Marist coach Jordan Vidovic, who won girls' and boys' state titles during the 2018-19 academic year, is hoping for some degree of normalcy in 2021. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Lockport boys' and girls' volleyball coach Nick Mraz. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThis high school sports year will be like no other, especially in volleyball.Because of the coronavirus, the girl's season was moved to the IHSA’s reconfigured “spring” season and the boys will play during the “summer.” This will create a non-stop bevy of high school volle...
Talented Adversity G18 Adidas studying diligently to pass chemistry test
Adversity G18 Adidas is loaded with talent, but putting it all together could take some time, said coach Melissa Masterson. https://youtu.be/CAIXJmHGmm4 Every time Adversity G18 Adidas takes the court this season, it will have the proverbial target on its back.“I think we have a lot of talent,” said Adversity’s 6-foot junior setter Rachel Muisenga from Benet, who is committed to perennial Big 10 volleyball powerhouse Penn State. “But it's going to be what we do with that talent that will determine how we come out.“Each match, we have...
Memory serves St. Francis; Downers Grove South, Lincoln-Way West claim regional titles
After dropping the first set, Aaron Marrs (3, far right) and Downers Grove South rallied to beat Oswego in the Benet Regional championship match. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Aiden Benson remembers.“Bad memories,” he said. “Bad memories all the way around.”Two years ago, led by 6-7 junior middle hitter Bryce Walker and a bunch of sophomores and vying for its first-ever berth in the IHSA state quarterfinals, St. Francis was the No. 1 seed in the Hinsdale South sectional. But the Spartans were stunned by No. 8 Hinsdale Central, 25-18, 25-16, in t...
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...
Michio Chicago 18 National getting it done with defense and a 'no fear' attitude
Michio Chicago 18 National is unbeaten at 9-0 after two weekends of seeding in the Windy City Power League. https://youtu.be/M50k_E2ZVDc This is not last year’s Michio Chicago 18 National team.Gone from the team that went 5-3 and finished in 25th place at the USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Dallas last April are such big bangers as Marian Catholic’s Temitayo Thomas-Ailara (Northwestern), Sandburg’s Erica Staunton (Northeastern) and Latin middle blocker Kelsey Watkins (Furman).But different is not always a bad thing.Afte...
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...
The season starts Saturday for Waubonsie Valley, but Benet can't wait
Benet improved to 3-1 with Friday's win over Waubonsie Valley behind (far right) junior Drew Rogers' 6 kills and 2 aces. Any similarity between the Waubonsie Valley team that takes the court next Tuesday and the one that took the court Friday at Benet will be purely coincidental.Senior Vincent Johnson, the Warriors’ starting setter two years ago, will rejoin the team at practice early Saturday morning and be ready to go when Waubonsie Valley begins DuPage Valley Conference play Tuesday at Naperville Central.Johnson missed the team’s first ...
Two points shy of victory, Batavia falls in three sets to St. Charles North
St. Charles North improved to 5-3 overall and moved to 3-3 in the DuKane Conference with Thursday's win at Batavia. So you want to be a head coach? Then you must expect days like this. Batavia led St. Charles North 23-21 in Game 2 of their DuKane Conference clash Thursday in Batavia, looking to complete a two-game sweep. But four hitting errors down the stretch cost the Bulldogs the set, and eventually the match.The North Stars took advantage of Batavia’s late miscues to win Game 2, then opened leads of 9-2 and 12-3 in the third set t...
A few points decide VC United 171's fate; Illini Elite 15 White rules AAUs
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...
EVC 15 National setting the tone for a 'little' club with 'big' aspirations
EVC 15 National is off to a 19-2 start this season, including a 5-2 record in the 15 Club division of the Windy City Power League. Brian Eich and his EVC 16 National team, which finished fifth in the 15 Aspire division last summer at the 46th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Brian Eich never got the chance to play high school volleyball because his school didn’t offer it until two years after he graduated.He and his friends played beach volleyball every weeken...