(Photos of Wednesday's South Suburban Conference match between Bremen and Shepard by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFor Lincoln-Way East, boys volleyball conference titles are old hat.But this one is extra special.Wednesday in Frankfort, the Griffins rallied past Sandburg, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, to clinch at least a share of the Southwest Suburban Conference championship. It's the 12th conference championship for Lincoln-Way East since the league formed in the fall of 2005. But it's also the Griffins’ first since wi...
Illprepvb.com presents the 100 All-Time Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players, Nos. 21-30
Benet libero Hattie Monson will go down as one of the best defenders in Illinois high school history and will take her considerable skills to Notre Dame in the fall. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we continue our countdown of the 100 All-Times Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players with Nos. 21-30. Volleyball has come a long way since the IHSA began sponsoring a state tournament series in 1974. You might be hard-pressed to recognize the game. Not only have the rules changed, but so has the caliber of the athletes who compete.The growt...
LaCoco, De La Salle's defense bring Montini's unblemished season to a stunning end
Montini could not protect big leads in both sets and dropped its first match of the season Monday to De La Salle. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comIsabella LaCoco is back.That’s a good thing for De La Salle. For Montini, though, it proved to be a problem.LaCoco missed De La Salle’s home loss to Montini last week with a back injury, but the Western Illinois-bound senior setter was in fine form Monday and made Montini feel the pain.LaCoco, who also worked on the right side while splitting setting duties with Daniela Scalise, had a team-...
Benet's Muisenga among those to be honored on ESPN as First-Team AVCA All-Americans
Benet setter Rachel Muisenga, who plays club for Adversity, will be among the 24 AVCA First-Team All-Americans who will be honored Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) A year ago on New Year’s Eve, 24 of the best high school seniors nationwide competed on the same court against one another in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Under Armour All-America match.In November, the AVCA announced that it would cancel the All-America match in Orlando, Florida, with plans to honor the athletes at a later date...
Illprepvb.com ranks the 10 All-Time Best Illinois Boys High School Volleyball Teams, Nos. 6-10
Brother Rice's flirtation with perfection ended in the 2007 quarterfinals (Photo courtesy of Paul Ickes) The COVID-19 pandemic denied high school volleyball fans a 2020 boys’ season, but we can still celebrate some of the great teams of the past by naming the 10 All-Time Best Boys High School Volleyball Teams.The boys' first sanctioned state tournament was held in 1992. Richards dominated the landscape that season, not only becoming the first state champion in IHSA history, but also the first unbeaten state champion.There have been ot...
Illprepvb.com presents the 100 All-Time Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players, Nos. 31-40
Naperville North's Colleen Ward began her college career at Florida before transferring to Illinois where she led the Illini to the NCAA semifinals in 2011. Today, we continue our countdown of the 100 All-Times Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players with Nos. 31-40. Volleyball has come a long way since the IHSA began sponsoring a state tournament series in 1974. You might be hard-pressed to recognize the game. Not only have the rules changed, but so has the caliber of the athletes who compete.The growth of club volleyball, improved tr...
Michio Chicago's bid for national title ends with loss to club only 20 miles away
Michio Chicago 17 National advanced to the championship match of the 17 National division at the USAV championships in Las Vegas, but fell in three sets to Epic United/Diamond Elite from nearby Hammond, Indiana. Las Vegas, Nevada -- Michio Chicago 17 National took a circuitous route to the 17 National division finals of the 2021 USAV Girls Junior National Championships Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.And after travelling 1,800 miles and weathering two must-win matches Saturday, who was waiting for south siders in the championship...
Illprepvb.com presents 200 reasons we can't wait for volleyball in the fall: Liberos
Libero Gillian Grimes was an anchor for Nazareth during its drive to Redbird Arena last fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com begins its look at 200 reasons we’re looking forward to girls high school volleyball resuming in the fall.Of course, there is no guarantee that Illinois schools will re-open by mid-to-late August or early September, and the IHSA will most likely follow the lead of state government before it OKs high school sports in the fall. But if schools do re-open, and the IHSA gives the go-ahead to fall sport...
It's back to business (finally) as Champions Cup series gets underway at Great Lakes
Mission 16 Green was among the teams participating in the Champions Cup event last weekend at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center. https://youtu.be/7xLNt1UG5-M They got back to business last weekend for the first of several Champions Cup events at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora.However, it was anything but business as usual.Mandatory masks. A limit of one parent per player allowed inside the facility. No lineup cards. No changing of sides at the conclusion of each game. No handshake lines at the conclusion of each match. No...
Benet's Kenney, defense overcome Marist in state final-caliber ESCC title match
Benet players celebrate after defeating Marist, 23-25, 25-11, 25-22, in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship match Wednesday in Lisle. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/u_Nl7ta4K-0 By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBenet and Marist have combined to win the last three Class 4A state championships and six of the past nine.The two powers have built up a nice rivalry lately and were considered by many to be the two best teams in the state again this year.While the IHSA opted not to hold a state tourn...