Maddie Arundel was among Marist's leaders in almost every statistical category. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we continue to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with those players named to the Third 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 student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment status. Players represent all four IHS...

Nazareth advanced to the sectional championship match Wednesday at St. Ignatius by defeating Fenwick. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere's no place like home for St. Ignatius. The Wolfpack took advantage of playing on their home floor and avenged an early-season loss with a 25-21, 25-20 win over Latin in the second semifinal of the Class 3A St. Ignatius Sectional on Monday.  McKenzie Washington had 10 kills to lead St. Ignatius (20-15), which will look for that home court magic to hold up o...

Terri Narantic has officiated seven boys' state finals and was named the IHSA Boys Volleyball Official of the Year in 2007. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) “Without officials, it’s just recess.” High school officials protect the integrity of the games student-athletes play by demonstrating qualities like honesty, objectivity, consistency, courage and common sense. They help student-athletes learn life lessons that will benefit them for a lifetime.Illinois has been fortunate to have volleyball officials who are among the best in the business....

Former Cary-Grove star and Indiana recruit Colleen Smith battled an incurable disease to star at DePaul and eventually land a head coaching job at Cary-Grove conference rival Jacobs. (Photo courtesy of DePaul University) Colleen Smith served as assistant coach at Cary-Grove before she was hired to head the program at Jacobs. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comColleen Smith still remembers the day she learned the identity of her tormentor.It was September 22, 2011, early during Smith’s freshman year at Indiana, where the former Cary...

Rockford Lutheran's Lauren Spangler hits against the block of St. Teresa's Addison Newbon (35) and Valerie Nutakor (25). (Photo by Dave Ruggles) NORMAL – Breese Mater Dei coach Chad Rakers didn’t have time to think about what went right. “I’m still thinking about all the things we have to fix (before tomorrow),” he said. The first thing, he said, is nerves. “This can be a big, scary place at times,” he said. It was almost a chamber of horrors for his Knights. Breese Mater Dei watched St. Joseph-Ogden erase an 18-11 deficit in Game 2, the...

Belleville Althoff defeated Normal U-High and lost to Sterling in a triangular Saturday in Normal which saw all three teams finish the day 1-1. Normal I-High beat Sterling. Sterling beat Belleville Althoff. Belleville Althoff beat Normal U-High. Everybody goes home happy … sort of. Sterling, Belleville Althoff and Normal U-High got together Saturday in Normal to iron out a few rough edges before the IHSA tournament gets underway Monday. All three teams walked away 1-1, but winning and losing was secondary. Sterling “never got off the bus,” ...

Libertyville's Jack Stevens led the Wildcats to three consecutive regional championships. (Photos courtesy of Chicago Tribune) 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 international stage. High School boys ha...

Neuqua Valley defeated Downers Grove North 25-27, 25-23, 25-22, to win the Plainfield South tournament. As a 6-foot freshman last fall, Gwen Wolkow played second fiddle to Margaret Mahlke and Jade Casper as Downers Grove North reached the Class 4A championship game.Now, still only a sophomore, Wolkow is not only the string section, she is the woodwinds, brass and percussion. Saturday in the championship match of the Plainfield South tournament, Wolkow collected 25 kills, including 11 kills and 2 aces as the Trojans rallied from a 15-12 defi...