Loyola's Mia McGrath was named MVP of the 2021 Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and Plainfield Central and sponsored by Illprepvb.com after leading the Ramblers to the championship of the 32-team tournament Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) What a difference 24 hours make.“If you consider our first match on Friday to our last match today, it's amazing the growth that happened,” said Loyola coach Mallory Thelander.As long as her team doesn’t grow too much and can’t fit into its Crimson Classic championship T-shirts.The Ramblers...
Glenbard West rallies, surprises Montini for Wheaton North Blue & Gold title
Montini defeated Benet in the semifinals, but could not build on a first-set victory and lost to Glenbard West in the championship match of the Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGlenbard West surprised most everyone except itself. The Hilltoppers won a pair of three-set thrillers Saturday, surviving Wheaton North in the semifinals then rallying past Montini, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, in the title match of the Wheaton North 36th Annual Blue & Gold Girls Volleyball Tournament.The victory av...
Normal West, Hernandez shine brightly against Moline, Sacred Heart-Griffin
Normal West High School setter Sydney Sennett (11) notched 22 assists, seven digs and four aces during a 25-17, 25-14 victory over visiting Moline on Saturday. Facing off across the net is Moline's Rylie Frazelle. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Thanks to a shorter than ever offseason, the August volleyball on display during a triangular at Normal West High School on Saturday has rarely been more polished.In a showdown of three unbeatens, no team shined more brightly than the host Wildcats, who toppe...
Loyola joins list of survivors on opening day of 2021 Crimson Classic
No. 6 Loyola was among the top seeds that had a little trouble out of the gate Friday at the 2021 Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North and Plainfield Central and sponsored by Illprepvb.com. No. 2 Wheaton Warrenville South found itself trailing 23-15 in the first set of its opener against Rockford Guilford, then needed three sets to beat Normal Community.No. 5 Minooka and No. 7 Marist needed three sets to win their opening-round matches, but Minooka did not survive its second.And No. 6 Loyola fought off two set points in the first...
Benet finds offense here, there and everywhere in opener at Wheaton North
Kaneland is a team that hopes to make a long run in the postseason, and achieving that goal started with a strong showing Wednesday at the Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational. After losing his most experienced player and most proven offensive threat – 6-2 senior middle hitter Ann Marie Remmes – to an ACL injury during the club season, Benet coach Brad Baker wondered where his offense would come from this fall. The answer? Everywhere. Outside. Rightside. Middle. Service line. The Redwings scored from all over the cou...
It's last call for Fremd seniors, and has Brown County’s time finally arrived?
Brown County went 17-4 in the spring and hopes to duplicate, if not exceed, that success this fall behind (front row, from left) Gabby McGath, Cortni Law and Makenna Post; (middle row, from left) Brooke Garthaus, Justyce Hunter, Cyrah Dunlap and Lea Houston; and (back row, from left) Ashlee Markert, Klare Flynn, Katey Flynn and Gracie Hedden. Not pictured is Kaci McKeon. Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of (Mt. Sterling) Brown County, which is on a quest to make history this fall a...
There could be no denying Kaneland, and West may be the new normal in Normal
Newark's KJ Friestad (No. 18 on the home page walking toward the bench) is one of two players who were members of the Lady Norsemen's 2019 championship team that must now defend its title without the services of Madi Malone (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of several teams Like St. Viator and Kaneland hoping to build on their success in the spring and others like Prairie Ridge looking to move up the ladder in their respe...
Lake Park, Schellinger hand top-ranked St. Francis first loss of the season
No. 1-ranked St. Francis saw its winning streak to open the season end at 23 matches Friday at the hands of Lake Park. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comTop-ranked St. Francis no longer has the pressure of trying to go undefeated.Josh Schellinger and his Lake Park teammates made sure of that.The 6-foot-6 Schellinger and 6-5 Andrew Deardorff each put down 9 kills, and setter Elijah Wrobel dished out 24 assists as the third-ranked Lancers upset St. Francis, 25-16, 25-23, Friday in Wheaton.The loss ended a 23-match winning streak by the ...
WW South's 'selfless' Bellows, Harris lead Tigers past visiting Marist
Marist's Kylie Brosius, Mary Clare Brusek, Bella Bullington, Chloe Artega and Elise Ward took on Wheaton Warrenville South Monday minus injured junior Kamryn Chaney (far right). Rebecca Bellows is following in the footsteps of Darby Harris and taking one for the team.Two years ago, Wheaton Warrenville South coach Bill Schreier gave some thought to running a 6-2 with Sarah Burau and Zayna Meyer sharing the setter’s position. That experiment was short-lived, however, and Meyer moved to outside hitter.Meanwhile, Harris, also a setter by trade...
Young Fillies eye race to the finish line; Arndt, Bulldogs are small but mighty
Freeport Aquin has an enrollment of 88.50 students (how do you classify as a half-student?), but Lucy Arndt (12) and the Lady Bulldogs are among the favorites to reach Redbird Arena in Class 1A later this fall. Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with more previews, including those of several teams hoping to build on their success in the spring and others that are facing a total revamp after suffering heavy graduation losses. (Last spring's record in parenthesis): Barrington (14-2)Start with the Mid-Suburban League Player...