One of the best liberos in the country, Benet Academy's Aniya Warren was named the MVP of every tournament in which the Redwings competed this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls First, Second and Third All-State Volleyball Teams. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future pote...
Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb Girls Special Mention All-State Team
Rock Falls' libero Carlie Kobbeman set a new single-season school record with 385 digs for the IHSA Class 2A third-place Rockets. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls Special Mention All-State Volleyball Team. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment ...
The game’s afoot. The IHSA girls volleyball season comes to a head this weekend
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...
Fast-growing Hybrid Advantage taps into rich talent pool on the southwest side
Hybrid Advantage 161 finished 33rd in the 16 Open division at the 50th AAU Boys National Volleyball Championship last summer in Orlando, Florida, the first year of the club's existence. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLate last summer, the Nebraska women’s volleyball team drew more than 92,000 fans to Memorial Stadium to watch the Huskers play the University of Nebraska-Omaha.But the concept of playing a volleyball match outdoors at a football stadium may not have originated with Nebraska.At least that’s Brandon McGinnis’ stor...
Mastery of the moment makes McAuley’s Ellie White choice for Player of the Year
Elllie White and Mother McAuley finished second at Autumnfest at Glenbard East, where they defeated Barrington, 25-18, 25-23, in the semifinals before losing to Benet Academy in the championship match, 25-22, 25-22. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe power Mother McAuley’s Ellie White often unleashes with her right arm is a sight to behold.But that’s not the skill that sets the 5-foot-11 outside hitter apart from every other player in the state.No, it’s her consistency. White was like a human metro...
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...
Sterling’s Lexi Rodriguez, St. Thomas More’s Caroline Kerr named AVCA All-Americans
Former St. Thomas More star Colleen Kerr (right) was named a second-team Division I All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Two Illinois products were among the 42 players named to the 42nd annual All-America teams for NCAA Division I women’s volleyball announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.The 2023 class, which features 14 players on the first, second and third teams, represents 23 schools. Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Texas each had two players on the first tea...
McAuley’s White joins a list of ‘Player of the Year’ honorees that dates back to 1982
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2022 Player of the Year Lucy Ardnt of Aquin Catholic (left) currently leads Southeast Missouri State University (20-8 overall) in kills with 392. (Photo courtesy of Southeast Missouri State University Athletics) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDid you know that girls were not permitted to participate in interscholastic volleyball contests until 1973?Then during the 1974-75 school year, the IHSA sponsored its first volleyball tournament at Lantz Gymnasium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University....
Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb Girls Honorable Mention All-State Team
Cissna Park sophomore Addison Lucht (9) turned some heads at Redbird Arena during the IHSA Class 2A tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls Honorable Mention All-State Volleyball Team. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment status. These p...
Icing on the cake: Mother McAuley beats Benet to win IHSA championship No. 17
Benet Academy junior outside hitter Audrey Asleson (7) had a team-high 17 kills in the IHSA Class 4A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL -- Icing on the cake. Cherry on top.“Just coming back from last year, we knew we had a target on our back,” said Mother McAuley’s 5-11 outside hitter Ellie White. “Our goal the entire season has been to get back down here. This is just icing on the cake. Cherry on top.“Nothing is given,” added the Michigan-bound senior. “As ...