Hartsburg-Emden High School coach Jenn Hayes (right) picked up her 699th victory in a 27-year career on Thursday as her Stags (17-1) defeated visiting Mount Pulaski, 25-21, 25-22, with blocking help from Cassie Crabtree (12) and Avah Classen (7). Hitting for the Lady Toppers was Alexis Wade (3). (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comHARTSBURG – The 699th victory of Jenn Hayes’ 27-year volleyball coaching career was a lot like the previous 698.Her Hartsburg-Emden High School Stags mixed sound fundamentals with ...

Mother McAuley's Ellie White (on the home page) and Marist's Mary Clare Brusek (5, above) were two of just six players named to the all-tournament team at the Asics Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere’s something about Marist.“They bring out our true selves,” said Mother McAuley’s Ellie White.Marist certainly brings out the best in White.The 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter pounded out 27 kills, including 12 in the third set, as the Mighty Macs defeated Marist, 25-15, 23-2...

Metea Valley defeated host Kaneland to win the Knight Invite on Saturday. https://youtu.be/P-PnPYAbFDA By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAgustin “Gus” Colima was on the hot seat Saturday in Kaneland.It’s a good thing he had Kira Hutson watching his back.Hutson, a 6-4 junior outside hitter who is committed to Florida, had 21 kills, 3 blocks and an assist to lead Metea Valley (24-2) to a 25-18, 15-25, 25-14 victory over host Kaneland Saturday in the championship match of the Knight Invite.Junior outside hitter Annabelle Troy added 8 ...

Bloomington Central Catholic High School sophomore Isabelle Niepagen (7) hammered 13 kills in Tuesday's 25-18, 22-25, 30-28 loss to visiting Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBLOOMINGTON – It’s a rare volleyball match when both teams go home happy, but that’s what happened after a raucous Illini Prairie Conference battle on Tuesday.Visiting Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central got the win, but Bloomington Central Catholic didn’t feel or look like losers after escaping a 17...

Marist outside hitter Kamryn Haney, who led the RedHawks to the championship of the Wheaton Classic, was limited to just a single kill Thursday at Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhen Marist traveled to face rival Mother McAuley in the spring, there was something missing.The crowd.That wasn't missing when the two teams got together again on Thursday night, however. The gym was packed to the rafters and the home crowd left happy. That's because Mother McAuley’s 5-11 sophomore outside hitte...

Paige Lauterwasser (14) and her Naperville North teammates suffered their first loss in the DuPage Valley Conference on Thursday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorGone is longtime setter Anna Jaworski, who is busy setting all kinds of records at Southern Illinois University.Gone, too, are middle hitter Ellie Hall and outside hitter Eva Hartung, who were a big part of Naperville North’s unbeaten season last spring.So there are a lot of new faces on the Huskies’ side of the court this fall. But there is one familiar face.“Yeah, we only d...

St. Viator is enjoying its most successful season since the 2017 team reached the Class 3A semifinals in Normal, an aspiration that is shared by this 2021 edition. Adversity.What was it that German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said? “That which does not kill us makes us stronger?"St. Viator is a much stronger volleyball team today than it was Tuesday.“We knew adversity would come our way,” said St. Viator setter Cailyn Harrington. “We had to face that today. We knew it was coming. We know Benet's a great team. Today, we were kind of prep...

West Chicago is unbeaten in the Upstate Eight Conference and has matches remaining with co-leader South Elgin and perennial league contender Glenbard East. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEven the best teams have the worst days.Wednesday, it was West Chicago’s turn.But despite the 25-15, 25-12 loss at Wheaton North, the Wildcats are enjoying a renaissance of sorts under head coach and former Lake Park and Iowa standout Pamela Pater.Pater, who took over the program in 2017, has turned the young Wildcats (19-5 overall, 5-0 in the Upstat...

Plainfield Central will take a much needed breather before resuming play next Tuesday when the Wildcats host Romeoville on senior night. Yorkville's Ella Bourque By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorElla Bourque has experienced the highs and lows of high school volleyball.The 5-11 senior setter is just weeks away from wrapping up her fourth and final season on Yorkville’s varsity. As a freshman, Bourque and the Foxes went 26-8 before being derailed by Lockport in a regional semifinal. Less memorable seasons of 17-18 and 7-7 followed.Ho...

Downers Grove South junior middle hitter Allison Bogdanski (11) helped the Mustangs sweep Leyden on Tuesday in Downers Grove. However, the Mustangs fell in straight sets to rival Downers Grove North on Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPlainfield North’s Ella Wrobel is the 24-carat diamond whose brilliance outshines every other player on the court.The 6-foot-4 outside hitter has committed to Wisconsin, so, of course, everybody knows her name.Far fewer people have heard of Wrobel’s teammate, 5-10 junior...