Setter Allison deFreese (3) gave Eureka 27 assists and 11 digs at Heyworth on Tuesday during a 25-19, 23-25, 25-12 Heart of Illinois Conference loss. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comHEYWORTH – It’s hard to say whether Heyworth’s free-swinging style caused Eureka to turn tentative or it was Eureka’s tentativeness that emboldened its host on Tuesday.Whatever the case – perhaps some of both – Heyworth knocked off Eureka, 25-19, 23-25, 25-12, behind senior Ava Riddle’s 28 assists, 14 digs and 2 aces.“I saw th...
From ‘Oh, it’s just Westville,’ to ‘Oh, no! It’s Westville!’
The Westville Tigers started the season with a bang, winning their own tournament without dropping a set. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere is a lot of joy in Westville these days.More may be on the way if Ella Miller and her teammates have their way.The Tigers, 11-0 following Thursday's 25-14, 25-16 victory over Vermilion Valley foe Hoopeston, are off to the fastest start in program history and are creating a buzz around Westville, a town of 3,120 just south of Danville and close to the Indiana state line.“It’s really exciting ...
Lincoln-Way West extends win streak to seven with late burst against Lemont
Keira O'Donnell had 18 kills, but it wasn't ewnough as Lemont lost to red-hot Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox on Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSince beginning varsity play in 2009, the Lincoln-Way West girls’ volleyball team has won exactly one regional title.That came in a Class 3A regional on their home floor in 2013 with a 23-25, 25-20, 25-22 victory over Illiana Christian. A decade later, the Warriors are putting themselves squarely in the conversation to compete for another regional championsh...
Life on the outside agrees with Oswego’s talented 6-1 junior Sidney Hamaker
Oswego junior Sidney Hamaker (13), shown here at last weekend's West Aurora round-robin, had 12 kills Tuesday to lead the Panrthers past host Waubonsie Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere are very few places – if any – on a volleyball court where Oswego’s 6-1 junior Sidney Hamaker doesn’t thrive.As a sophomore last year, Hamaker played middle hitter for her club’s top 18s team, which finished second at the AAU national championships in Orlando. But for the past two years, she’s played outsi...
Barrington bests Belvidere North at Jacobs; Joliet West exacts revenge at Fremd
Barringtion defeated Belvidere North, 25-13, 25-23, to win Saturday's Jacobs Invitational. At JacobsBarrington’s 5-foot-11 outside hitter Hope Regas, who plays beach volleyball during the summer with former Fillies teammate and neighbor Jessica Horwath, was inspired by Horwath to pursue a collegiate career in beach volleyball at Grand Canyon University.Saturday in Algonquin, Regas showed she could dazzle on a wood floor as well.Regas smashed 11 kills and added a block for good measure to lead Barrington (10-1 overall, 0-0 in the Mid-Su...
Normal U-High strongarms Rochester in early Central State Eight showdown
Normal University High sophomore Levyn Snow (5) helped her No. 2-state ranked team down No. 10 Rochester, 25-21, 25-17, on Thursday at Normal. Attempting to block were Rochester's Grace Jameson (11) and Charlotte Beatty (12). (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – In general, Rochester’s volleyball team knew where trouble was going to come from on Thursday.Knowing specifically where to place blockers and passers, however, against a team with as many weapons as Normal University High proved problematic as...
To be the G.O.A.T., you need a G.O.A.T., and Willowbrook has one
Calli Kenny (9) had 22 kills as Willowbrook ended a 10-game losing streak to Lyons Township dating back to 2007 Wednesday in LaGrange. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorCalli Kenny wants her final Willowbrook team to be the greatest Willowbrook team in program history.Helping your team snap a 10-game losing streak against a storied inter-conference rival that dates back to 2007 – and perhaps even further back since the history on the subject is a little sketchy – is a good way to start.The Marquette-bound setter/rightside hitter poun...
Naperville Central reaching for success in a much-changed environment
With four juniors playing key rolesy, Naperville Central improvd to 4-3 with a 25-21, 27-25 victory Tuesday over Downers Grove North. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNaperville Central was one of the most dominant large-school teams in Illinois from 1998 to 2007, winning eight regional titles, three sectional titles and making three appearances in the IHSA finals at Redbird Arena.The Redhawks won two IHSA championships during that period, claiming the Class AA title in 2005 behind Tara Hester, Jessica Yanz and Caitlin Staib, and the...
Bullington, Marist stop Oak Park-River Forest; McAuley ends St. Laurence’s run
Junior outside hitter Bella Bullington (2) had 12 kills in the championship match and was named MVP of the Mizuno Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and sponsored by Sports Performance VBC and Illprepvb.com. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Relentless.“Something that's so special about this group is that we’re all so mentally tough,” said Marist’s 6-1 junior outside hitter Bella Bullington in a rare quiet moment late Saturday afternoon at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. “We’ll get in those ruts, but it doesn't feel panicky....
Dulle, Downs Tri-Valley open season with win over Bloomington Central Catholic
Veteran coach Donna Dulle (in blue shirt) speaks to her Downs Tri-Valley volleyball team during a 25-11, 25-19 season-opening victory over visiting Bloomington Central Catholic on Thursday. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comDOWNS – Most volleyball teams coached by the legendary Donna Dulle are like picky restaurant guests … they send almost everything back.Such was the case again Thursday when Tri-Valley, ranked No. 6 in Class 2A by Illprepvb.com, returned more than enough of Bloomington Central Catholic’s ...