Willowbrook coach Irene Mason said that having fun is one of the keys to her team's postseason success. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – So what do you do when you’re making your first trip to the IHSA girls volleyball semifinals?“Rest is a part of it,” said coach Irene Mason, who is taking Willowbrook to a place no team from Villa Park has gone before. “I want to make sure their bodies are rested. There's a lot of sickness out there. I want to make sure their bodies and minds are healthy and relaxed and...
Slow start, Normal West can’t stop McAuley; Willowbrook’s long wait is over
Willowbrook's Hannah Kenny (6) puts down a kill over the utstretched arms of Joliet West's Peyton Darguzis (18) and Brooke Schwall (12). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Falling behind 10-4 to open the Class 4A supersectional Friday at Normal Community might have rattled many teams beyond repair, but not Mother McAuley.The reigning state champion Mighty Macs mounted a 12-2 comeback that catapulted them to a 25-19, 25-21 victory over upset-minded Normal West in front of a capacity crowd.“It was shaky...
Anspaugh gets angry, rallies Rockford Christian past Aurora Central Catholic
Two days after Normal U-High lost to Metamora in the finals of the Bloomington Central Catholic Saints Fall Classic, the Pioneers (far court) turned the tables with a 15-25, 25-10, 25-10 victory Monday. (Files photo by Dave Ruggles). By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comRockford Christian sophomore Maddie Anspaugh was getting mad.No matter how many times she and her teammates swung, they could not break down Aurora Central Catholic’s stubborn defense.“At the beginning, I felt like I was struggling,” Anspaugh said. “I was in my own head,...
Deer Creek-Mackinaw stuns Tri-Valley; Sandburg’s streak lives; Oswego feasts
Oswego junior Mia Jorkovic had 7 kills and a pair of aces during the Panthers' 25-21, 25-19 regional win over Plainfield North on Thursday. ({hotos by Dave Ruggles) At ClintonCLINTON – The pre-match case against No. 6-seeded Deer Creek-Mackinaw knocking off top-seeded (Downs) Tri-Valley in Thursday’s Class 2A Clinton Regional final was substantial.The jury of fickle fate, however, deliberated less than an hour before declaring the unheralded Chiefs the winner, 25-22, 25-16.Evidently, it just didn’t matter that Deer Creek-Mackinaw had lost ...
Joliet West puts the clamps on Lockport; Willowbrook silences the doubters
Lockport's Haley Rak (3) soars to clear the block attempt by Joliet West's Peyton Darguzis (18) during the Tigers' sectional championship victory Wednesday at Oswego. Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith his team having an excellent first half of the season, Joliet West girls' volleyball coach Chris Lincoln had some prophetic words. "No coach is going to be upset at being 18-1," he said on September 26 following a close win over Minooka. "But we have to get every girl playing on the same level at the same tim...
Scheck, Glenbard West block Metea Valley; St. Francis, Deerfield advance in Class 3A
Gabby Piazza (7) and Joliet West advanced to the championship match of the IHSA Class 4A sectional at Oswego by slipping past Lincoln-Way West, 26-24, 25-23. On the homepage is Joliet West's Ava Grevengoed (1). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comST. CHARLES – Glenbard West middle hitter Breccan Scheck did more than just block Metea Valley’s best hitters.She broke them.Outside hitters Camille Morrison and Maddie Hopkins combined for 25 kills for third-seeded Metea Valley, but nearly all of that damage was done e...
Von Lehmden, Naperville Central complete sweep of Naperville North
Naperville North's Liz Rossi (15) equalled her jersey number in kills for the Huskies against rival Naperville Central on Wednesday, but the Redhawks prevailed on the scoreboard, 25-22, 25-23. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMaybe the worm is starting to turn.“I think it was four years since we’ve beaten them,” said Naperville Central coach Brie Isaacson. “They're so good all the time and we have to play multiple times in a season. They're still good today, and it's always a good, exciting match, but certainly ...
Providence Catholic says ‘Good Knight’ to De La Salle to win GCAC White title
Providence Catholic, which won the Silver division at the Oak Lawn tournament earlier this season, will add another plaque to its collection after defeating De La Salle on Thursday to win the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference White Division. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSay good Knight. Abbey Knight sure did.The sophomore outside hitter had a season-high 18 kills, and outside hitter Payton Mandac added 13 kills as Providence rallied for a 19-25, 25-22, 25-21 victory over De La Salle Thursday in New Lenox.With the win, the Celt...
How to mitigate one of the increasingly common injuries among volleyball athletes
Thr growth in popularity of girls volleyball, which has more than 460,000 participants in the United States alone, has also led to an increase in the number of specific injuries. Sometimes who is not able to compete in the IHSA girls’ volleyball tournament is as critical to a team’s success as who is. Injuries – ranging from tendonitis to stress fractures to ACL tears – has sidelined a number of Illinois’ best and brightest players during this year’s tournament. This article explores the causes of ACL injuries in girls’ volleyball, th...
Led by McAuley’s 135-match win streak, here are the top 20 in IHSA girls history
Montini Catholic won 35 consecutive matches during its dominating run to the IHSA Class 2A championshipo in 2021, and opened the 2022 season with a victory before seeing its 36-match win streak end. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Editor’s note: Our thanks to Brian Smith through whose extensive research these numbers were updated and verified. He is currently working on a list of programs that have achieved 1,000 victories. According to Smith, one such program that joined that list this fall is Pleasant Plains, which began the 2023 season, its 50...