Ex-professional football player Nick Tow-Arnett accompanied his wife when she played volleyball overseas. Jessica Tow-Arnett is now the head volleyball coach at Southwest Christian High School in Minnesota. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJessica Tow-Arnett swam in the Caspian Sea, walked the beaches of the Persian Gulf and shared the gospel with people in several Muslim countries during a decade-long career as a professional volleyball player. The former Neuqua Valley star, who was known as Jessica Jones before she married forme...
Macomb joins crowded 2A field; Hononegah needs no introductions; Roosevelt rising
Macomb has a lot of fresh faces in the lineup this season, including a freshman and two juniors at the pins. This is another in a series of team previews as Illprepvb.com looks at the 2019 Illinois girls high school season.School: Macomb Conference: West CentralHead coach: Briana RexroatLast season’s highlights: 25-12 overall, 5-3 in conference, lost to Quincy Notre Dame, 25-15, 25-14, in a Class 3A regional championship.Top returnees: 5-4 sophomore setter Avery Rexroat, 5-4 senior libero Maggie Valillo, 5-7 junior middle hitter Lael McKee....
Plainfield North shocks No. 3 Belleville Althoff to win Crossroads Classic
Ariel Amaya (13) and her Plainfield North teammates defeated Breese Mater Dei, Breese Central and Belleville Althoff to win the Crossroads Classic Saturday in Effingham, (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Zach RaineySpecial to Illprepvb.com Surprise. The Plainfield North Tigers, not even seeded among the top eight teams, defeated Illprepvb.com No. 3 (4A) ranked Belleville Althoff, 25-23, 25-22, to win the 28th Annual Crossroads Classic Volleyball Tournament Saturday in Effingham.The road was not an easy one however, as the Tigers had to defeat ...
Papes powers ‘underrated’ Providence past Andrew in potential Smack Attack preview
Michael "Ike" Papes of Providence (No. 99 shown here playing for UNO Boys 18 Elite during the Winter Volleyball Championships at McCormick Place in January) had 10 kills in the Celtics' win over Andrew. (photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't sleep on the Celtics.Ike Papes pounded a match-high 10 kills and added 10 digs and 2 aces as Providence pulled away down the stretch in both sets to defeat Andrew, 25-22, 25-22, in a southside clash between up-and-coming programs Tuesday in New Lenox.With the victory, the...
Andrew, Haggerty are getting accustomed to having to prove themselves
Andrew is on the verge of 20 wins for the first time since 2012. Andrew's four-year starting outside hitter Bri Haggerty. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBri Haggerty has been a four-year varsity leader for Andrew volleyball. The outside hitter only played the first set Thursday. But that was fine with her. Haggerty still led the way with 9 kills and 6 digs as Andrew toppled District 230 rival Stagg, 25-16, 25-17, in a Southwest Suburban Conference Red Division match Thursday in Tinley Park. Haggerty was one of ...
Knights bring about the fall of the Romans, Tortorello at Niles West invite
Latin, last year's Class 3A fourth-place finisher, has a lot of new faces and a new coach, and a junior setter who is certain to draw a lot of interest from college coaches. Charlotte Cronister. 150 kills. 400 digs. Graduated. Moved on to Northwestern.Kelsey Watkins. 150 kills, 60 blocks. 50 aces. Graduated. Moved on to Furman. Julia Kinder. 230 kills. 100 digs. Graduated. Bryn Kehoe. Married. Left after a two-year stint as head coach.This is not the same Latin team that defeated St. Francis, 25-18, 25-18, in a supersectional last fall...
Lemont, Shepard look ahead after Indians wrap up home schedule with a victory
Lemont junior Amanda Rice (12) had 8 kills to help her senior teammates win their home finale Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Lemont's Amy Schwem. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDuring the second set of Thursday night’s showdown between Lemont and Shepard, Lemont setter Amy Schwem's poster picture from the Senior Night festivities fell off the wall.That was about the only thing that went wrong for the Indians.Lemont defeated Shepard, 25-14, 25-14, in a South Suburban Conference crossover match between the two teams that had a...
Marist, momentum could play major roles in determining IHSA champion this weekend
Marty Jepsen leads favored Marist into this weekend's IHSA boys volleyball tournament at Hoffman Estates. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Oak Park setter Sean Califf. Momentum.Volleyball is a game of momentum. How else would you explain some of the IHSA tournament sectional results? Marist dominated defending IHSA champion and No. 2 seed Lincoln-Way East, which seemed to have found its footing toward the latter half of the season, in Tuesday's sectional final at Marist. Barrington defeated a pair of sub-sectional No. 1 seeds -- Boylan Catholic ...
Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association seeks board members amid restart
The restart of the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association is underway, and the group is looking for members to serve on its regional board and get involved in the revitalization of the organization. (Photo courtesy of The News-Gazette) The Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association is excited to announce the official restart of the organization. Illinois is one of the top states in the nation for men’s and women’s volleyball, and the organization is looking forward to growing the game.The IVCA is seeking to develop its regional board to...
Barrington loaded for another run; St. Francis is mature, focused … and more
Barrington plans to take advantage of Ben Ridgway's (7) versatility as it seeks its third consecutive IHSA quarterfinal berth. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2020 boys' high school volleyball season with another set of team previews. Illprepvb.com provides the best in boys volleyball coverage throughout the season anywhere in the state. School: BarringtonConference: Mid-Suburban WestHead coach: Rob Ridenour (15th season)Last season’s highlights: 29-11 overall, 9-1 in conference (conference co-champ...