Michio Chicago 18 National finished third in its pool on day one of the 2022 Girls Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAdversity G18 Adidas was up against it after its first match Saturday at the 2022 Girls Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place.Adversity dropped its opener against Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold, 16-25, 25-22, 15-12, and needed to win its final two matches to remain in the hunt for one of the handful of Open bids available to the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Champi...

Victoria Huptych and St. Charles North defeated Wheaton North, 25-15, 26-24, Tuesday in a key showdown in the DuKane Conference. (On the cover) Sophomore middle blocker Jenna Kolosta and Lockport defeated Plainfield Central in a nonconference match Tuesday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAnna Marie Marassa is in her 21st season as head coach at De La Salle. Her teams don't beat Providence very often. But the Meteors did Tuesday night.Behind 13 kills, 10 digs and 3 aces from Jen Falk, the Meteors def...

Wheraton North kill leader Will Trussell put 8 more in the column for the Falcons Tuesday against visiting Geneva. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). https://youtu.be/Uq5BTyA9R-w By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhenever the Wheaton North coaching staff wants to challenge their players to work harder, they don’t have to look far to find someone for those players to emulate.“We called them out,” said Wheaton North coach Justin Hineman. “We told them, ‘If you want to see what passion is, if you want to see what hard work is, if you want to see...

Jakobi Lange, whose 229 kills as a sophomore last spring powered Hinsdale Central to a sectional final, heads The Volleyball Institute/Illprepvb.com list of the top 100 players in the Class of 2023. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we rank the top 100 boys in the Class of 2023.Among those at the top of the list are three members of 630 Volleyball 17-1 -- Hinsdale Central's 6-4 outside hitter Jakobi Lange, who led the Red Devils to the sectional final as a sophomore, setter Peter Zurawski of defending IHSA quarterfinalist Oak Park-River F...

Marist's 6-0 sophomore Isabella Bullington (15) should team with senior Kamryn Chaney to give Marist a strong 1-2 punch at the pins. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com wraps up our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2025 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Class of 2025Gabbie Anderson, 5-9, So., S/RS, Crystal Lake CentralAudrey Asleson, 5-10, So., S, Benet AcademyMorgan Asleson, 5-7, So., L/DS, Benet AcademyChelsea Bell, 5-11, So., MH, TriopiaVi...

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...

(Rockton) Hononegah (left) defeated Geneva to win the Oswego Invitational on Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/A5anPWFy8ok By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNobody is perfect, even when they’re perfect.Barrington took a punch to the gut Saturday in the championship match of the 6th Annual Barrington/Vernon Hills Invitational Saturday in Vernon Hills, dropping its first set of the young season in the second set of the championship match against the hosts.That meant Barrington rookie head coach Charlie Spry’s secret w...

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 ...

Identical twins Zach (left) and Luke Pekol excel on the court and in the classroom thanks to their work ethic and time management skills. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLuke and Zach Pekol saw plenty of interesting things while walking along the famed Las Vegas Strip earlier this summer.But the Joliet Catholic stars found themselves to be the center of attention. The Pekols, who are identical twins and stand 6-foot-9, are used to it.“Wherever we go, people always ask us how tall we are, and the next question is usually, ‘Do you ...