Joliet Catholic's Jillian Gray (4) and Pleasant Plains' Anna Kanilakan (18) are just two more reasons to watch Illinois high school girls' volleyball in 2019. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com lists 50 (give or take) more reasons to watch girls’ volleyball in 2019.Hope Allen, 5-9, Sr., OH, Chillicothe IVCLily Barry, 5-8, Fr., OH, Normal U-HighFrankie Bertucci, 5-4, Jr., L, De La SalleMaddie Blake, 6-0, Sr., OH, Crystal Lake CentralKat Blasé, 6-0, Jr., OH, CharlestonNicole Boelens, 5-7, So., OH, PoloChloe Britton, 5-9, Jr., OH, L...

Chicago Christian improved to 6-1 with its straight-set win over Richards on Wednesday. Richards coach Troy Grevengoed flanked by his daughters, Chicago Christian's Delanie (left) and Logan (right). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDaughter still knows best.For the second time in a five-day span, the Grevengoed sister combo of sophomore middle hitter Logan and freshman rightside/outside hitter Delanie got bragging rights over their dad. That's because Chicago Christian went down the road Wednesday and toppled Richards, 25-17, 25-2...

Bolingbrook junior setter Paolo Mondini had 31 assists in the No. 10-seeded Raiders' 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 win over No. 7 seed Downers Grove North Tuesday in Bolingbrook. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMike Kazanecki loves pressure situations.The Stagg outside hitter was at his best Tuesday against Oak Forest. Now he will get another shot against the defending state champions.Kazanecki clubbed a match-high 10 kills and added 6 digs and 3 aces as Stagg defeated Oak Forest, 25-20, 25-19, in the second semifinal...

Today, Illprepvb.com lists 101 reasons to watch Illinois girls high school volleyball in 2019, including Grayville's Sydney Foster (home page) and Huntley setter Taylor Jakubowski (12). Here are 101 players who Illprepvb.com believes should be on everybody’s “must-see” list during the 2019 girls high school season. Brooke Amann, 5-11, Sr., OH, Woodstock NorthKaileigh Ammons, 6-2, Sr., MB, Wheaton Warrenville SouthGrace Asleson, 5-9, Sr., S, Lyons Maddie Arundel, 5-9, Sr., OH, MaristGigi Barr, 6-1, Jr., MH/OH, YorkKendra Battle, 6-1, Sr....

Fremd defeated St. Charles East and Joliet West Saturday to win the Peggy Scholten Classic, named for the former Conant girls volleyball coach who won 656 matches during her 37-year career and is now happily retired and attending to her five grandchildren -- all boys. Fremd hit a little bump in the road after grabbing an early 9-4 lead against Joliet West in Game 1 of the championship match at the Peggy Scholten Classic Saturday in Palatine.Before coach Curt Pinley could yell, “Out,” his team found itself trailing the Tigers 14-10.  &...

Lincoln-Way West's Chris Dargan had 4 kills Thursday in the Warriors' win over Marist. (photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGet “Loud.”Louden Moran capped off an exhilarating match with a kill and an ace as No. 4 Lincoln-Way West outlasted No. 3 Marist, 20-25, 25-18, 30-28, in a battle of top-ranked teams Thursday in New Lenox.It was the third win in four days for the Warriors (16-1), who avenged their only loss of the season. Marist (14-2) had a trio of match-point opportunities, but couldn't complete the third ...

(Photos by Dave Ruggles) Naperville Central, which had beaten Waubonsie Valley 25-22, 25-11 less than a week ago, probably expected more of the same in both teams’ IHSA regional opener Monday in Aurora. More of the same is not what the Redhawks got, however. “That was too tight for our liking,” said Naperville Central’s 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter Carter Stenmark. Naperville Central (23-13) squandered a 10-6 lead in Game 1 and a 12-7 lead in Game 3, but held on to defeat Waubonsie Valley for the third time this season, 23-25...

Providence fell to red-hot Mother McAuley in a game featuring the Warfield cousins competing against each other for the first time. First cousins Juliana (left) and Lexi Warfield. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJuliana may have won the battle, but Lexi won the war of the Warfields. For the first time, first cousins Lexi Warfield (Mother McAuley) and Juliana Warfield (Providence Catholic) squared off against each other on the volleyball court. Juliana, a 5-foot-6 sophomore outside hitter, finished with a match-high 10 kills. Playi...

Jack Yurkanin and Ultimate B18 Gold are using the Asics Boys Summer Challenge to get ready for nationals beginning June 30 in Dallas. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) This weekend’s Asics Boys Summer Challenge at Velocity Athletic Center in Mokena is serving as the final tune-up for several teams that have qualified for the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships, June 30-July 7, in Dallas, Texas. Among them is Ultimate B18 Gold, which finished second in the country as 17s last year and has its eyes on the big prize next week with a rost...

https://youtu.be/_-In8IlF1IM Niles West coach Drew Roche did not have another setter on his roster when Kyle Moy walked into the gymnasium on the first day of practice in 2017. “When he came in his freshman year, we were running a 5-1,” Roche said. “We all thought, ‘OK, you’re the varsity setter by default.’ But he proved he belonged at the varsity level from the get-go.”Two years later, Moy has proven that he not only belongs, he is one of the best setters in Illinois.Wednesday in Evanston, Moy dished out 25 assists to lead No. 21 Ni...