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,...
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...
Looking to help during the COVID-19 crisis? These girls have a suggestion
1st Alliance and Lions Jrs. Volleyball Clubs are sponsoring a food drive to help people in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Here's how you can help. The coronavirus pandemic is scary. Everyone is at risk. It has already turned society upside-down. Millions of people are out of work. Many families who depended on their weekly paychecks are living day-to-day. The fragile in society are even moreso.But there are ways in which those people who still have the wherewithal can help. The can donate to charities. They can give blood. They c...
WW South's 'selfless' Bellows, Harris lead Tigers past visiting Marist
Marist's Kylie Brosius, Mary Clare Brusek, Bella Bullington, Chloe Artega and Elise Ward took on Wheaton Warrenville South Monday minus injured junior Kamryn Chaney (far right). Rebecca Bellows is following in the footsteps of Darby Harris and taking one for the team.Two years ago, Wheaton Warrenville South coach Bill Schreier gave some thought to running a 6-2 with Sarah Burau and Zayna Meyer sharing the setter’s position. That experiment was short-lived, however, and Meyer moved to outside hitter.Meanwhile, Harris, also a setter by trade...