Genoa-Kingston's Alayna Pierce (16) and the Cogs are preparing to defend their IHSA Class 2A championship, but they will face stiff competition from teams like IC Catholic Prep, Fairfield and Timothy Christian. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinois girls high school volleyball season is underway this week with the start of practice, 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 ...

Marist won IHSA Class 4A championships in 2017 and 2018, and Kamryn Chaney (23) hopes to lead the RedHawks to a third title before moving on to Princeton in the fall of 2023. On the cover, Aquin's Lucy Arndt is Southeast Missouri State-bound next fall, but not before she hopes to lead the Bulldgos to a second consecutive Class 1A semifinal appearance. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The IHSA tournament kicks off Monday, and it’s the last time hundreds of seniors throughout the state will don their high s...

Benet Academy rolled out a few dfferent lineups Wednesday in the opening round of the Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational, but won both of its matches against Kaneland and West Aurora. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSetters playing outside. Middles playing rightside. So many substitutions you needed a GPS tracker to keep pace.Simply put, to quote one of the greatest movie lines of all time, it was, “Madness.”“We thought we had a lineup, but then we had an injury, so now we've had a few days to try to mix and match a little...

Hersey captured the title of its siix-team round robin turnament Saturday while awaiting word on the future of 6-1 outside hitter Claie Van den herik (8). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNever bet against Hersey’s Claire van den Herik.Van den Herik, a 6-1 outside hitter, was poised to make a triumphant return to the court this fall after an ACL tear to her left knee during a summer league game prior to last season robbed her of her junior year.“I went up (for a kill), then all of a sudden when I came down, I heard a pop,” van den Her...

Illini Elite 15 Cardinal, which finished second at the JVA World Challenge in mid-April, has its sights set on winning a national championship in Orlando. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIllini Elite 15 Cardinal coach Kyle Caldwell is not ready for the club season to end.“I’m not ready,” he said. “This group is a lot of fun. They're good kids. They work hard. They’re everything you ask for in a team.”But end it must, either at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior 14s-17s National Championship at McCormick Place, June 28-July 6, or the 2023 AAU ...

Oswego junior Sidney Hamaker (13), shown here at last weekend's West Aurora round-robin, had 12 kills Tuesday to lead the Panrthers past host Waubonsie Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles)  By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere are very few places – if any – on a volleyball court where Oswego’s 6-1 junior Sidney Hamaker doesn’t thrive.As a sophomore last year, Hamaker played middle hitter for her club’s top 18s team, which finished second at the AAU national championships in Orlando. But for the past two years, she’s played outsi...

Parker Moorhead (12) had 8 kills, including the final two of the match, as Glenbard West defeated Marist for the second time this season, 26-24, 25-23, Thursday in Glen Ellyn. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorGlenbard West’s Parker Moorhead loves watching game film.“I always love watching film,” he said. “I like watching myself. I can't lie. This was just so much fun. I’ll probably watch this like 10 or 12 times.”Moorhead will particularly enjoy watching the final two points of Thursday’s match against ...

Joey Glennon (14) and Lincoln-Way East went 2-0 at the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic on Thursday. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe top seeds were dropping like flies Thursday on day one of the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic.Sets, not matches.Top-seeded Lincoln-Way East (10-1) was the only one of the four top seeds in action Thursday to avoid dropping a set, sweeping Oswego, 25-17, 25-20, and St. Charles North, 25-18, 25-16, to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals beginning at 9:00 a.m....

Oak Park-River Forest, led by Grace Nelson (11) and Kinsey Smith (4), won the York summer league tournament Monday. https://youtu.be/qerVsnXPrUo By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s only summer, but …The Oak Park-River Forest redemption tour began in earnest Monday night.“The girls were disappointed with their with their finish last season,” said Oak Park-River Forest coach Kelly Collins, whose 27-10 team was defeated by Mother McAuley, 25-15, 25-15, in a sectional semifinal at Lyons Township a little more than 15 months ago.“The...

Addison Horner (8), Abby VanderWal (on home page) and 1st Alliance 16 Gold are favored to bring hme a national championship from the USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNeed something to do for the next few weeks? The top girls club teams from Illinois will either fly east down the Eisenhower or southeast via Southwest to compete in the 2023 USAV Girls Junior 14s-17s National Championship at McCormick Place, June 28-July 6, or the 2023 AAU Girls Junior...