a “do-over” and simply happy to put the past behind them. Today,...
Illprepvb.com presents the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players
Barrington's 6-9 middle hitter TJ Murray continued his stellar career at Lewis University, where he was named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American following the pandemic-shortened season. (Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune) Today, we begin to count down the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players.The players were selected based on their athletic ability, their individual accomplishments on the court, how they impacted their team’s success, their place in IHSA history, and in some cases, how they continued to represent thems...
West Chicago has one of those games that is best to put in a box and seal the lid
West Chicago is unbeaten in the Upstate Eight Conference and has matches remaining with co-leader South Elgin and perennial league contender Glenbard East. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEven the best teams have the worst days.Wednesday, it was West Chicago’s turn.But despite the 25-15, 25-12 loss at Wheaton North, the Wildcats are enjoying a renaissance of sorts under head coach and former Lake Park and Iowa standout Pamela Pater.Pater, who took over the program in 2017, has turned the young Wildcats (19-5 overall, 5-0 in the Upstat...
Normal West, Hernandez shine brightly against Moline, Sacred Heart-Griffin
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...