Benet has been knocked out in the regional each of the past two years. But the Redwings have the tools to end that streak in 2018. Who’s No. 1? Who’s No. 2? Who will hoist the championship trophy at Hoffman Estates on June 2? Will Glenbard West four-peat? Will a Lincoln-Way score break the Hilltoppers’ stranglehold? Will Brother Rice finally break through? Today, Illprepvb.com looks at 25 of the best boys volleyball teams in Illinois. 2018 Illprepvb.com Top 25 Boys Volleyball Teams 1. Lincoln-Way East (34-8)Ian Piet, Michael He...
Marian Catholic rallies to defeat Downers Grove North
Downers Grove North's Elizabeth Dunlap, Margaret Mahlke, Jade Casper and Maddie DeGiorgio. Marian Catholic is sporting a spattering of new faces this season, like 5-foot-7 sophomore setter London Hatch, 5-9 freshman outside hitter Jordan Walker and 6-0 sophomore middle hitter Nnedi Okabuonye.So it’s not surprising that the Spartans leaned on a couple of old reliables to push past Downers Grove North in both teams’ season opener Tuesday in Downers Grove.Five-foot-10 senior outside hitter Lauren Hatch had 15 kills and 4 aces, and 6-2 senior ...
Kingsfield, Montini’s veterans turn back inexperienced Lincoln-Way East
Lincoln-Way East's (from left) Kaleigh Ritter, Nicki Bechtold, Molly Skoda, Jess Pappas and Hannah Kowalczyk. There’s no substitute for experience, especially when you’re using three freshmen to fill in at spots where you graduated some key personnel. Montini leaned on its veterans – 5-foot-11 middle hitter Johanna Kingsfield, outside hitter Caitlyn Meeks, defensive specialist Maddie Pickering and libero Joslyn Boyer – to surprise visiting Lincoln-Way East Monday in Lombard. Kingsfield had 7 kills and 4 blocks, Meeks had 7 kills and 2 ac...
Montini has chip on shoulder; constant effort key for Cogs
Lincoln-Way East coach Kris Fiore, talking to his team at last year's Plainfield North tournament, must replace eight seniors including three Division I players. Illprepvb.com continues its coverage of the 2018 Illinois girls high school season with another set of team previews. School: Abingdon-AvonConference: PrairielandHead coach: Cindy Powell Last season’s highlights: 10-17 overall, lost 25-21, 25-14 to Illini West in Class 2A regional semifinal. Top returnees: 5-10 junior outside hitter Payton Florine (221 kills, 62 aces, 205 ...
Fifth-ranked IL HPSTL 18 Elite breaks through at Mideast qualifier
Edwardsville's Rachel Pranger and her IL HPSTL 18 Elite teammates earned a bid to the USAV Junior Nationals at the Mideast Qualifier last weekend in Indianapolis. Fifth-ranked IL HPSTL 18 Elite went 10-0 in the 73-team 18 USA division at last weekend’s 18 Nike Mideast Qualifier (16-18s) at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, to earn a bid to the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships June 25-July 4 in Detroit, Michigan. Unranked 1st Alliance 17 White won the 17 American division at the Mideast Qualifier t...
Lockport Regional Championship
By Randy Whalen Anthony Pfeiffer waited his entire four-year varsity career for this moment. In the end it was every bit as good as he imagined. From his opposite side hitter/setter position, Pfeiffer pounded a match-high 14 kills and added 12 assists and 6 digs as Lockport Township captured its first regional title in 14 years with a hard fought 31-29, 25-19 victory over rival Sandburg on Wednesday in the title match of the Lockport Regional at the Lockport Central campus. The regional cha...
SPVB 18 Elite stuns Munciana Samurai twice, wins national AAU title
Author Alan Lewis once said, “If at first you don’t succeed, get a bigger hammer.” Sports Performance 18 Elite didn’t get a bigger hammer. It got a pile driver. After snapping Asics Munciana 18 Samurai’s 56-match winning streak in Round 3 of Gold pool play on Wednesday, the crew from Aurora beat the defending national AAU champions a second time 24 hours later, 25-23, 12-25, 15-11, to win the 18 Open division championship of the 45th AAU Boys and Girls Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida. This after SPVB 1...
Nazareth survives ‘chaos’ to best St. Charles North at Harvest Fest
Nazareth defeated St. Charles North to win Harvest Fest despite losing middle hitter Leilani Dodson (second from left) to an ankle injury late in the second set of the championship match. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com Chaos. The Nazareth volleyball team prepared itself for a chaotic moment all season long. When it happened, the Roadrunners were ready. With one of their top players, junior middle hitter Leilani Dodson, on the bench with her left ankle on ice and elevated for the third set, the Roadrunners didn't flinc...
MVP Jakubowski can’t explain it, but Huntley rallies to win Autumnfest
Huntley celebrates its championship Saturday at Autumnfest hosted by Glenbard East. Taylor Jakubowski couldn’t explain it. “I don't even know what happened,” said Huntley’s 5-foot-7 junior setter. “We started playing our game. We started picking up balls a little more, started running a faster offense, and we started putting balls away. And our serving was phenomenal, which got us back.” Huntley looked dead in the water Saturday in Game 1 of the championship match against Benet at Autumnfest hosted by Glenbard East. A kill by Bene...
SPVB 18 Alpha wins USA division; Ultimate 17 Gold, Adversity 16 Purple take second at BJNC
18 USA division champions SPVB 18 Alpha went 9-2 and won the 18 USA division of the 2018 USAV Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the Aurora-based club's first boys title at BJNCs. "(Head coach Victoria Vandeleur) and I both wore pink pants," joked assistant coach Susie Nelson. "I think that's what clinched it." Team members are Edward Jakubauskas, Parker Nelson, Jakub Migus, Cameron Menini, Matthew Russo, John Kenny, Petar Lumovic, Jeremy Cardenas, Ryan Swartz, Matthew Nealon, John Davis and Andr...