Michio Chicago 16 National has yet to field its complete lineup this season, but hopes to have everyone back by the time it competes in the Mideast Qualifier in late March. https://youtu.be/YRzI_HfBbTw Michio Chicago 16 National’s bench is getting to be a very lonely place.But when the cavalry does arrive in a few weeks or so, the girls from the south side figure to be a force to be reckoned with.Last weekend in the Windy City Power League, Michio played without 5-9 setter Caroline Macander (concussion) from Mother McAuley, 5-7 defen...
1st Alliance 16 Black plays second fiddle to no one at the Windy City Power League
1st Alliance 16 Black has shown with its play on the court that it's a No. 2 team in name only. https://youtu.be/650uA-vrHT4 There are “No. 2” teams, and then there are “No. 2” teams that are really “No. 1s” in sheep’s clothing.Technically, 1st Alliance 16 Black may the Woodridge club’s “No. 2” 16s team, but you would have a hard time convincing anybody competing in the Windy City Power League 15&16 Open division.Saturday at the Sky High Volleyball Center in Crystal Lake, 1st Alliance 16 Black defeated UNO Girls 16 Elite (25-12, 2...
A difference-maker and class act, Jepsen is the 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year
Marty Jepsen celebrates with his teammates after Marist won the 2019 IHSA Boys Volleyball championship. (Photo courtesy of Joe Hovanes) 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Marty Jepsen of Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarist had just edged Glenbard West 25-21, 25-23 in a hard-fought IHSA championship match. The two teams congratulated each other after they received their medals.As the Marist players shook hands with her and her team, Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer took time to give o...
Benet avenges last year’s loss to Huntley in Autumnfest championship match
Huntley defeated Mother McAuley in the semifinals of Autumnfest, avenging an earlier loss to the Mighty Macs at the Asics Challenge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBenet’s masterful season continues. The undefeated Redwings, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Illprepvb.com, rarely let up and defeated No. 10 Huntley, 25-11, 25-21, in the title match of the Autumnfest tournament Saturday at Glenbard East in Lombard. Sophie Gregus led a balanced attack for Benet (34-0) with 6 kills, junior setter and tournament m...
46th AAU Junior Nationals roundup: SPVB 16 Elite, 16 C-Fed take home the big prize
SPVB 16 Elite and SPVB 16 C-Fed celebrate their national titles Friday at the 46th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. You could hear “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks, yelling down from the heavens, “Let’s play two … and while we’re at it, let’s win ‘em both.”So Sports Performance’s top two 16s teams heeded Mr. Cub’s advice.SPVB 16 Elite defeated top-seeded A5 Mizuno 161 Gabe (Georgia) to rule the 16 Open division and SPVB 16 C-Fed claimed the 16 Premier division title over Laguna Beach 16Q (California) Friday at th...
Barrington hunts down Palatine in battle for Mid-Suburban West lead
Palatine dropped out of a tie for the Mid-Suburban West lead Tuesday with a loss at Barrington. The hunter vs. the hunted.“We’ve talked all season about being the hunted or the hunter,” said Palatine coach Pete Gavin. “Tonight, for sure, we were the ones being hunted.” No. 11 Palatine (26-4 overall, 6-2 in the Mid-Suburban West), which defeated No. 12 Barrington earlier this season in Palatine to gain an upper hand in the conference race, found itself on the wrong side of a 25-23, 25-20 score Tuesday in Barrington.Coupled with a loss to Fre...
McAuley ends De La Salle’s season-opening win streak; Benet, Gregus stymie Nazareth
Ella Sandt and her Nazareth teammates had trouble containing Benet and outside hitter Sophie Gregus Tuesday in Lisle. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com De La Salle still believes.The Meteors saw their unbeaten start to the season end Tuesday. They battled, but fell short in a 25-20, 25-20 loss to host Mother McAuley in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division opener for both teams.It was the sixth win in seven matches for the Mighty Macs (6-5), while De La Salle (8-1) saw its eight-match winning streak end. “We played ...
Illprepvb.com presents 200 reasons we can't wait for volleyball in the fall: Outside hitters, Pt. I
Decatur St. Teresa's Valerie Nutakor will lead the Bulldogs' bid for a second consecutive IHSA Class 2A championship in 2020. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues its look at 200 reasons why we’re looking forward to girls high school volleyball resuming in the fall.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday released long-awaited guidance for schools across the state that would allow them to re-open in the fall. Each school district will determine how to implement the guidance based on its unique circumstances, the statemen...
Mules have the horses to reach Redbird; Gorys’ return should give Providence a lift
Fairfield won a Class 2A sectional in 2018 before its season was derailed in the supersectional by Nashville. Despite losing six seniors, the Mules should enjoy another long tournament run in 2019. Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: FairfieldConference: Black Diamond EastHead coach: Chet SnyderLast season's highlights: 31-9 overall, 8-2 in conference (conference co-champs), won Benton invitational, won regional and sectional tournaments, lost...
Joliet Catholic powers on, beats Whitney Young for Metea Valley/Oswego East title
Joliet Catholic won its second Metea Valley/Oswego East Tournament title in three years. By Randy WhalenSpecial to ILlprepvb.comEverything that happened to the Joliet Catholic girls’ volleyball team in August has not only helped the team now, it should certainly pay dividends in November.Still missing five players and a pair of starters, the Angels just keep going strong. They did that again Saturday morning with a 25-16, 25-23 victory over Whitney Young in the title match of the Metea Valley/Oswego East Tournament in Oswego. The win ...