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...
Little Aquin makes a little history by beating Milford at 1A Willows supersectional
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, Linnig stun WW South; Metea Valley, Mother McAuley move on
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...
Gavin Swartz gets in on the family fun as Glenbard West wins IHSA championship
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...
Who will reign supreme? Illprepvb.com looks at the IHSA finals in Normal
Six-foot-3 junior and Florida recruit Kira Hutson has led Metea Valley to the first regional, sectional and supersectional titles in school history. Can she add a state championship trophy to the school's trophy case? (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters.Pleasant Plains has five of them who watched their older siblings win an IHSA Class 2A championship in 2018 – Kylee Garrett (Jade), Adi Fraase (Ali), Jaycee Smith (McKenzie), Lauren Buxton (Madaly...
High school careers come to a close for dozens of Illinois girls at USAV nationals
Fusion 18 Silver took just seven players to Phoenix due to illness, injury and other commitments, but went 6-2 in the 18 American division and placed 25th. The high school volleyball careers of dozens of players from Illinois ended last weekend at the 2022 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.And while there were no national championships to celebrate, each team had its own story of courage, determination, and ultimately, survival.Three local teams competed in the 18 Open division – Adversity G18 Adidas, 1st Alli...
The Volleyball Institute/Illprepvb.com present the top boys in the Class of 2024
Barrington's 6-10 sophomore outside hitter Cole Hartke (15) led Pipeline 17-1 to the championship match of the 2022 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic. (Photo courtesy of Daily Herald) Today, we rank the top boys in the Class of 2024. The list is headed by the most impactful freshman from the 2021 high school season, Lockport's 5-foot-10 setter Evan Dziadkowiec, who led the Porters to their first-ever appearance in the IHSA quarterfinals and continued to flash his brilliance this winter at the reigns of Ultimate B16 Gold. Just behind...
Heavy graduation losses aside, Lockport not missing a beat, drums Joliet West
Joliet West, which won its own tournament last weekend by defeating Stevenson and Lincoln-Way West, suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday at Lockport. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEvan Dziadkowiec is the captain of the Lockport boys’ volleyball team. He’s also one of four sophomore starters for the Porters. Dziadkowiec dished out 23 assists as the new look Porters continued their good start by defeating Joliet West, 25-18, 25-20, in a Tuesday morning matinee in Lockport. It was Joliet West’s first loss of t...
Lincoln-Way East leaves 'em feeling blue at Crimson Classic; Benet, McAuley roll
Lockport's 6-1 sophomore middle blocker Jenna Kolosta (18) is greeted at the net by Lincoln-Way East's Hayven Smith (16) and Tamia Maddox (12) during the Crimson Classic championship match at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere was something about finishing last season only one game over .500 that didn’t sit well with Lincoln-Way East veterans Ava Nepkin and Jada James.“Going into last season, we all anticipated having a good year,” Nepkin said. “Unfortunately, it wasn't.”But ...
Marist soul-searching sears St. Francis; Metamora vexes Normal West in 3A tussle
Metamora sophomore Esma Frieden (8) banged out 22 kills to lead the Redbirds to a 25-22, 17-25, 25-19 victory Tuesday at Normal West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) CHICAGO -- Between 2017-19, the Marist girls’ volleyball team lost a total of seven matches in winning back-to-back Class 4A state titles and then placing third.Last Saturday, the RedHawks dropped two matches in a row and finished fourth at the Crimson Classic, which led them to do some soul-searching.“I feel like it motivated me to be more of an impact player,” said Marist outside h...