Six-foot-1 junior outside hitter Ryan Owens had a kill and 4 digs in Metea Valley's loss to Neuqua Valley Thursday in Naperville. (photos by Dave Ruggles) Neuqua Valley may not have found the next Jeremy Grove, but it’s definitely finding its groove.The Wildcats won for the 10th time in their last 12 matches behind 6-foot-8 middle hitter-turned-outside hitter Jeremy Cardenas (9 kills) and 6-7 setter Kevin Kauling (17 assists, 6 kills), defeating Metea Valley, 25-21, 25-16, Thursday in Naperville. Neuqua Valley coach Erich Mendoza knew...

Benet players celebrate after defeating Marist, 23-25, 25-11, 25-22, in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship match Wednesday in Lisle. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/u_Nl7ta4K-0 By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBenet and Marist have combined to win the last three Class 4A state championships and six of the past nine.The two powers have built up a nice rivalry lately and were considered by many to be the two best teams in the state again this year.While the IHSA opted not to hold a state tourn...

Former Glenbard East star Dan Mader, the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year in 2008 and currently the associate director of Volleyball Club Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, stands in front of the club's new facility currently under construction. Today, we continue 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 ...

Niles West celebrates with the trophy that goes to the winner of the annual rivalry game between West and Niles North. Waiting.Everyone was waiting.The fans were waiting. The bench was waiting. The coaches were waiting.Finally, trailing 22-18 in the second set and on the verge of being forced to a third set at home against rival Niles North, the real Niles West showed up.“The last seven points, we actually played how we know how to play,” said Niles West coach Stacy Roth. “We came alive. We started being smart, doing things we normally do …...

Plainfield East fell to 7-3 in the Suburban Prairie Conference with its loss to Plainfield North on Tuesday, but coach Alex Rodriguez isn't panicking and believes his team will be ready by the time regionals roll around. Andrew Fedmasu isn’t expected to shoulder much of the load when he plays alongside the likes of Marist’s Nyherowo Omene, Timothy Christian’s Kyle Teune, and St. Francis’ Kevin Schuele and Aiden Benson on his nationally-ranked club team.But it’s a different story when the 6-foot-5 junior steps on the court for his high sch...

Bill Schreier has had years of success coaching the girls and boys volleyball teams at Wheaton Warrenville South, but like several other area coaches, he's never had to do both at the same time. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) David Vales coaches the girls’ and the boys’ volleyball teams at Sandburg. Bill Schreier coaches the girls’ and the boys’ volleyball teams at Wheaton Warrenville South.So in his chaotic COVID-challenged conundrum of a high school sports season, why not, as the adage goes, “Kill two birds with one bus?” Sandburg and Wheaton ...

Sophie Gregus (21) led Benet with 8 kills during Saturday's IHSA Class 4A championship match at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet juniors Kyla Kenney (left) and Caroline Doyle collide while going for a dig during Saturday's championship match. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – Benet saved the last point for Colleen McGuire.And the 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter delivered.“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” McGuire said. “This is my last point, and being able to go out on that is something I never could have even asked for. It’s ...

Volleyball players statewide will have to wait another day to learn whether their participation in high school sports will not be jeopardized should they also compete in club events simultaneously. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The IHSA Board of Directors decided Monday to put off a decision whether to allow student-athletes to compete for their high school volleyball teams while simultaneously participating in club and travel sports this spring and summer.Current IHSA eligibility rules state that students who choose to participate in non-school...

Six-foot-8 setter Kyle Sauer (44) from Elgin Academy set for top-ranked SPVB 18 Elite on Saturday at Palos Courts, then came back on Sunday to set for SPVB 16 Elite. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/rOwva7ZaaDE Saturday, it was Kyle Sauer’s turn to keep the seat warm.Sports Performance B18 Elite, not-so-fresh off its 18 Open title at the 21 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic a month ago, unveiled its third setter in as many events Saturday at Palos Courts when it borrowed 6-foot-8 sophomore Kyle Sauer (Elgin Academy) from its 16 ...