Normal West's Ellie Rink (9) notched 9 kills against Normal University High, but it wasn't enough as Jozey Bossingham (20) and Isabella McKinney (right) helped the Pioneers win, 25-20, 27-25, en route to the Intercity Tournament title at Normal West on Monday. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Normal University High produced points from sources both expected and unexpected on Monday to down Normal West en route to winning the 44th annual Bloomington-Normal Intercity Tournament at Normal West.“It’s...
Spoken nearly 60 years ago, Jack Weinberg’s words still reverberate today
Lemont, which had perhaps its best chance to make its first-ever appearance in the IHSA finals since the program was established, was sidelined not by another team, but by the failure and vindictiveness of adults. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOK, I admit it. I was part of the “Don't trust anyone over 30” generation.Jack Weinberg, a student activist at the University of California-Berkeley during the turbulent 1960s who is credited with authoring the phrase, made a few more converts this week.Tuesday, the Illinois High Schoo...
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...
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 ...
Shorthanded by illness, Oak Lawn still leaves Evergreen Park feeling blue
Evergreen Park, which features six sophomores, lost to Oak Lawn for the second time in three days Tuesday, this time in a South Suburban Conference clash. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comA makeshift lineup proved to be no problem for Oak Lawn.With two starters out due to illness, the Spartans had players step up -- including sophomore Maryam Hussein in a new position -- as they cruised to a 25-11, 25-11 victory over Evergreen Park in a South Suburban Conference matchup Tuesday in Oak Lawn.Hussein, who is usually a rightside hitt...
Who are Illinois’ winningest girls high school coaches? Here’s an updated list
Mother McAuley coach and Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Hall of Fame member Jen DeJarld joined the 600-win club this season. (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 50th, with 999 wins, 478 losses and one tie.(updated, 12:40 p.m., Wednes...
Benet passes Mother McAuley at Autumnfest; Metamora aces U-High final
Mother McAuley's Ellie White (8) had 11 kills in the championship match against Benet Academy and became one of the top 10 attackers in IHSA history during Autumnfest at Glenbard East. (Photo by Dave Ruiggles). At Glenbard EastPerhaps it was ironic that the MVP of the Glenbard East Autumnfest tournament was a libero who ended the championship match with an ace.Benet Academy’s 5-8 junior libero Aniya Warren, better known for her prowess while roaming the backcourt, sealed the Redwings’ 25-22, 25-22 victory over Mother McAuley with an a...
Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com present fifty-four fabulous freshmen
Crystal Lake South's freshman outside hitter Bobbi Wire (16) goes up for a kill against a pair of Huntley defenders. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) y Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s hard to imagine any freshman class having the impact on their varsity teams the way the Class of 2026 had one year ago.That class of freshmen included St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf, Benet Academy’s Lynney Tarnow, Marist’s Elayna Davidson, Lincoln-Way East’s Maggie Simon, Geneseo’s Lizzie Rapps, St. Thomas More’s Cassidy Monahan, Normal U-High’s...
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...