Joliet West coach Al Mart is flanked by (from left) freshman libero Olivia Baxter, junior outside hitter Olivia Ryan, freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed and senior defensive specialist Brianne Doran, the lone senior on his roster. Bolingbrook's Lauren Shroba and Cydney Anderson. Bolingbrook’s Lauren Shroba had not seen her teammates in person in 10 days, even the one who occupies the bedroom next to hers.“We just stayed in our rooms the whole time,” she said. “It was really weird. I don't think I saw her for a whole week until the la...
St. Francis fights off match point, rallies to defeat Marist in clash of state's best
Despite 19 kills from Nyherowo Omene (far left), 2019 defending state champion Marist suffered its first loss of the season Monday at St. Francis, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17. https://youtu.be/pyvKiba5MLs By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSt. Francis middle hitter Aiden Benson and Marist outside hitter Nyherowo Omene had never played against each other in a high school match.The two have faced each other in club and this year are teammates on Sports Performance’s top-ranked 18 Elite team, a squad that also features St. Francis setter K...
Lockport defeats Homewood-Flossmoor, in position to make a little history
Lockport coach Nick Mraz has the Porters in position to win their first-ever conference title, but even if the Porters win out, they may need some help. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSince the Southwest Suburban Conference was formed in the fall of 2005, Lockport has never won or shared a league title in boys’ volleyball.But the Porters are in a position to do that now. Lockport defeated Homewood-Flossmoor, 25-14, 25-19, Thursday in Flossmoor to maintain a share of first place in the nine-team league.The Porters (10-2, 6-1), w...
1,600 days? That's lots of water under the bridge and many Marist foes under foot
Kamryn Chaney (23) had 7 kills as Marist continued its mastery at home Monday with a 25-22, 25-13 victory over Joliet Catholic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comIt's 1600 days and counting.The Marist girls’ volleyball team continued its home mastery with a 25-22, 25-13 victory over Joliet Catholic in an East Suburban Catholic Conference clash Monday.It was the 30th straight home win for the RedHawks. The last time they lost at home? Exactly 1,600 days ago, a 25-20, 25-22 loss to eventual IHSA Class 4A and nat...
Glenbard West after beating Downers North … 'Let's play again, and again, and again'
Downers Grove North's (from left) Justin Griesbaum, Daniel Eckmann, Luke Saranecki, Ian Schuller and Cole Fulton. Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer is trying to schedule as many matches as possible this spring.One problem. The West Suburban Conference will not allow schools to schedule teams outside the conference or outside their own school districts.So Glenbard West will play York four times this spring. The Hilltoppers will play Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove South and Lyons three times instead of the usual home-and-away. They...
Glenbrook North breaks 28-year drought, beats Lake Park for IHSA title
Glenbrook North celebrates its first IHSA boys volleyball championship since 1993 after defeating Lake Park, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, Saturday at Glenbard West. (All photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/yT7bIUyd8K4 When it came to winning state championships, Glenbrook North was in cicada territory.You have to go all the way back to 1993 to discover the last time the Spartans won an IHSA championship in boys’ volleyball.They came close twice since, losing in the title game in 2004 to a Wheaton Warrenville South team led by 6-9 Matt Mc...
Dakota moves on without Toelke; T.F. South moves on without an identity
Dakota's Tabytha Toelke (left) likely would have broken into the top 10 among Illinois all-time kill leaders had it not been for last year's shortened season and a brief personal absence while in quarantine due to COVID contact tracing. She is now a freshman at the University of Memphis. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford Register Star). Monday, Monday. The first day of practice for the 2021 Illinois girls’ high school volleyball season is just hours away.One of the more intriguing storylines of the 2021 season is the plight of Thornton Fract...
Throw out records, reputations when St. Teresa, Maroa-Forsyth collide on court
Princeton recruit Valerie Nutakor (25) of St. Teresa blocks a shot by Maroa-Forsyth's Carlye King during St. Teresa's 33-31, 25-17 victory Monday in Decatur. Also at the net for the Bulldogs was senior middle blocker Addison Newbon (35). (photo by Randy Sharer). By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comDECATUR – For a rivalry match, Decatur St. Teresa’s status as the reigning IHSA Class 2A champion didn’t count for much against Maroa-Forsyth in a nonconference battle Monday.That was especially true during the first set as the visiting Tr...
Pinley turned the 'art' of coaching into 1,000 career victories … and counting
Fremd junior setter Rian Baker believes her coach's background in art melds into his coaching style, which she called "creative" and "non-traditional." (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFremd coach Curt Pinley is a bit of a throwback.In an era where many people like to promote themselves on social media, Pinley prefers to ignore the hype, especially when it concerns his accomplishments.That’s why he didn’t tell his players before the March 16 season opener that a win would mean a career milestone. It was left to...
Unbeaten Rochester gets monkey off back by beating CS8 rival Normal U-High
Rochester's Tori Taylor (3) soared for one of her 11 kills in Thursday's 26-24, 17-25, 25-16 victory at Normal University High. Attempting to block the attack were U-High's Chloe Clayton (7) and Maycie Welborn (19). (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com NORMAL – The unbeaten Rochester volleyball team got a Central State Eight Conference monkey off its back by hitting the targets on the backs of Normal University High’s players on Thursday.“Since U-High joined the conference (in 2017-18), we haven’t beaten t...