Mike Layne's Murphysboro team is part of a loaded Class 3A sectional field at Mascoutah. The 2018 IHSA Girls State Volleyball Tournament resumes Monday with 32 sectional semifinals in four classes. Here is a look at the various sectionals across Illinois: Class 4A Normal Community Supersectional At Bloomington Game 1, Monday, October 29, 5:30 p.m. – O’Fallon (30-7) vs. Edwardsville (23-12) Game 2, Monday, October 29, 6:30 p.m. – Bloomington (31-4) vs. Normal Community West (25-11) Game 3, Wednesday, October 31, 6:00 p.m. – win...
Downers Grove North ends 30-year drought at Bartlett supersectional
Downers Grove North beat St. Charles East 25-13, 25-17 Friday at Bartlett to earn its first state finals berth since 1988. A movie ticket cost $3.50. Postage stamps were 24 cents. The Dow Jones closed at 2,168. A former movie actor, Ronald Reagan, was president. And the first game under the lights was played at Wrigley Field. 1988. Yes, it’s been a long time since Downers Grove North advanced to the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals. How long? Head coach Mark Wasik was in fourth grade. “This is a group of girls who are s...
W-S-S prepares for one final run; can Lakes break odd-year habit?
Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg finished second in Class 1A last year, but the Stewardson-Strasburg school board voted not to renew the co-op with Windsor beyond the 2018-19 school year. School: BementConference: Little Okaw ValleyHead coach: Stephanie EcclesLast season’s highlights: 8-15 overall, 3-4 in conference, lost 25-13, 25-23 to top-seeded Broadlands (Heritage) in a Class 1A regional semifinal.Top returnees: 5-4 senior setter Tatum Auth (246 assists), 5-6 junior outside hitter Shelby Strack (67 kills, 344 digs).Top newcomers: 5-8 juni...
Sterling makes short work of Morton to reach first-ever state finals
Sterling advanced to the state finals for the first time by defeating Morton 25-12, 25-7 Friday. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com STERLING – Josi Borum waited for four years for this moment. It didn't disappoint the Sterling senior. Josi Borum teamed with her sophomore twin sisters Bree and Brooklyn Borum for 31 kills as the host Golden Warriors dominated in all areas in a 25-12, 25-7 victory over Morton before a packed house on Friday to capture the Sterling Class 3A Supersectional. The Golden Warriors (39-1) adva...
Benet eludes Bloomington in three sets to reach Class 4A Final Four
Bloomington gave No. 2 Benet all it could handle before bowing in the supersectional at Normal. By Randy Sharer Special to Illprepvb.com NORMAL — Momentum showed no loyalty in the Normal Community Class 4A Supersectional on Friday. First, No. 2 state-ranked (Lisle) Benet had more momentum than it could use in Game 1. Then Bloomington revealed its true talent in Game 2 before both teams turned Game 3 into a thriller. When the leather stopped flying, Benet had escaped with a 25-11, 22-25, 25-23 triumph. “Game 1 was a fluke,” said ...
Watch out for Waubonsie Valley; WW South, Orangeville improved
Waubonsie Valley, led by AAU All-American setter Melissa Walden, figures to be one of the top teams in the state this fall. School: Downers Grove NorthConference: West Suburban SilverHead coach: Mark Wasik Last season’s highlights: 27-13 overall, 6-0 in conference (conference champions), won Warrior Blast invite, won regional and sectional titles, lost 17-25, 25-16, 25-15 in Class 4A supersectional.Top returnees: 6-0 senior four-year outside hitter and St. Louis recruit Margaret Mahlke, 5-11 senior outsi...
Joliet Catholic defense erases third-set deficit, denies Normal U-High
Joliet Catholic is one step closer to its first trip to Redbird Arena since 2015 following Wednesday's sectional championship victory over Normal U-High. By Randy Sharer Special to Illprepvb.com COAL CITY - When it really needed to, Joliet Catholic repeatedly sent the ball back against Normal University High in the Coal City Class 3A Sectional championship match Wednesday. The resulting 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 victory for the Angels lifted their record to 26-13 while the Pioneers fell to 29-8. The outcome denied 2017 state third-place...
Decatur St. Teresa thwarts Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg’s bid to get back to Redbird
Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg, which finished second in Class 1A last year, lost Wednesday in the sectional finals at Effingham St. Anthony. By Zach Rainey Special to Illprepvb.com EFFINGHAM -- After spending the past 10 years in Class 2A and not winning a regional for the last three, Decatur St. Teresa is finding Class 1A to its liking. St. Teresa (27-10) defeated 2017 Class 1A runner-up Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg 25-13, 25-27, 25-14 Wednesday to win the Effingham St. Anthony Class 1A Sectional. “It's kind of been our M.O. al...
Piet, Herlihy help Lincoln-Way East dominate Brother Rice
Lincoln-Way East's Wil McPhillips, Ian Piet and Mike Herlihy By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com There's no holding back for the Lincoln-Way East boys volleyball team. In a battle of two of the top teams in the state, East totally dominated in a 25-18, 25-13 victory over Brother Rice on Wednesday, April 11 in Chicago. It was the second of a possible five meetings between the two powerhouse teams this season. They met in the third place match on Saturday, March 31 at the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic. There, East edg...
Doah’s block sends Marist past Marian Catholic … again
Defending state champion Marist defeated Marian Catholic for the third time this season Wednesday. By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com “The best feeling in the world.” It was for No. 1-ranked Marist and rightside hitter Katie Doah. The senior came off the bench to be in the front row at a crucial time and played her position to a tee in putting down the match-winning block. That put the finishing touch on Marist's 25-12, 25-23 victory over Marian Catholic in the championship of the Eisenhower Class 4A Sectional on Wednesda...