Naperville Central is one of 128 teams hoping to extend its IHSA tournament run when it joins the field at the Bolingbrook Class 4A sectional beginning this week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Here it is, Illprepvb.com’s not-so-brief look at the 32 sectionals feeding into 16 supersectionals that will provide four fields of four semifinalists in each class November 15-16 at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal. Class 4A Fremd supersectional At Warren sectionalLibertyville (27-10) vs. Lake Forest (28-8)Cary-Grov...
Sterling makes itself at home against Nazareth; Joliet Catholic downs U-High
Sterling's Brooklyn Borum smashes one of her 12 kills past the block of Nazareth's Izzy Decker (3) and Danielle Wojtycki (8). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com NORMAL – The Borum twins felt right at home Friday at Redbird Arena.That showed as they led Sterling back to the IHSA Class 3A championship match.The Borums combined to bang home 19 kills as the defending state champion Golden Warriors defeated Nazareth, 25-18, 25-19, in the first 3A semifinal at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University...
Rodriguez leaving Sterling early to join highly-touted recruiting class at Nebraska
Sterling libero Lexi Rodriguez announced that she will graduate early and start her college career at Nebraska in January, bypassing her senior season for the two-time defending IHSA Class 3A champions. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Sterling's Lexi Rodriguez The next time Sterling’s Lexi Rodriguez digs a ball in anger will not happen in the Land of Lincoln.It will happen in Lincoln, Nebraska.Rodriguez, ranked No. 10 in the 2021 recruiting class according to Prepvolleyball.com, announced last week that she will graduate from high school early ...
Sterling’s Rodriguez, WW South’s Meyer head Illprepvb.com All-State Second Team
Sterling junior Lexi Rodriguez, a Nebraska recruit, assumed an expanded role as libero and setter to help lead the Golden Warriors to a second consecutive IHSA Class 3A championship. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we continue to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with those players named to the Second Team. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the Illprepvb.com all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school stu...
Walden, Waubonsie Valley rally to defeat Plainfield North; Gregus powers Benet
Plainfield North's Ariel Amaya gets past the block of Waubonsie Valley's Gabi Croll (7) and Aryanna Ruffin (8) during Monday's second sectional semifinal at Bolingbrook. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Waubonsie Valley’s Melissa Walden didn’t recognize her team while it was being – to put it politely – pounded by Plainfield North in the first game of their Class 4A sectional semifinal Monday at Bolingbrook. “After the first set, we knew that's not how we play as a team,” she said. “We started pulling ourselves together in the second set, and knew ...
Elbows, fist bumps the order of the day as Windy City Power League winds down
Newark's Madi Malone (far right), who recently committed to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her Adversity G17 Adidas teammates battled their way into the Bracket A championship match of the 18&17 Open division Saturday at the 1st Alliance Volleyball Center in Woodridge. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The congratulatory handshakes before and after every match gave way to knocking elbows and a few scattered fist bumps as participants in the second-to-last day of the Windy City Power League deferred to what is becoming the new nationa...
Normal U-High flaunts its power, defense to win 41st Intercity Tournament
Behind Boston College recruit Alayna Crabtree and Winthrop-bound setter Isabel Schaefbauer, Normal U-High won its 10th Intercity title Saturday at Normal West. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com NORMAL – Flaunting multiple terminators and a penchant for repeatedly sending the ball back, the Normal University volleyball team defended its title in the 41st annual Intercity Tournament Saturday at Normal West. Led by several returnees from last year’s 29-8 Class 3A Sweet Sixteen team that lost to Joliet Catholic, U-High (19-3) went 4-...
IHSA says 'No' to students competing for high schools, clubs at same time
After putting off a decision for a month, the IHSA Board of Directors decided Monday not to allow student-athletes to compete for their high schools and club teams during the same sport season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (updates previous)The IHSA Board of Directors said "No." At its meeting on Monday, the IHSA board decided not to allow student-athletes to compete for their high school volleyball teams while simultaneously participating in club volleyball during the spring and summer sports seasons.IHSA By-law 3.100, which governs independ...
Illprepvb.com presents the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players, Nos. 11-20
Marist boys volleyball coach Jordan Vidovic (left background) was also a record-setting player in his day while attending Brother Rice. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we continue to count down the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players. The players were selected based on their athletic ability, their individual accomplishments on the court, how they impacted their team’s success, their place in IHSA history, and in some cases, how they continued to represent themselves and Illinois volleyball on the national and internati...
Illprepvb.com presents the 100 All-Time Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players, Nos. 61-70
Glenbrook South's Ellen Chapman (20) participated in IHSA tournaments in volleyball and track before going on to a solid collegiate career at Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin) Today, we continue our countdown of the 100 All-Times Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players with Nos. 61-70. 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 compet...