Tournament MVP Kamryn Chaney (23) helped Marist avenge two earlier losses to Wheaton Warrenville South, two games she missed while nursing an injury, in the Tiger Classic semifinals. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAny similarity between this Marist team and the one that started the season losing three of its first six matches is purely coincidental.“We’re completely different,” said 6-foot middle blocker Mary Clare Brusek. “We used the Plainfield North tournament as motivation. For the next three weeks, all w...
'The sky's the limit' for Montini after Broncos beat Hononegah at McAuley
Montini punched its ticket to next year's Asics Challenge by defeating (Rockton) Hononegah to win the Mother McAuley Preview tournament. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere was no letdown for Montini.Playing in their first tournament title match since their only loss of the season, the Broncos hit on all cylinders and defeated (Rockton) Hononegah, 25-14, 25-13, Saturday in the title match of the Mother McAuley Preview.It was the 11th straight victory for Montini (16-1), which will now play in the ASICS Challenge Tournament next s...
Niles West ends the wait, rallies to defeat Niles North in crosstown rivalry game
Niles West celebrates with the trophy that goes to the winner of the annual rivalry game between West and Niles North. Waiting.Everyone was waiting.The fans were waiting. The bench was waiting. The coaches were waiting.Finally, trailing 22-18 in the second set and on the verge of being forced to a third set at home against rival Niles North, the real Niles West showed up.“The last seven points, we actually played how we know how to play,” said Niles West coach Stacy Roth. “We came alive. We started being smart, doing things we normally do …...
Metamora still having fun after beating Morton for win No. 30 in a row
Metamora won its 30th consecutive match with help from 9 kills and 3 aces by 6-foot sophomore Esma Frieden (8). Attempting to block her during host Morton's 25-16, 27-25 loss Thursday were Kaitlyn Baumann (17) and Olivia Pippin (11). (Photo by Randy Sharer) Metamora setter Victoria Hall (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMORTON – Metamora High School is taking a game of momentum – namely volleyball – and turning it into a multi-season game of success.The Redbirds ran their winning streak dating back...
Plainfield Central is thinking big after beating Sandburg for its sixth straight win
Kitty Sandt (6) and Nazareth, the only team to defeat Plainfield Central this season, dropped its East Suburban Catholic Conference opener Tuesday to Benet in LaGrange Park. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPlainfield Central kept its winning streak going.The Wildcats pulled out a very competitive match down the stretch and toppled Sandburg, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, Tuesday in Orland Park. The Wildcats (7-1) won their sixth straight. Their only loss was to eventual runner-up Nazareth in pool play of t...
Hinsdale Central brings out the best in Lyons Township, and pays the price
Hinsdale Central's Kaitlyn Thick (17), shown here against Nazareth at the Crimson Classic, had 4 kills during Tuesday's loss at Lyons Township. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) There’s something about Hinsdale Central that brings out the best in Lyons Township.Conversely, there’s something about Lyons Township that brings out the worst in Hinsdale Central.Lyons Township opened the home portion of its 2021 schedule Tuesday by welcoming West Suburban Conference Silver division rival Hinsdale Central, and the Lions didn’t exactly play the hospitable h...
Unbeaten Belvidere North turns to Flynn to win the Jacobs Invitational
Unbeaten Belvidere North won the Jacobs Volleyball Invitational on Saturday, defeating Lake Forest, 25-16, 11-25, 25-10 in the championship match. Sometimes, no matter how good you are, you can’t do anything right. It was about then that Jayden Flynn decided that she had enough.“We did everything wrong in the second set,” said Flynn, Belvidere North’s feisty setter after watching her team bow 25-11 to Lake Forest in Game 2 of the championship match at the Jacobs Volleyball Invitational Saturday in Algonquin.“It seemed like as the set k...
St. Thomas More's addition, Tri-Valley's subtraction equals victory for Sabres
Parkland College recruit Landry Warfel (5) of (Downers) Tri-Valley had 13 assists in Thursday's 27-25, 25-14 loss to visiting (Champaign) St. Thomas More. (Photo by Randy Sharer) Ohio State recruit Anna McClure of Champaign St. Thomas More returned from a broken leg to help the Sabers defeat Tri-Valley, 27-25, 25-14, at Downs on Thursday. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comDOWNS – The math worked out in favor of Champaign St. Thomas Morel’s volleyball team on Thursday as the Sabers, ranked No. 1 in ...
Willowbrook shrugs off delay, comes out smokin' against Glenbard North
An eight-day layoff between matches, precipitated by a malfunctioning ventilation system in its gym, had little effect on Willowbrook's performance Wednesday. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWillowbrook’s second match of the season on August 25 was cancelled, but it had nothing to do with COVID.“We were supposed to have a game with East Aurora, but our gym had a malfunction with the ventilation system,” said Willowbrook coach Irene Mason. “Fire alarms were going off and we had to cancel.”That meant the Warriors had eight days off bef...
After a season of COVID and club, Metea Valley's got the gang back together
Metea Valley improved to 7-0 on the young season with a 25-15, 25-10 victory Tuesday over visiting Oswego East. Metea Valley coach Dave MacDonald gave his players an option last spring.“We told the girls, ‘Hey, if you can make it, great,’” he said. “’If you have club practice, that’s your priority right now.’ There were a handful of girls who decided to stay with their clubs. I didn't fault them at all.“They all talked to me individually. They said, ‘Hey, I want to do this.’ They want to get recruited and I totally understand. We didn't hav...