Marist's Elise Ward (shown here at last weekend's Wheaton Classic), had 10 kills to help the RedHawks take down previously-unbeaten Mother McAuley on Thursday (Photo by Dave Ruggles). On the home page, Tri-Valley's Emma Witte (12) and Hailey Warfel (9) put up a wall during a 25-22, 25-20 win over visiting Fieldcrest and Kate White (3) at Downs on Thursday. (Photo by Randy Sharer) Marist, hosting its archrival for the first time in four years, came out focused and didn't disappoint its huge home crowd Thursday.Outside hitter Kamryn Chaney c...
Lincoln continues impressive program overhaul with win at Bloomington
Kloe Froebe (5) blasted 10 kills for No. 6 Lincoln during a 25-11, 25-13 victory at Bloomington on Thursday. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBLOOMINGTON – Lincoln’s remarkable rebuild continued unabated during a 25-11, 25-13 victory over Bloomington in a nonconference match at the Robert Frank Sports Complex on Thursday.The regular season finale left the Railsplitters, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by Illprepvb.com, with a 28-6 record and an increasingly foggy memory of their recent struggles.Between 2018 to...
Everyone wins (and loses) at Rochester; Normal West upsets U-High at Intercity
Rochester's Emma Dixon (9) and Ellie Gegen (16) and Quincy Notre Dame's Abbey Schreacke (14), Emma Hoing (6) and Annie Eaton (4) were part of a triangular mini-tournament at Rochester on Saturday that also featured Metamora. All three teams went 1-1. Metamora and Quincy Notre Dame captains and coaches meet before their match at Rochester on Saturday. ROCHESTER –Metamora defeated Rochester. Rochester defeated Quincy Notre Dame. Quincy Notre Dame defeated Metamora.Each team won, and each team lost at the three-team mini-tournament hoste...
Nazareth reaches second consecutive Class 3A title game, will face St. Francis
St. Francis' Emily Risley tries to get around the block of a pair of Taylorville defenders during Friday's Class 3A semifinal. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Not many high school athletes get to play for a state championship. Olivia Austin will play for her third in a year's time. Austin, a junior middle/opposite side hitter, had 6 kills in helping Nazareth to advance to the championship title match for the second straight season with a 25-19, 25-13 victory over Taylorville in the second...
Sky High Adidas 18 Elite claims Windy City Power League championship
Sky High Adidas 18 Elite clinched the Windy City Power League title by defeating Fusion 18 Silver early Sunday at the UNO Volleyball Center in Joliet. https://youtu.be/s51HnJnqF9A By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorPerseverance. Intelligence. Togetherness.Those are the elements that catapulted Sky High Adidas 18 Elite to the Windy City Power League championship Sunday at the UNO Volleyball Center in Joliet.“It's been crazy,” said Sky High Adidas 18 Elite setter and Wake Forest recruit Rian Baker (Fremd), one of only two Division I-b...
Downers Grove South passes chemistry test, erases early deficit to beat WW South
Wheaton Warrenville South's 2022 debut was spoiled by Downers Grove South, 25-12, 25-15, Monday in Wheaton. https://youtu.be/NGFUbtzNxo8 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMatthew Molnar, meet Colin Mason. Colin Mason, meet Mason Kolar. Mason Kolar, meet Nick Koch.Downers Grove South is no different than any other team at this time of the season. It’s a matter of getting reacquainted with each other after playing for five or six months with a different group of guys. That’s certainly true of the Mustangs.“We just have to build our t...
Huntley doesn't panic, races past previously unbeaten Barrington
Barrington's Berkeley Ploder (No. 10 shown here at Redbird Arena last fall) ended a marathon second set with a block Wednesday, but the 6-2 junior and her teammates eventually succumbed to Huntley in the third set. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Huntley's Allyson Panzloff By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHuntley coach Karen Naymola admitted she was tempted to call a timeout with her team trailing 11-6 in the third set of its nonconference match Wednesday at Barrington.“I didn't take the timeout,” she said. “I didn't want to use one right a...
Showdowns are set: Glenbard West vs. Barrington, Marist vs. Lincoln-Way East
Downers Grove South's Matt Molnar and the Mustangs advanced to the sectional final at Hinsdale Central against the host Red Devils by defeating Oswego on Saturday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen preparing his remarks for the team’s banquet last week, Barrington coach Charlie Spry asked outside hitter Jack O’Riordan about his favorite memory from the 6-foot-8 senior’s four years in the program.“He said his favorite memory was going to the state tournament as a freshman and watching the varsity play,” Spry...
Maine West reaches heights not heard of since Jordan's second coming with the Bulls
Maine West honored its nine seniors before Tuesday's game against visiting Maine East. The Warriors' 22-25, 25-26, 25-17 victory was the team's 24th of the season, tying the school record set in 1995. https://youtu.be/OVrNPGczPFc By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor1995. A year to remember.Windows 95 was released. The space shuttle “Atlantis” docked with the Russian Mir Space Station. The Dow Jones hit 5,117. Gas was $1.09 a gallon. And Michael Jordan hung up his baseball cleats and returned to the Chicago Bulls, eventually leading t...
Student tops master as Lexington upsets previously unbeaten El Paso-Gridley
Lexington players rush the court after they complete their victory over previously unbeaten El Paso-Gridley. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comEL PASO – Back when Kelli Aho was the star setter for Coach Andi Hardwick’s 2010 IHSA Class 1A championship team at Heyworth, the two could read each other’s minds.On Thursday, that was still true as the Aho-coached Lexington Lady Minutemen upset the previously unbeaten Hardwick-coached El Paso-Gridley Titans, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19.“It’s always fun seeing her,” said Aho, wh...