Lockport's 6-1 sophomore middle blocker Jenna Kolosta (18) is greeted at the net by Lincoln-Way East's Hayven Smith (16) and Tamia Maddox (12) during the Crimson Classic championship match at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere was something about finishing last season only one game over .500 that didn’t sit well with Lincoln-Way East veterans Ava Nepkin and Jada James.“Going into last season, we all anticipated having a good year,” Nepkin said. “Unfortunately, it wasn't.”But ...
Powerhouse Normal U-High ready to home in on success, get back to Redbird
University High hopes an explosive offense can earn the team a trip to Redbird Arena, which is just seventh-tenths of a mile south of the school off Main Street in Normal. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Home buyers often look for places that are “move-in ready.”Likewise, volleyball fans of Class 3A state powerhouse University High School in Normal hope to watch an offense that won’t need renovation during or after its August 22 season-opener at Bloomington.“Our top strengths will be our setting and our offense,” says Mike ...
Lee-Caracci, with a little help from her friends, leads Lyons past Willowbrook
Willowbrook suffered its first loss of the 2022 season Wednesaday at the hands of visiting Lyons Township, 25-20, 12-25, 25-22. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe graduation of Tia Kostic and Adriana Vassek – who together accounted for more than 500 kills – from last year’s sectional semifinalist Lyons team put the burden of being “that” girl squarely on the shoulders of returning outside hitter Kamryn Lee-Caracci.So far, Lee-Caracci has shown that, boy, she can carry that weight a long time.Wednesday in Villa Park, Lee-Caracci slamm...
1st Alliance 17 Gold is No. 1 in nation; 16 Gold, Sky High 17 place second at USAVs
1st Alliance 17 Gold huddles on its way to winning the 17 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana – The Gold bracket of the 17 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship was a breeze for No. 1 seed 1st Alliance 17 Gold.Getting there? Well, that was a different story. After finishing second in its initial pool and losing to AZ REV 17 Premier (Phoenix, Arizona) 17-25, 25-19, 15-13, in its first match of a Round 2, three-team pool Sunday, 1st Al...
Metamora turns a few heads despite loss to Marist; young U-High seeks to improve
Kitty Sandt and Nazareth bounced back from a 25-21, 25-13 loss to Maine South with a 25-18, 25-18 victory over Providence Catholic to reach the Bronze bracket Saturday at the Plainfield North Crimson Classic. (File photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMetamora deserved a better fate Friday.The Redbirds, who return three starters from the team that opened last season with 27 consecutive victories and advanced to a Class 3A supersectional, found themselves on the other side of the net Friday against No. 2 seed Mar...
Nearly 80 girls from Illinois clubs named all-tournament at USAV, AAU nationals
Sports Perfromance 18 Kahl's Claire Simpson has some encouraging words for teammate and all-tournament selection Seiler Hruska (92) during the AAU tournament in Orlando. On the home page, Top Flight 17U Elite's Lauren Buxton of Pleasant Plains was an all-tournament selection in the 17 LIberty division at the USAV nationals in Indianapolis. Seventy-eight girls representing Illinois volleyball clubs were named to the all-tournament teams at the recently-concluded USAV and AAU national tournaments:2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship ...
Hinsdale Central pockets three of a kind, defeats Whitney Young in two
After losing three straight, Hinsdale Central won its third match in as many days Thursday by defeating Whitney Young in Hinsdale. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThree seems to be Hinsdale Central’s magic number so far this season – for better or worse.The Red Devils won their first three matches before losing three in a row.Now they’re back on track after winning their third game in as many days on Thursday.Outside hitters Erika Kalman and Ellie Henneman pounded 9 kills apiece and junior rightside Elizabeth Sessa landed 8 to lead t...
Forty-two boys representing Illinois clubs earn AAU all-tournament recognition
SPVB B18 Alpha's Britten Beallis (17) of Naperville North was named to the 18 Classic all-tournament team at the recently-concluded AAU boys' nationals in Orlando. SPVB B18 Bravo's Brannen Almarales of Downers Grove South (on the homepage) was named 18 Classic MVP. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Forty-two boys representing Illinois volleyball clubs were named to their respective division all-tournament teams at the recently-concluded AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida:2022 AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball...
Volleyball community mourns the passing of Benedictine coach Christian Staple
Christian Staple, the head men's volleyball coach Benedictine University and an assistant coach at Future Volleyball Club who previously served as a coach at Sports Performance VBC and McKendree University, passed away July 7 at he age of 31. The volleyball community and the Benedictine University family are mourning the loss of head men’s volleyball coach Christian Staple.Staple, 31, suffered a devastating stroke on Tuesday, July 5, and passed away two days later surrounded by loved ones.Staple was named the head coach at Benedictine U...
1st Alliance 15 Gold falls short in USAV title bid; HP Illinois is 11th in Freedom
1st Alliance 15 Gold finished fifth in the 15 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship in Indianapolis this week, falling to the eventual national champions in a Gold bracket quarterfinal. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Somebody should have told 1st Alliance 15 Gold that the shortest distance between two points in a straight line.Instead, 1st Alliance took a roundabout route to the championship bracket of the 15 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at the Indianapolis Convention Center this wee...