Joliet West had a busy but productive summer, winning the summer league at UNO Volleyball Cub and a tournament hosted by Joliet Junior College. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSummertime, and the livin’ is easy … if you happen to be a spectator.Girls who only a few weeks ago turned in their club jerseys have been immersed in an endless series of high school summer camps, summer leagues, college camps, skill camps, college visits, family vacations, etc., etc. etc.Wednesday in Elmhurst, the schedule became slightly less frantic for the e...
MVP Ellie White, Mother McAuley claim ASICS Challenge championship
Kate Goudreau (3) and St. Charles East defeated Nazareth, 25-16, 25-16, to win the Silver bracket at the ASICS Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley on Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Just remember, stick to the plan,” said the Oz the Great and Powerful to Finley the monkey.“But the plan is you,” Finley replied.Whatever the plan was Saturday, Mother McAuley stuck to it. The result was the Mighty Macs’ sixth ASICS Challenge championship, and their first since the national championship team won it back in ...
Bolingbrook hopes to steal page from Andrew; North survives Naperville fray
Paige Lauterwasser, shown here during a match from last fall, powered Naperville North past rival Naperville Central in a DuPage Valley showdown Tuesday at North. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) At BolingbrookIt's a new season, but a match from last year couldn't help but be on the minds of Andrew and Bolingbrook players when the two teams met in a Southwest Suburban Conference battle Tuesday in Bolingbrook.After all, it was a rematch of last season's sectional final.This time, it was the host Raiders who showed they are a team to be reckoned ...
Illinois high school boys volleyball is back … and OMG they’re on fire!
Glenbard West's 6-5 Liam O'Neill (14) and the Hilltoppers will try to defend their 2022 IHSA championship this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe boys are back, so here is a look at some of the teams that will be punishing the floors throughout Illinois gymnasiums this spring while they compete for local, conference and tournament bragging rights and perhaps a little IHSA tournament glory in 2023 (in alphabetical order):Andrew (11-25)Sean Burns takes over as head coach for Troy Hari, whose final team re...
No. 2 Metamora upends No. 1 Normal U-High en route to Saints Fall Classic title
University of Illinois recruit Lily Barry of Normal University High went on the attack against Williamsville in the Gold Division third-place match of the Bloomington Central Catholic Saints Fall Classic in Bloomington on Saturday. Blocking for Williamsville were Brooklyn Holdener (1) and Nina Ledgerwood (4). (Photos by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepb.comBLOOMINGTON – Scoring efficiently paid off for Metamora as it used power and precision during a five-match, 10-hour span to win the 16-team Bloomington Central Catho...
It's all in the genes for Wyszynski, Tiger Classic champion Glenbrook North
Lincoln-Way West's Logan Clarida (20) tries to drive the ball past Glenbrook North's Paul Wyszynski (10) and Grant Kosla (16) during Saturday's championship match of the Tiger Classic at Wheaton Warrenville South. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSomewhere, Grego Mendel, the father of modern genetics, is smiling. “It’s a funny story,” said Glenbrook North’s 5-8 Paul Wyszynski. “I got my vertical to 39 inches with only genetics. I eventually got it up to 43, 44 inches, and then I started working out and I haven...
Oswego's Allen gets in Downers North's way; New Trier, Lockport move on
New Trier rallied after dropping the first set to defeat Maine South, 19-25, 25-19, 25-22, for the regional title at Maine South. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLindenwood recruit Ian Schuller has come through hundreds of times for Downers Grove North this season.He’s as reliable a hitter as you will find at the high school level.But even a mailman would have trouble delivering if Oswego’s Reshawn Allen was standing in the way.Allen has recorded 101 blocks this season, an astounding amount for any player, especially one his size. Th...
Unbeatens no more: Mother McAuley, Fieldcrest taken down on the road
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...