VC United 171 Elite, seeded No. 2 in the 17 Open division, found out that a few points can make a big difference. Orlando, Florida – VC United 171 Elite learned a valuable lesson the hard way at the 48th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center. “I guess when coaches say every point matters, this is an example why,” said VC United club director/owner Eric Schulze. VC United, seeded second in the 17 Open division, rolled through its first eight matches at the Orange County Convention...
'Underdog' Plainfield East surprises Minooka in Southwest Prairie finale
Plainfield East defeated Southwest Prairie Conference regular-season champion Minooka on Saturday to win the league's season-ending tournament in Minooka. Minooka’s plaque might be bigger, but Plainfield East got the last word.Plainfield East overcame a 24-21 deficit in the first set and fought back after squandering an early 9-5 led in the second to defeat regular-season champion Minooka, 28-26, 25-21, and win the season-ending Southwest Prairie Conference Tournament Saturday in Minooka.“It's absolutely amazing,” said Plainfield East se...
The boys are back in town (i.e. the IHSA state tournament, just not the same town)
The names and faces on the court are not the same, but the goal is. Glenbard West is seeking its fourth state title in seven years as, after a one-year layoff, the IHSA tournament begins this week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Someday, the IHSA will get this right.“Our regional? Are you kidding me?” said Timothy Christian coach David Barker. “We’re in the greatest sectional ever put together in the history of boys’ volleyball in the state of Illinois.”Barker, of course, was talking about the Hinsdale Central Sectional, where St. Francis, Glenba...
Illini West is in camaraderie-building mode; JCA, York welcome new head coaches
York's Ella Contant (13) and Ella Lawton (16) are two of the few players back from last season's team to greet new head coach Danny Piwowarczyk. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Out with the old – well, not completely – and in with the new.Today, Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2021 season with previews of two schools welcoming new coaches, a look at a downstate school hoping to blend some veteran players with a few new ones, and a new coop featuring one of the smallest high schools in Illinois.(Last season's record in parenthesis):Fenton (2...
Young upstart Limestone, senior night emotions get the better of Morton
With seven seniors who helped Morton High School reach the 2018 Class 3A Elite Eight, the Potters had hoped to win a state trophy this season before the pandemic nixed the state tournament. During an emotional Senior Night match on Tuesday, Morton lost to Bartonville Limestone, 25-13, 25-20. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMORTON – It’s happened before.A team of young upstarts with nothing to lose – in this case Bartonville Limestone – surprises a squad of highly regarded veterans struggling with senior nigh...
College of DuPage to offer men's volleyball beginning in 2022-23 with aid of grant
A $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Foundation will help to establish a men's volleyball program at College of DuPage. College of DuPage will launch a men's volleyball program during the 2022-23 academic year, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Foundation, the college announced June 30. COD is one of 15 institutions to receive grant funding as part of the NJCAA and Fi...
Geneseo's Barickman twins Abbi and Maddi spoil the party for Newark's seniors
Newark junior outside hitter Megan Williams (11) had 7 kills in Wednesday's loss to Geneseo. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGeneseo twins Abbi and Maddi Barickman enjoy the feeling of winning on senior night.That’s especially true when it’s the other team that’s honoring their seniors.The Barickman sisters had a lot to celebrate Wednesday. Both played starring roles as the visiting Maple Leafs knocked off two-time defending IHSA Class 1A champion Newark in a 25-22, 20-25, 25-20 thriller.The North Central Co...
Northwestern recruit Averie Hernandez powers Normal West past visiting Danville
Normal West junior Averie Hernandez, a 6-foot-2 Northwestern recruit, swats one of her 12 kills in Thursday's 25-10, 25-13 home victory over Danville. Hernandez also had a block for the 3-2 Wildcats. Attempting to block Hernandez was Danville's Savanna Rudy (7). https://twitter.com/Pg_Sharer/status/1375281237275852803 By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – In nine years as the Normal West High School volleyball coach, Kelsey Mueller has seen a few good players peak early in their careers.“(Averie Hernandez) is defin...
Chasing MSL championship has become Barrington's 'state tournament'
Barrington's starting six feature only two seniors -- setters Felicia Guagliardo and Amelia Sigaev -- seen here flanking freshman Jenna Meitzler, junior Amanda Cleary, sophomore Campbell Paris and sophomore Jessica Horwath. Fremd's Rylen Reid, who had 19 kills in a 2019 third-place match against Marist, had 18 kills against Barrington on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) There will be no state tournament this spring or at any time in the future for girls like Barrington’s 5-foot-9 setter Amelia Sigaev. So like many other seniors pl...
Munciana foils SPVB 18 Elite's bid for AAU national championship
SPVB 18 Elite's Ella Wrobel (pictured here earlier this season) had 8 kills in the second set, but the Aurora girls were unable to overcome Asics Munciana Samurai in the 18 Open championship match Monday at the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships. Orlando, Fla. -- Sports Performance 18 Elite unveiled their bright new jerseys for the championship match of the 18 Open division Monday at the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center.Unfortunately, it was the same old Asics Muncian...