York features six seniors who have been on varsity since their sophomore year, (from left), Zach Brown, Owen Reifenrath, Luke Shorter, Jack Bute, Logan Rice and Jack Zitek. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDisappointing.That’s the word York’s 6-5 outside hitter and three-year veteran Jack Bute used to describe the season-ending losses the Dukes have suffered since he and five other seniors were elevated to the varsity as sophomores.Last year, York was the No. 3 seed in the Oswego sectional, but was upset by regional host and No. 14 ...
Jake Schreiner, Wheaton North turn back St. Francis’ furious third-set rally
Wheaton North improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 21-25, 25-20, 25-23 victory over visiting St. Francis on Wednesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWheaton North took a trip to Six Flags Great America without boarding a bus Wednesday.“That’s high school volleyball,” said Wheaton North’s 6-5 outside hitter Jake Schreiner. “There’s going to be ups and downs every single time. But the game is not supposed to be a roller coaster. You have to have the same energy the whole time.“I told the guys, you can’t fall into a divot when...
Silvers max out well, bring the hammer down to sweep Great Lakes Regional
Adversity G16 Adidas' (from left) Charlotte Kozak, Bella Potempa, Marin Thaxton and Audrey Schabes. https://youtu.be/JKxm7IvNlrg By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The great late comedian George Carlin once said, “Behind every silver lining, there’s a dark cloud.”Sunday at the 2024 Great Lakes Girls Regional Championships, however, behind every Silver lineup there was a pot of gold.1st Alliance 16 Silver defeated Adversity G16 Adidas, 25-22, 25-23, to win the 16 Open division, and 1st Alliance 15 Silver stopped Michio Chicago 15...
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 ...
How to improve your vertical jump and become a better hitter, blocker, server
There are a number of ways volleyball players can improve their vertical jumps and become a better attacker, blocker and server. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Volleyball requires a combination of speed, agility and power. One of the most important skills in volleyball is the ability to jump high, also known as vertical jump. A higher vertical jump can give you an advantage in hitting, blocking and serving.So how can you improve your vertical jump? Plyometric ExercisesPlyometric exercises are a great way to improve your vertical jump ...
Minooka puts practice to good use against Romeoville; Marist stops Benet win streak
Glenbard West sophomore middle hitter Kayla Street (11) skies for a kill durng the Hilltoppers' victory Tuesday over visiting Oak Park-River Forest. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThree of Minooka’s losses during a recent four-match losing streak were in three sets.But this three-set match was different. The Indians turned their fortunes around and got a big 14-25, 25-20, 25-22 victory over Romeoville in a key Southwest Prairie Conference matchup Tuesday in Minooka. Sophomores Brooklynne Brass ...
Near-flawless Barrington beats Lincoln-Way East to win Tiger Classic championship
Barrington's 6-11 junior and tournament MVP Cole Hartke had 9 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces to help the No. 2-seeded Broncos defeat top-seeded Lincoln-Way East, 25-18, 25-19, in the championship match of the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic Saturday in Wheaton. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington setter Carsten Wegh wasn’t sure what to expect Saturday.“We came in here and we didn't really expect to go too far,” he said. “We started the season rough, and Thursday (night in pool play) was ugly. We'd a...
Nine boys, five girls from Great Lakes Region named to national development team
Benet Academy sophomore Lynney Tarnow was one of five girls from the Great Lakes Region recently named to the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program roster. On the home page, New Trier's David Wolff was one of nine boys from the Great Lakes Region selected for the program. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) In 2021, USA Volleyball launched the National Team Development Program (NTDP). Under NTDP, young volleyball athletes who aspire to take the next step on their path to the podium have the opportunity to be identified, developed a...
Multi-talented Lincoln derails St. Ignatius; Benet, McAuley headed for 4A rematch
Lincoln's Alyssa Company slips a kill past St. Ignatius' Gabby Williams during the Railsplitters' Class 3A semifinal victory Friday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – The battle for supremacy between specialists and generalists in volleyball seemed to have been decided in the former group’s favor decades ago.Lincoln, however, continued to make a case in the Class 3A IHSA tournament semifinals at CEFCU Arena on Friday that multisport athletes have yet to surrender.With all-staters from other sports lend...
Oswego East starts anew, Newman gets bumped up to 2A; more ’23 previews
By virute of its fourth-place finish in Class 1A last fall, (Sterling) Newman Central Catholic was subject to the IHSA's 1.65 multiplier and will compete in the Class 2A tournament for the next two years. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The Illinios girls high school volleyball season begins in earnest in just a few days, 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 ...