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 ...
St. Francis slips Lincoln for title No. 14; Knights (no, the other ones) win 2A crown
Shay McMillen digs a ball under the watchful eyes of coach Lisa Ston during St. Francis' victory over Lincoln in the IHSA Class 3A championship game, (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – In a battle between evenly matched powers in Saturday’s IHSA Class 3A Championship match, the seesaw of momentum ultimately tipped in favor of the team that could send the volleyball back most often – St. Francis.The Spartans, ranked No. 1 by Illprepvb.com, built a 90-78 advantage in digs to edge No. 4 Lincoln, 23-25...
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...
These girls are making a difference through their work ethic and their play
Benet Academy's Ellie Stiernagle is a threat as a setter and an attacker for SPVB 16 Elite. On the homepage is one of Stiernagle's club teammates, St. Charles North's Haley Burgdorf. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we continue our look at the players who are crushing on the court for their respective clubs:Tori Brents5-10, 8th grade, Setter/rightsideBalance 15 WhiteBrents is a homegrown Balance player who can do it all, said Balance VBC director Patty Langanis. “Tori runs a 6-2 and leads this team, e...
Glenbrook South ready to take its chances sans ’23 Player of the Year Shampine
Six-foot-4 outside hitter Kris Blumberg, who accounted for 224 kills as a junior, is one of several seniors back to boost Glenbrook South's bid to return to Hoffman Estates this spring. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo what are Glenbrook South’s chances of repeating last year’s near-flawless run to the IHSA quarterfinals?That depends on whether the Titans can compensate for the loss of Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Chance Shampine.Shampine led Glenbrook South (33-2) on its return to...
Illprepvb.com dusts off the crystal ball to peer into the ’24 girls’ high school season
Norris City-Omaha-Enfield's Hayden Knight (13) and the Cardinals were ambushed in an IHSA Class 1A supersectional by Effingham St. Anthony, but Jaclyn Melton's crew should be back in the championship hunt in 2024. (File photo by SDave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBefore the girls’ club season begins in earnest, it’s time to peer into the crystal ball and foretell which girls’ high school volleyball teams could make a run at the former Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena in the fall of ‘24.But first, some thoughts to ponder:Now that ...
Illprepvb’s Class 3A No. 2 Normal U-High sidesteps Class 2A No. 7 Breese Mater Dei
Breese Mater Dei's 6-foot-5 Alyssa Koerkenmeier (24) battled Normal University High's Rachel Ogunleye (9) and Isabella McKinney (2) at the net in Normal on Saturday. U-High went on to win, 25-19, 25-22. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Given the chance for a “do-over,” Breese Mater Dei coach Chad Rakers would have transported his team – which lost to Normal University High, 25-19, 25-22, on Saturday – back in time at least 18 hours.“I’d have driven up here last night and stayed in a hotel,” said Ra...
Presenting SPVB/Illprepvb.com’s list of the top 100 boys club players in Illinois
Ultimate VBC's Tyler Tharpe (Whitney Young) has only been playing volleyball for three years, but has been so impressive that he will be continuing his athletic and academic ccareer at Ohio State. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe top club teams from Illinois and throughout the United States will soon fly south to compete in the 2023 AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orange County, Florida, Saturday-Tuesday, July 1-4.We have compiled a list of th...
Great Lakes Regional Championship … what does it mean? Nothing. Everything.
Michio Chicago 15 National 's (from left) Malley Green, Luca Bombacino, Kyla Mitchell and Mikayla Marshall. https://youtu.be/VYIKGqz9szQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBid, lose or draw, they came with a purpose.The 15s and 16s age divisions took center stage this weekend to compete in the 2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park and Southland Complex in Lynwood.1st Alliance 16 Gold and 1st Alliance 15 Gold, the top cats in the 15/16 Open division of the Windy City Power Leagu...
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,...