Althoff's Karinna Gall led the Crusaders to a second-place finish in the IHSA Class 3A tournament. (photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we continue to announce the Illprepvb.com 2018 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with our Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and those players named to the First Team. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the Illprepvb.com all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court as high school players, not on any future potential or curren...
Katie Lanz lights the lamp from the service line against Naperville Central
St. Charles North's Kyla Lannert, Gigi Crescenzo, Ashley Bruns, Katie Lanz and Brigid McCarthy. And on the 14th point, St. Charles North rested.St. Charles North’s 5-11 senior setter/outside hitter Katie Lanz broke a 6-6 tie with a kill in Game 1 of the North Stars’ nonconference match Wednesday at Naperville Central, then proceeded to serve the next 17 points during a run that featured 12 aces.There really wasn’t much for her teammates to do except watch, wonder and wait for the return that never came.“You don’t have to do much,” St. Ch...
No. 5 Sandburg rallies to defeat No. 7 Mother McAuley
Sandburg's (left to right) Rachel DeFries, Rachel Krasowski, Shelby Stefanon and Erica Staunton. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com A 9-0 run ended a nine-year losing streak for the Sandburg girls‘ volleyball team. The Eagles entered Tuesday’s big match without a victory over Mother McAuley since 2009. To make matters worse for the home team, they are always reminded that McAuley had eliminated them from the postseason 10 times in a 12-year span between 2005-2016. But none of that mattered to this season’s Sandburg squad....
Williams, Newark turn back Hartsburg-Emden to win Class 1A championship
Newark's Madi Malone puts down one of her 11 kills during Saturday's Class 1A championship match at Redbird Arena. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – When Hartsburg-Emden tied the second set of Saturday’s Class 1A championship game at 23-23, Newark’s 6-foot freshman outside hitter Megan Williams was ready. “I knew I was going to have to go in for one more play,” Williams said. “I felt confident in myself and in the passes that Meggie (Scott) was having. I knew it was going to get up to Olivia (Nelson), then whether it was me or Mattie Chap...
Youth rules at St. Viator, Carmel; Teutopolis can play a little volleyball, too
St. Viator moves up to Class 4A after finishing fourth in 3A last fall. School: Arcola Conference: Little Okaw ValleyHead coach: Jill HohlbauchLast season’s highlights: 6-20 overall, 2-6 in conference, lost 25-19, 25-10 to Bement in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal.Top returnees: 6-0 senior middle hitter Olivia Key, 5-5 senior setter Gabby Becerra, 6-o sophomore middle hitter Hallee Gauna.Coach’s quote: “With more experience under our belt this year, we are hoping to improve on our overall record from last year.” Did you know? Fifteen of...
Muisenga, Benet roll in Wheaton North tournament openers
Romeoville's (left to right) Mackenzie Blizniak, Lexi Zajda, Crystal Galaviz, Alayna Rooks and Corinne Doty. Rachel Muisenga is a setter. Rachel Muisenga is a middle blocker. Rachel Muisenga was an all-tournament selection at the National Junior Classic hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center last spring and an all-Great Lakes 16 Super Open Power League choice.And oh, by the way, she’s going to Penn State … eventually. That’s not a bad resume for a 6-foot sophomore.Wednesday at the Blue & Gold Wheaton North Tournament, Muisenga p...
Sterling ‘golden’ against Joliet Catholic; Belleville Althoff passes Latin test
Defending state champion Belleville Althoff will face Sterling for the Class 3A state championship Saturday in Normal. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com NORMAL – Sterling entered the season believing this was its year. Now the Golden Warriors are one win away. The trio of Borum sisters – Josilyn, Breelyn and Brooklyn -- banged 32 kills, and the Gould sisters – Gretchen and Grace – chipped in with 5 kills of their own as Sterling rallied down the stretch of the first set and went onto a 27-25, 25-20 victory over Joliet Ca...
Marist ends Downers Grove North’s magical run, repeats as Class 4A champion
Marist's 6-2 junior Camryn Hannah had 7 kills as Marist won back-to-back Class 4A state titles Saturday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – Almost as much as it wanted a second consecutive Class 4A state championship for its volleyball team, the Marist fans wanted 5-foot-5 junior Tess Brennan. The diminutive defensive specialist didn’t disappoint. Inserted into the match to serve with Marist leading 22-11 in the second set, Brennan served out the match following consecutive hitting errors by Downers Grove North and a kill by 5-10 junior...
No. 2-ranked Sterling makes quick work of United Township
Sterling's Breelyn Borum, Lexi Rodriquez, Brooklyn Borum and Josilyn Borum. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSterling sophomore Breelyn Borum had a direct answer when asked about her teams goal this season.“To win state,” Borum said of the Class 3A title. “We're really playing together as a team and making our connections.”That's something Sterling has been doing all season. The Golden Warriors remained undefeated with a 25-8, 25-20 victory over (East Moline) United Township in a nonconference match Tuesday at Sterling.The Borum sister...
Marist’s practice makes almost perfect; Downers North’s remarkable run continues
Marist will defend its state championship Saturday after beating conference rival Benet 25-18, 25-15 in a Class 4A semifinal Friday. NORMAL -- This was not the same Marist team that lost to Benet 22-25, 25-22, 25-19 in an East Suburban Catholic Conference match in Lisle on October 16. “We’ve been practicing really hard these past three weeks,” said Marist coach Jordan Vidovic. “The girls were really motivated to improve and clean some things up. Tonight showed the kind of work we put in.” Marist (38-3) overcame an early 8-5...