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...
Benet turns up the pressure, rallies to beat Lyons for ninth Wheaton Classic title
Benet outside hitter Gabija Staniskis redirects a kill past a pair of Wheaton Warrenville South defenders during quarterfnal play Saturday at the Wheaton Classic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBenet Academy’s girls were anxious to wrap up play Saturday at the Wheaton Classic with homecoming festivities ongoing at the school’s Lisle campus.But all that went out the window after the Redwings dropped the first set of the championship match to No. 1 seed Lyons Township.“After we lost the first set, we knew homeco...
Normal U-High bests St. Thomas More in showdown of 1A, 3A state powers
Sophomore outside hitter Levyn Snow (5) and the Normal U-High Pioneers, coming off a 3-2 performance at last weekend's Illprepvb.com Plainfield North Crimson Classic, rallied to defeat defending IHSA Class 1A champion St. Thomas More on Monday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – The question of how far apart elite teams are in different classes got an answer on Monday when reigning IHSA Class 1A champion Champaign St. Thomas More traveled 58 miles to visit Class 3A’s No. 1-ranked Normal University Hi...
Setters take center stage at Glenbard East (Powell), Warren (Teresi) tournaments
Glenbard West's Danny Dorsey (16), Liam O'Neill (14) and Trevor Powell (17) put up an impenetrable wall at the net against Plainfield North in the semifinals of the Glenbard East Springfest tournament Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGlenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer has long known about senior setter Trevor Powell’s capabilities.Now the rest of the state is getting a glimpse of his talents.Two weeks after making his varsity debut, the 6-foot-6 Powell guided the Hilltoppers to the Springfest...
The Volleyball Institute/Illprepvb.com present the top 100 boys in the Class of 2022
Libero Paul Wyszynski of Glenbrook North and Sports Performance begins his fourth year as a starter for the defending IHSA champions. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we rank the top 100 boys in the Class of 2022. Among those at the top of the list are Barrington’s 6-8 outside hitter and Ohio State recruit Jack O’Riordan, St. Ignatius’ 6-6 outside hitter Lucas Mack, who was second among all sophomores in kills last spring, and Loyola-Chicago recruit Ryan McElligott, a 6-5 setter/outside hitter from Mundelein.Also breaking the top 10 a...
Dave Boze was a coach, mentor and friend to many in the volleyball community
Volleyball legend Dave Boze, former coach at Fremd High School, assistant coach at St. Francis and founder of Circus Volleyball Club in the early 1980s, passed away Monday. Dave Boze. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTo the volleyball world, Dave Boze was a difference-maker, an innovator, a pioneer and a legend.He was also a husband, father, grandfather, a good friend and a mentor.Boze passed away Monday at Northwestern Hospital due to complications from COVID-19. He was 80 years old.“Dave Boze was a legend,” said former St. Francis...
Presenting the Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb Coaches Hall of Fame Class of '22
The late Dave Boze established the first volleyball club in the Great Lakes Region more than 40 years ago when he founded “Circus.” Four years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, at the time, nothing ever came of that phone call. But we felt that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue.In July 2020, with input from current and former coaches, players and officials, Illprepvb.com put together the initial class of the ...
Illprepvb.com presents 100 of the top high school players in the Class of '24
Edwardsville's Sydney Davis (14) and teammates will have some big shoes to fill with the graduation of Gabby Saye off last year's IHSA Class 4A fourth-place finisher. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2024 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Class of 2024 Gwen Adler, 5-9, Jr., S, BarringtonAvery Allen, 5-7, Jr., OH, Mahomet-SeymourMolly Amendt, 5-11, Jr., MB, Lena-WinslowAddison Beekman, ...
Late for graduation? 'No way,' says Tomaszewski. Lockport also advances
Logan Clarida (20) and his Lincoln-Way West teammates will meet Lockport for a regional title Thursday after they defeated Plainfield North in a semifinal Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't be late!Andrew Tomaszewski made sure the Lincoln-Way West seniors weren't to their graduation.Tomaszewski, a senior setter, served an ace on match point as the Warriors avenged a season-opening loss to Plainfield North by toppling the Tigers, 25-22, 25-23, Tuesday in the opening semifinal of the Lockport Regiona...
Illprepvb.com presents 150 of the top high school players in the Class of '23
Fresh off winning an AAU national championship, Plainfield North's Lauren Jansen (11) hopes to lead Plainfield North to a Southwest Prairie Conference crown this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2023 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Later this week, we will be publishing a list of the top juniors and sophomores we anticipate/expect/hope to see this fall when the high school volleyball...