Oak Park-River Forest could meet Glenbard West again in the IHSA tournament finals. https://youtu.be/PZoZLYn0xdM Oak Park-River Forest won’t see West Suburban Conference rival Glenbard West again during the regular season, and if the two teams do meet again, it would be in the IHSA championship game. So what would Oak Park do differently the second time around? “We have to have more mental toughness,” said Oak Park-River Forest’s 6-foot-6 senior setter and Purdue University Fort Wayne recruit Sean Califf. “You’re going to get dow...

Mother McAuley's Abby Sarich skies to put down one of her 6 kills Wednesday, but it wasn't enough as Benet defeated the Mighty Macs in three sets Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). https://youtu.be/LaIbtA-oNu8 Benet coach Brad Baker took a timeout with his team down a set and trailing 16-12 in the second Wednesday against visiting Mother McAuley.He called it a "Who are we?" moment.“When coach called a timeout, we just kind of regrouped,” said Benet setter Rachel Muisenga.  “We were like, ‘C’mon, this is our home gym. We know we can g...

Joliet West overcame the loss of two starters for disciplinary reasons to defeat Yorkville and remain in the thick of the Southwest Prairie Conference race. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith two players sitting out this week for a team rule violation, the Joliet West volleyball team could have let down Tuesday against Yorkville. Instead, the Tigers had players step up.A trio of players moved into different positions and all did well as the Tigers pounced on Yorkville, 25-15, 25-19, in a Southwest Prairie contest in Jolie...

Mother McAuley outside hitter Connie Lebel (15) draws a double-team during the Mighty Macs' quarterfinal win over Huntley. Mother McAuley defeated Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky) for the second time in three days to finish third at the Asics Challenge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarie Clare Brusek remembers where she was when Marist captured the Asics Challenge championship two years ago.“I was in the stands, watching,” said Brusek, who was in eighth grade in the fall of 2017.Brusek wasn't in the stand...

Emily Surin was the third-leading attacker for Joliet Catholic during its run to the Class 3A championship match last fall. (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 statement ...

Normal University High defeated Rochester at Mahomet-Seymour on Wednesday to advance to Friday's supersectional at Taylorville against Centralia. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com Back-to-back blocks by Rochester, which had trailed by as many as 9 points, helped the Rockets pull within 22-20 in Game 1 against Normal University High in the Class 3A sectional final Wednesday at Mahomet-Seymour. “It’s probably the most demoralizing thing in volleyball,” said U-High coach Mike Bolhuis, whose team shrugged off those blocks en route to a 2...

Breelyn Borum (17) and Sterling will try to become the first Class 3A team to win back-to-back IHSA championships since St. Francis won the third of its three consecutive titles in 2014. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2019 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: HerscherConference: Illinois Central Eight (new)Head coach:  Joel Huizenga Last season’s highlights: 22-13 overall, 10-1 in conference (Interstate 8), lost to Fieldcrest, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, in a...