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...
Sophomores Stiernagle, Tarnow lead Benet past Marist for Wheaton Classic title
Benet Academy won its 10th Wheaton Classic championship Saturday, defeating Marist, 25-20, 25-18. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere is some symmetry with Benet Academy winning its 10th Wheaton Classic championship while being led by a pair of 10th graders.While neither 6-1 sophomore setter Ellie Stiernagle nor 6-5 sophomore middle hitter Lynney Tarnow reaped all-tournament honors, both were instrumental in Benet Academy’s 25-20, 25-18 victory over previously unbeaten Marist in the Wheaton Classic championship match Saturday.T...
To be the G.O.A.T., you need a G.O.A.T., and Willowbrook has one
Calli Kenny (9) had 22 kills as Willowbrook ended a 10-game losing streak to Lyons Township dating back to 2007 Wednesday in LaGrange. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorCalli Kenny wants her final Willowbrook team to be the greatest Willowbrook team in program history.Helping your team snap a 10-game losing streak against a storied inter-conference rival that dates back to 2007 – and perhaps even further back since the history on the subject is a little sketchy – is a good way to start.The Marquette-bound setter/rightside hitter poun...
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...
St. Francis begins quest for No. 14, numbers up at Hiawatha; more ’23 previews
St. Francis' Anna Paquette (10)) is one of 10 seniors on the Spartans' roster for coach LIsa Ston and the defending IHSA Class 3A champions. (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 of Illinois State University in Normal. Here is nearly everything y...
Togetherness, intensity drive St. Francis to victory over visiting Glenbard East
Glenbard East's 6-4 junior rightside Danny Overlin (18) sat out Wednesday's loss at St. Francis after suffering a severe ankle sprain in a recent match against Naperville Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat drives St. Francis?Intensity, said 6-2 junior libero JT McCormick.“Intensity has always driven us,” McCormick said. “Whenever we’re up, whenever we’re loud, we tend to score the points that are necessary to win. When our intensity is up, so is our play.”Togetherness, said 6-5 junior setter Kyle Zedi...
Mmmm. Mother McAuley, Massac County, Metea Valley, and more ’23 previews
Metea Valley's Anna Murphy (10) and Camille Morrison (17) are among seven players back from last year's IHSA Class 4A sectional semifinalist. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinios girls high school volleyball season begins in earnest in less than seven 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 of Illinois State University in Normal.Today's preview includes an entertainin...
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....
Bullington, Marist take down McAuley; Benet pulls inside job on Glenbard West
The MVP of the Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North earlier this year, Marist's Bella Bullington lit up Mother McAuley to the tune of 25 kills Thursday in the RedHawks' 25-20, 24-26, 25-16 victory. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBella Bullington brought it. Did she ever.The 6-1 junior outside hitter put down a staggering 25 kills as Marist defeated Mother McAuley, 25-20, 24-26, 25-16, in the always intense neighborhood match before a raucous crowd Thursday on 99th and Pulaski.It was the f...
Lake Park sneaks past South Elgin in postseason warm-up for the two league champs
Lake Park finished the regular season with a 29-27, 27-25 victory over South Elgin on Wednesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s never too late to learn a valuable volleyball lesson.Lesson No. 1? Don’t ever give up.“The momentum we've had coming out of the last few games of the regular season, we just need to bring that into regionals,” said Lake Park’s 6-5 sophomore middle hitter Carter Gibbons. “We need to come out fighting, especially on our home court.”Lesson No. 2? Finish what you start.“We were in control in both games, but...