Hinsdale Central's Jakobi Lange (left) had a match-high 14 kills, but it was not enough as Marist defeated the Red Devils in three sets Tuesday in Hinsdale. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLuke Brannigan got a second chance. This time, he put it away. Brannigan, a sophomore outside hitter, banged the match-winning kill as Marist scored the final 5 points and defeated Hinsdale Central, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, in a match between two of the state’s top teams Tuesday in Hinsdale.  “It felt pretty good, but I als...

Pleasant Plains' Sienna Hadley (15) tries to beat the double block of Montini's Sienna Skarda (15) and Isabel Evenson (10) during Saturday's Class 2A championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Class 2ABy Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Death, taxes (for all but most major U.S. corporations) and Montini winning the Class 2A championship Saturday at Redbird Arena.Inevitable.From the time the IHSA released the enrollment ranges for the various fall sports back in late summer, there was very little short of an act of the Almighty ...

Barrington defeated Lockport at the Andrew invite Saturday to improve to 12-0. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s 6-1 junior setter/opposite Jenna Meitzler knows when it’s coming.“The first five points (of a match) are really big for us, because if we go down during the first five points, we just let them run the next 10,” she said.So, when Lockport jumped out to a 5-1 lead in Game 1 of the championship match Saturday at Andrew, it was no surprise to Meitzler and her teammates to find themselves down 15-5 before Barrington c...

Downers Grove South (far court) will join the field Saturday at Springfest hosted by Glenbard East and featuring Glenbard West and Plainfield North. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe St. Laurence boys’ volleyball team is getting its kicks this season.Led by a couple of players who are used to using their feet in a sport, the host Vikings continued their nice start with a 25-18, 25-19 victory over Montini in a Chicago Catholic League Conference crossover matchup Thursday in Burbank. The hosts’ Thomas Suchec...

Plainfield North junior Lauren Jansen (11) hits past the block attempt of Benet's Anne Eschenbach (17) and Sam Buckley (11) during Monday's sectional semifinal at Oswego. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) At OswegoBy Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBenet had tradition, desire and grit on its side Monday.What the Redwings didn’t have was Ella Wrobel.Wrobel was an unstoppable force, ripping 19 kills to go with 13 service points and a career-best 6 aces, leading second-seeded Plainfield North past third-seeded Benet, 25-14, 18-25, 25-18, at the Cl...

Nazareth setter/outside hitter Kitty Sandt returns this fall hoping to leead the defending Class 3A champioons to another IHSA championship. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com begins a series listing some of the top players in Illinois expected to return to compete for their respective high schools this fall.The following are 100 of the state's best players regardless of graduation year, most of whom earned all-state honors in 2021 from either Illprepvb.com or another statewide publication. Later, we will be publishing lists of t...

Jared Byas had 7 kills as Lincoln-Way East defeated O'Fallon in an IHSA quarterfinal Friday at Hoffman Estates. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/wj6tTrxOdyQ By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJerry Moylan knows he has a great responsibility as the setter of the Lincoln-Way East volleyball team.His hitters make his job a lot easier.Moylan passed out 19 assists and the Griffins used a balanced attack to topple O'Fallon, 25-17, 25-23, in an IHSA quarterfinal match Friday at Hoffman Estates. Making its sixth state quarter...

Aquin will make its first appearance in the state semifinals at Redbird Arena after defeating Milford at the Willows Academy supersectional Friday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThink the powers that be will give the (Freeport) Aquin student body the day off from classes next Friday so they can attend the Class 1A semifinals at Redbird Arena in Normal?All 75 of them?Sixty-one if you subtract the 14 girls on the volleyball team. They made certain Friday that they'd be going.Aquin defeated Milford, 25-12, 25-14, on Friday to win the C...

Willowbrook continued its amazing run through the 2021 season Wednesday, defeating Wheaton Warrenville South, 19-25, 25-21, 27-25, at the Class 4A Bartlett Sectional. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe last point.When would it come?Who would it come from?How about the least likely person on the court?“I just felt like, ‘Should I do it?’” said Willowbrook’s 5-7 setter Katie Linnig. “I did it once in the beginning (of the match), but not toward the end. I thought, ‘We’re winning this game.’ I knew they weren’t going to get to it.“I b...

Liam O'Neill (14) had a pair of kills in the semifinal as Glenbard West defeated Libertyvillle, 25-21, 25-13, on its way to its fourth IHSA championship. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/1QfZHq8kMU4 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Glenbard West won the first of its three consecutive IHSA championships in 2015, 6-foot-5 middle hitter Parker Swartz contributed 7 kills, 3 digs and a block to the Hilltoppers’ 25-15, 25-13 victory over Vernon Hills in the title match.Meanwhile, the volleyball career of middle brother Ryan...