Averie Hernandez (10), a 6-foot-2 Northwestern recruit, totaled 57 kills while leading her Normal West volleyball team to a 4-0 record in the Bloomington-Normal Intercity Tournament at Normal West on Saturday. After a 25-17, 25-15 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic (pictured on defense), the Wildcats improved to 17-3 on the season. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Normal West’s first outright title in the 42nd Bloomington-Normal Intercity Volleyball Tournament on Saturday featured a ...
Kurpeikis creating her own legacy with blessing of her Mighty Mac alumna mom
Jeanine Szczesniak (2) was the 1994 Sun-Times Player of the Year while at Mother McAuley before continuing her career at the University of Michigan. Ellie Kurpeikis (10) is expected to be a huge force at the net for Marist in 2021. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEllie Kurpeikis was born to play volleyball.The daughter of Mother McAuley graduate and 1994 Sun-Times Player of the Year Jeanine Szczesniak, Kurpeikis always knew where her athletic future lie.“I’ve always pretty much played volleyball,” Kurp...
Pickering, Montini too much for Macander-less Macs; Shepard wins a wild one
Montini's Paige Pickering collected her 1,000th career kill during the Broncos' 25-17, 25-20 victory over Mother McAuley Thursday in Lombard. https://youtu.be/Hi8akNHRwu0 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYes, it was a huge moment for Montini’s 5-11 outside hitter Paige Pickering, who collected the 1,000th kill of her high school career late in the first set.Yes, it was a huge night for Pickering and five other Montini seniors – Reeghan Boyer, Lucy D’Anca, Ariana Joubert, Maddie Kasallis and Emily Labno – who were honored before th...
New faces, same expectations present challenge for SPVB 18 Elite
Sports Performance's top 18s team features (front row, from left) Gabriella Croll, Lilly Smith, Sarah Konovodoff and Lauren Hughes, and (back row, from left) head coach Seth Salmon, Audrey Rome, Adekola Barakat, Ella Wrobel, Zayna Meyer and Ellie Watson. Seth Salmon does not need a history lesson.“Gold, gold, gold, gold, silver, gold, bronze,” he said. “That’s a lot of recent history with them winning. It’s up to me to make sure it happens again.”Sports Performance’s 18 Elite team has been a regular atop the medal stand at the AAU Junior ...
'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...
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...
One of the best-ever women tackles new challenge with Culver-Stockton men's program
Culver-Stockton College, an NAIA school with about 1,000 undergraduates in Canton, Missouri, established a men's volleyball program eight years ago. (Photo courtesy of Culver-Stockton College) Culver-Stockton men's volleyball coach Caren Kemner. Three-time Olympian. Six-time recipient of the United States Olympic Committee Female Volleyball Athlete of the Year and a five-time winner of Team USA MVP award. Member of the University of Arizona and International Volleyball halls of fame.Caren Kemner, a native of Quincy who led Quincy Notre D...
Shock's players may fly under the radar, but team's success is gaining attention
Springfield Shock 18 Elite went 6-2 and won the Bronze bracket in the 18 American division at the Winter Volleyball Championship last weekend at McCormick Place. Seeing some action at the pin for Springfield Shock was New Berlin's Emilie King. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDalton Tucker traveled a long way to coach the Springfield Shock 18 Elite team.The squad has gone farther than any of the players could have imagined.“I lived in Iowa last year and drove four hours back and forth to coach them because ...
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...
Future falls short against Rockstar in 18 Open championship at McCormick Place
Future 18 Elite and Ben Harrington (11) of Glenbard West advanced to the Boys 18 Open championship match of the Winter Volleyball Championship Monday at McCormick PLace before falling to Team Rockstar 18 Rockstar from California. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Future 18 Elite was Chicago’s last hope to win the 18 Open division at the 2020 Boys Winter Volleyball Championship Monday at McCormick Place.But like Sports Performance and Chicago Bounce before them, Future had no answer for Sam Collins and top-seeded Team Rockstar 18 Rockstar (Carson,...