Junior Kalyn Brookbank had 15 kills, 1 block, 6 digs and 5 aces as Barrington defeated Wheaton Warrenville South, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, Monday in Warrenville. It was Barrington's 13th three-set match this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Stop by the concession stand. Pick up some popcorn, a slice of pizza and a cold drink. Talk to a few friends. Mingle in the hallway. Walk, don’t run, to the restroom. There’s no rush.Why?Because when Barrington plays volleyball, there’s a good chance that even if you mis...
Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week Kendall Kozak puts team’s interests first
Minooka's Kendall Kozak (6) has been a weapon for the Indians as both a setter and an attacker. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Minooka setter/opposite hitter Kendall Kozak may not join the 1,000 kills-1,000 assists club for her career, but there’s no denying the contributions she has made to the Indians’ program since joining the varsity as a sophomore. Last week, the 5-10 senior registered her 1,000th career assist as Minooka defeated Romeoville, 25-15, 25-20, to remain atop the Southwest Prairi...
Assumption refuses to yield to McAuley; Glenbrook North wins own tournament
Cayla Prohaska had 20 klls in Saturday's championship match of the ASICS Challenge, but Assumption took the title, 17-25, 31-29, 25-17. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMother McAuley had not one, not two, not three … but six chances to win the ASICS Challenge on the south side Saturday.Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky) just refused to go away.The Rockets fought off six match points in the second set, the last trailing 29-28, then went on an 8-1 run leading 16-15 late in the third to defeat the Mighty Macs, 17-...
St. Charles North squanders a pair of big leads, but holds on to beat St. Francis
Haley Burgdorf (23) and her St. Charles North teammates built a pair of big leads, then held on to defeat visiting St. Francis, 25-18, 25-22, on Wednesday. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo how did Haley Burgdorf spend much of her Wednesday?“Raw-dogging,”’ she said.The St. Charles North senior class was given the day off from school Wednesday while others in the building were testing. The disruption of their routine clearly threw the North Stars off their game Wednesday against visiting St. Francis.Althou...
Downers South focuses on ‘involving;’ young Willowbrook emphasizes ‘evolving’
Downers Grove South coach Madisen Babich ran players in and out during the second set of the Mustangs' match Tuesday at Willowbrook, giving her bench extensive playing time in her team's 25-10, 25-18 sweep. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDowners Grove South coach Madisen Babich looked down her bench after the first set of Tuesday’s game with Willowbrook in Villa Park and knew what she had to do.“These girls are teenagers,” Babich said. “They're full of emotion. So, when you beat a team 25-10 and you look down...
Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week Kolby Ross leading Griffins’ resurgence
Even as a freshman last season, Kolby Ross (7) was making an impact for a team that went 32-6, went unbeaten in the Southwest Suburban Conference and advanced to a Class 4A sectional semifinal before losing to eventual IHSA champion Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThis is hardly the season Lincoln-Way East coach Sean Burns envisioned in early August.Expected to feature two of the top outside hitters in Illinois – Indiana recruit Alaina Pollard and 5-9 sophomore Kolby Ross – the Griffins were pick...
You can throw the records out when Naperville North, Central get together
After serving as an assistant under former Naperville North head coach Jen Urban, Nate Bornancin, who previously served as the boys head coach, took over the girtls program this fall. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere’s a tired old cliché in sports that when certain teams meet, you can throw the records out.Except in Naperville, it’s not a cliché, it’s gospel.Naperville Central, hovering around the .500 mark this season, built leads of 16-9 and 22-15 in the first set of its DuPage Valley Conference mat...
Mother McAuley turns to a freshman to turn back Marist in south side slugfest
Peyton Heatherly and Mother McAuley, who defeated Marist on the road last year on September 26, turned the trick again Wednesday, besting the RedHawks, 25-17, 19-25, 25-22, in front of a packed house on 99th and Pulaski. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comChyla Jukes had never played in a volleyball match against Marist.The Mother McAuley freshman middle blocker sure didn't act like it.Jukes jolted 9 kills and added 4 blocks, with many of them at key times, and outside hitter Cayla Prohaska pounded 14 ki...
Normal U-High overpowers Rochester in Central State Eight Conference showdown
Normal University High School outside hitter Laney Snow (18) controlled the net against Rochester's Cami Berberet (12) and Cami Tinder (2) on Tuesday in Normal. U-High went on to win, 25-13, 25-12. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – This is the sort of volleyball season where the third-place team in the Central State Eight Conference could still win a state championship.In fact, no one should rule out the league possibly winning more than one title.At least Rochester, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A by Illprepv...
Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week Brooklynn Brass does it all for Benet
The MVP of the Wheaton Classic, Benet Academy's Brooklynn Brass (5) had 8 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces and an assist during the Redwings' win over Downers Grove North in the championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“One more, coach. One more.”“Brook …. stop,” the coach replies.Benet Academy’s 5-11 outside hitter and University of Maryland recruit Brooklynn Brass relentlessly pleads with head coach Brad Baker to allow her to put down just one more ball during hitting drills at practice. “I tel...