Andrew's Riley Kloss (11) tries to beat the block of a pair of Metea Valley defenders during Friday's supersectional at Plainfield North. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comKira Hutson had been in pressure situations before.So the Metea Valley star didn’t stress out when the Mustangs were staring two set points in the face during the opening game of Friday’s Class 4A Plainfield North Supersectional.Hutson came up with two huge kills and block, and 30 minutes later, Metea Valley had knocked Andrew out of the state...

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...

Campbell Paris (25) and her Barrington teammates should vie for a state title in 2022, but can 2021 Class 4A champion Metea Valley overcome some severe graduation losses? (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorI am often asked these questions:Which teams come through in the fall of ‘22?Considering how graduation will take a substantial toll on at least three teams that won IHSA championships in 2021, who are the likeliest candidates to replace St. Thomas More, Montini and Nazareth at the top of their respective class...

Montini's Jordan Haverly falls to one knee after her team defeated Pleasant Plains to win the IHSA Class 2A championship. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2021 Girls All-State Volleyball Team and those players selected as “Special Mention.” Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to theall-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or ...

Sports Performance 16 White dropped only one set during the entire tournament to win the 16 Spirit division at the 49th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday. Orlando, Florida – There are exceptions to the “No sure thing” rule.For example, take the 18 Classic championship match at the 49th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday.There was no way that a Sports Performance team wasn’t going to walk away with a national title. The only question was whether i...

Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Katie Hurta led Nazareth to the school's first IHSA championship in a girls' sport November 12-13 at Redbird Arena. (Photos by Dave Ruggles). Katie Hurta of Nazareth By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFive days.That’s how long it took Nazareth senior Katie Hurta to truly understand what she and her teammates had accomplished.The 2021 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year put down six of her team-high 15 kills during a third-set rally against Belvidere North i...

Barrington opened the 2022 season with a 22-25, 25-19, 25-12 victory at Stevenson. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s Jessica Horwath, a University of Arizona beach volleyball recruit, opted out of the indoor club season last winter and spring to work with Progression Beach Volleyball club in Darien, where she and her partner played in several big-time tournaments against taller, more mature opponents.So whatever happens on the court during this high school season is unlikely to fluster her … for example, dropping the first s...

Glenbard East's Trevor Real (6) smashed 10 kills Wednesday against visiting Benet, but the visitors prevailed in three sets. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com As Benet’s resident artist, Drew Rogers was put in charge of designing T-shirts for the Redwings’ senior night.It was a way for the Maryville University-bound outside hitter to demonstrate that his creativity is not limited to the volleyball court.“I was like, ‘What’s our slogan for the year?’” Rogers said. “It’s got to be, ‘Ole.’”The Redwings began...

Pleasant Plains setter Hannah Smith (2) had 26 assists and eight blocks in a 14-25, 25-12, 25-23 Class 3A Clinton Super-sectional victory over Quincy Notre Dame. (Photos by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comCLINTON – Rarely do volleyball teams as good as Pleasant Plains get the opportunity to prove they can overcome a 21-15 deficit in the third set.So there was some doubt when Quincy Notre Dame built such an advantage in the Class 2A Clinton Supersectional on Friday.The Lady Cardinals, however, simply fed their top hitt...