New Trier and middle hitter Sophia Ksanes split a pair of matches Saturday at the Lyons invite, defeating York and falling to Normal Community. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). https://youtu.be/7ABFXUKdrao By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTen years have come and gone since Lyons won its one and only state title in 2010. That team, led by future University of Illinois stars Jocelyn Birks and Alexis Viliunas, avenged a loss to Cary-Grove in the Class 4A championship match 365 days earlier. The wait has been even longer for New Trier, which ...
McAuley beats Benet at Autumnfest; Marist stops Young at Harvest Festival
Benet's Annie Eschenbach (17) stretches to put down a kill over Mother McAuley defender Maeve Moonan (19) during the championship match of the Autumnfest Tournament Saturday at Glenbard East. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe performance of Mother McAuley pins Ellie White and Mary Kate Sheehan on Saturday was outstanding.It left Benet feeling stuck.White crushed a match-high 15 kills and Sheehan had a big impact on the right side as the Mighty Macs beat Benet, 25-14, 25-22, to win the Autumnfest Tournament ...
Ella Ramsay's cerebral approach has Maroon fans thinking 'red'
Four-year starter and Loyola University recruit Ella Ramsay (14) of Moline worked tirelessly to turn herself into a six-rotation player for the Maroons. (Photo by Randy Sharer) Moline's Ella Ramsay By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMOLINE – Moline High School volleyball fans have their fingers crossed.They haven’t been able to cheer their Maroons to a state tournament berth since 2002, but now they see Ella Ramsay’s approach could lead to a Class 4A Final Four appearance at Redbird Arena on November 12-13.Fans have actually seen two...
Marist says 'Not this time,' holds on to beat Benet in renewal of ESCC rivalry
Benet junior Kirsten Krammer (15) had 7 kills for the Redwings in Tuesday's loss to Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). https://youtu.be/Dm6zAEBCUqI By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorElise Ward admitted that, for a moment, her mind flashed back to last spring.“I try not to think about that one,” said Marist’s junior rightside hitter. “It wasn't the best."Last spring, in the season finale for both teams, Benet rallied after dropping the first set to defeat Marist, 23-25, 25-11, 25-22. The Redwings finished 10-0 during the COVID-shorten...
Pickering, Montini too much for Macander-less Macs; Shepard wins a wild one
Montini's Paige Pickering collected her 1,000th career kill during the Broncos' 25-17, 25-20 victory over Mother McAuley Thursday in Lombard. https://youtu.be/Hi8akNHRwu0 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYes, it was a huge moment for Montini’s 5-11 outside hitter Paige Pickering, who collected the 1,000th kill of her high school career late in the first set.Yes, it was a huge night for Pickering and five other Montini seniors – Reeghan Boyer, Lucy D’Anca, Ariana Joubert, Maddie Kasallis and Emily Labno – who were honored before th...
Some learn, some yearn, Redwings earn (a championship) at Scholastic Cup
Benet defeated Edwardsville, 25-20, 25-23, to win the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora on Saturday. It was the Redwings' first tournament title in three tries. https://youtu.be/evITGBceZLM By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNearly everybody walked away with something … a championship, exposure to good competition, learning that your team can overcome adversity despite losing another body to injury.But that’s what tournaments are for … in this case, the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup at the G...
Barrington, Meitzler nap on the bus, wake up in time to take down WW South
Wheaton Warrenville South's 6-2 freshman Lauren Coyne hits past the block of Barrington's Berkeley Ploder (10) and Megan Bergquist (1) while Jenna Meitzler (11) looks on during Monday's nonconference match in Wheaton. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Wheaton Warrenville South's Rebecca Bellows (17) and Barrington's Campbell Paris (25) meet at the net. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHomecoming hangover?“I think about three-quarters of us were sleeping on the bus on the way here,” said Barrington sophomore setter/oppo...
Normal West wins nail-biter over district rival, wins first outright Intercity title
Averie Hernandez (10), a 6-foot-2 Northwestern recruit, totaled 57 kills while leading her Normal West volleyball team to a 4-0 record in the Bloomington-Normal Intercity Tournament at Normal West on Saturday. After a 25-17, 25-15 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic (pictured on defense), the Wildcats improved to 17-3 on the season. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Normal West’s first outright title in the 42nd Bloomington-Normal Intercity Volleyball Tournament on Saturday featured a ...
Edwardsville hopes to use visits to Chicago as a springboard to Normal
Edwardsville celebrates a point in a recent match against O'Fallon. (Photo by Ric's Pics) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEdwardsville is making the first of back-to-back visits to the Chicago area this weekend while competing in the Scholastic Cup tournament sponsored by St. Charles East and hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora.Next weekend, the Tigers will be back in town to play in the Fall Harvest Festival hosted by Plainfield Central.But Chicago is not the destination that is foremost in the Tigers’ thoughts. They...
Barrington's Paris burns Fremd in battle between Mid-Suburban West's best
Fremd's (from left) Izzy Seghoviano, Claudia Wala, Rian Baker and Rylen Reid were all part of the Vikings' 2019 Class 4A state semifinalist and are hoping to make another run at state after COVID interrupted their junior season. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOff the court, Barrington’s 6-foot-4 junior outside hitter Campbell Paris is hard to miss.On the court, she’s hard to stop.Paris pounded 14 kills, including three in the waning moments of the second game to help the Fillies close on an 8-1 run, as Barrington recorded a 25-22...