Hersey's all-tine kill leader and Boston College recruit Katie Kaburov was named the Mid-Suburban East Player of the Year. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The Mid-Suburban League has announced its all-conference and Player of the Year selections. The selections are: Mid-Suburban EastPlayer of the Year: Katie Kaburov, senior, HerseyShannon Coglianese, junior, Buffalo GroveMegan Mitsunaga, junior, Buffalo GroveMegan Murray, senior, Elk GroveKaiya Eshoo, senior, HerseyJuliette VanDenHerik, senior, HerseyJanine Boyan, senior, HerseyMaddie Mullin...
Abbreviated NCAA fall volleyball season concludes for handful of Illinois girls
Belvidere North's Class of 2019 outside hitter BrookLyn Messenger and her Air Force Academy teammates are expected to begin their COVID-19 delayed season in February. Notre Dame junior and Mother McAuley graduate Charley Niego While Illinois high school teams sit idly until February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several NCAA Division I college teams featuring Illinois Class of 2020 graduates are wrapping up the fall portion their schedules.The NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a plan in late September to conduct 2020 fall cham...
VC United 181 Elite falls to TAV 18 Blue in 18 USA division finale in Dallas
Bailey Nelson of Oregon High School (No. 15, shown here during Great Lakes Power League play earlier this season) and her VC United 181 Elite teammates reached the finals of the 18 USA division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships Sunday in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Katie Erdmann of VC United. Oh, so close.VC United 181 Elite didn’t exactly get off to a blazing start at the USA Girls Junior Volleyball National Championships this weekend in Dallas, Texas, dropping its first match in the 18 USA division to...
Michio Chicago's bid for national title ends with loss to club only 20 miles away
Michio Chicago 17 National advanced to the championship match of the 17 National division at the USAV championships in Las Vegas, but fell in three sets to Epic United/Diamond Elite from nearby Hammond, Indiana. Las Vegas, Nevada -- Michio Chicago 17 National took a circuitous route to the 17 National division finals of the 2021 USAV Girls Junior National Championships Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.And after travelling 1,800 miles and weathering two must-win matches Saturday, who was waiting for south siders in the championship...
Assist king Burchett continues to give back to the game he once dominated
Former Wheaton Warrenville South and Illinois men's club volleyball setter Doug Burchett recently shared some of his knowledge with middle school and high school players at 630 Volleyball Club in Darien. Doug Burchett led Wheaton Warrenville South to two of its record seven state boys' volleyball titles. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.comDoug Burchett believes someone will break his Illinois’ high school all-time assist record. But it likely won't happen anytime soon.“There's a lot of really solid setters out there,” said Burchett, whos...
Lincoln-Way East Invitational provides more than a few surprises
Glenbard West's Gavin Swartz (shown here playing for Ultimate B18 Gold at the Winter Volleyball Championships), had 9 kills in the championship match of the Lincoln-Way East Invitational. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Glenbard West outside hitter Ryan Swartz. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhere there's a Wil, there's a way.Led by outstanding efforts from Trevor Lewis and tournament MVP Wil McPhillips, Lincoln-Way East rallied to defeat No. 2 Glenbard West, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10, to win the title of its own invi...
UNO, JCA teammates express optimism about club and high school seasons
Volleyball clubs around the state were among the victims of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's latest executive order related to the pandemic, but many girls remain optimistic that they will be able to play sometime in the new year, if not sooner. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith the COVID-19 pandemic setting record numbers in recent days, all of them in the wrong direction, there remains uncertainty over the upcoming club and high school seasons.That uncertainty was further amplified when Illinois Gov. J.B....
Montini, Marciniak stop Fenwick for a third time; Kleffman sparks Tinley Park
The Chicago Public School teachers' strike has added more uncertainty to Fenwick's tournament future Montini enters the IHSA Class 2A tournament next week as one of the favorites to reach Redbird Arena on November 15. Meanwhile, Fenwick’s future in the Class 3A tournament is a bit muddled. The Broncos and Friars met for the fourth time this season Thursday in Lombard. Senior outside hitter Julia Marciniak and sophomores Madalyn Kasallis and Paige Pickering each contributed 12 kills as Montini won, 25-21, 24-26, 25-10, to take the season ser...
Krasowski really digs what Sandburg’s doing as the Eagles win at Joliet Catholic
Sandburg extended its season-opening winning streak to 10 with a straight-set win Thursday at Joliet Catholic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe smallest girl on the court continues to make a big impact.Rachel Krasowski is listed at 5-foot-3. But the Sandburg senior libero, who is a four-year varsity player, admits that she's not quite that tall.“I'm happy I'm listed as that, and I will take it,” Krasowski said. “But I'm probably 5-foot-2.” Five-foot-2 or 5-foot-3, Krasowski’s steady defensive influence is ...
Rivalry week: Marist outlasts McAuley; Central wins battle of Napervilles
Naperville Central won the first battle of Naperville on Thursday, defeating rival North in wild three-setter at Naperville North. Nikki Jones had 27 assists for Marist Thursday at Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Marist might have been the visiting team, but the RedHawks were going to feed off the energy in the gym.The two-time defending IHSA Class 4A champions overcame a big first-set deficit and rallied for a 26-24, 25-22 win over host Mother McAuley.The neighborhood feud not only featu...