Hope Huizenga (6) had 5 kills as Timothy Christian defeated Chicago Christian Tuesday in Palos Heights. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAbby Vander Wal would make any team better.The 6-foot-3-inch junior outside hitter was named the tournament MVP in helping to lead the USA Girls U19 National Team to the World Championship last month in Osijek, Croatia. As an encore, she joined the USA Girls U21 National Team at the end of August and helped the team to a sixth-place finish in the world at the finals i...
Downers South eyes another postseason run; key injury clouds Morton’s future
Morton sophomore Luisangel Cortes-Curiel (3) tries to slip a kill past the outstretched arms of Downers Grove South's Mason Kolar (5) and Nick Koch (15). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Our sectional,” said Downers Grove South coach Kurt Steuer. “Our sectional … ““It’s tough anywhere,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re seeded. But it is what it is. You got to go out and play.”Downers Grove South’s 25-12, 25-16 victory over Morton on Tuesday was almost inconsequential in the bigger picture, although So...
Reavis closes in on SSC Red title; OPRF rally leaves Downers North feeling sick
Downers Grove North's Theo Pawlik (6) had 16 kills, but Oak Park-River Forest rallied to defeat the Trojans in three sets Tuesday in Downers Grove. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) At ReavisFor Reavis, the prospect of winning the Red Division of the South Suburban Conference is, well … scary.‘Trying to win the conference is terrifying,” said Reavis sophomore outside hitter Joey Walus. “Every team wants to beat us, but we're not going to allow it.”True to his word, Walus smashed the match-winning kill as Reavis held off visiting Richards, 25-19...
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 ...
Lockport’s young guns stun Lincoln-Way East: Lyons, Levinson stop Glenbard East
Lyons Township defeated Glenbard East on Thursday to win the regional at Naperville Central. https://youtu.be/IlDZBeCjmGY At LockportIt’s not next year. The time is now for the Lockport boys' volleyball team.Without a single senior starter, many pundits thought the Porters were a year away from making a big playoff push. Instead, they went out and rallied for a 19-25, 25-20, 25-21 win over top-seed Lincoln-Way East in Thursday’s title match of the Lockport Regional.After winning just three regional titles between 1993 and 2017, Lockpo...
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...
Lyons solves mystery of Red Devils history; Downers North, Lincoln-Way West win
Hinsdale Central (far court), which defeated Lyons Township during the regular season and in last year's sectional semifinals, could not pull of the feat again Saturday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) At OswegoLyons Township stars Sam Levinson and Luka Kostic claim they don’t dwell on the past.But they aren’t above using history to fuel their fire.Levinson smashed 9 kills and Kostic landed eight more as the top-seeded Lions knocked off rival Hinsdale Central, 25-21, 25-20, in the Oswego Sectional semifinals on Saturday.The victory avenged a ...
SPVB 18 Elite’s journey to AAU title game is its own reward; Kahl finishes third
A key injury early in its semifinal match stalled SPVB 18 Kahl's drive to the 18 Premier chamionship game at the 50th AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorORLANDO, Florida – Sometimes it’s about the journey, not the destination.SPVB 18 Elite, seeking its first national title since 2018 when it defeated Munciana 18 Samurai twice in 24 hours, lost to its neighbors from across the border Saturday in the championship match of the 18 Open division at the 50th annual AAU Girls Natio...
There’s no stopping SPVB 18 Red, which wins its third straight AAU championship
Eastside Volleyball 18U Ninjas finished third in the 18 Club division at the 50th AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorORLANDO, Florida – “Someone stop me. Oh, someone please, just try and stop me.” – Katharine Hepburn in the 1938 movie classic, “Holiday,” with Cary Grant.There must be something to this red(head) mystique.Seeded fifth in the field of 58 teams, Sports Performance 18 Red won its third consecutive national championship, defeating Mill City 18s (Lowell, Massachusetts), 25-...
Will Aquin dance again? IC Prep has unfinished business; more ’23 previews
IC Catholic Prep libero Alyssa lLawton (2) chases down a deep volley during the Knights' 2022 IHSA Class 2A championship match against Genoa-Kingston. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinios girls high school volleyball season begins in earnest in a little more than a week, and today Illprepvb.com continues its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.So, here are some fac...