Joliet Catholic's Bella Ray (left) led the Angels to a second-place finish in Class 3A. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Today, we continue to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with those players named Honorable Mention. 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...

Joliet Catholic's 6-2 middle hitter Bella Ray (14) had 9 kills and 5 blocks to help the Angels overcome a myriad of injuries to defeat Mother McAuley Tuesday on the south side. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLast week, sophomore Riley Hungate didn't know if she would be on the Joliet Catholic varsity volleyball team. Tuesday night, Hungate had 10 kills in her varsity debut as the Angels overcame the absence of five players, including a pair of starters out with injuries, and defeated host Mother McAuley,...

Lake Park defeated Buffalo Grove, 25-19, 25-13, on Saturday to advance to Tuesday's finals of the Lake Park Sectional against Glenbard North. At Hinsdale CentralHinsdale Central senior AJ Hood chose an unusual way to prepare for what many assumed would be the final match of his high school career on Saturday.“I was driving around this morning before the match,” Hood said. “I drove around my town and all I could think of was I owe it to this town to make another state run.”Thanks in part to the play of Hood, the fourth-seeded Red Devils rode...

West Aurora middle hitter Emilio Ortiz (back row, left) has been playing in a popular Mexican band, L2M Y Su Grupo Sierreño, for the past three years. But the coronovirus pandemic has forced Ortiz to put both careers on hold. Ortiz was inspired to take up the guitar by the late Mexican pop star Ariel Camacho, who died in a car accident in 2015 at the age of 22. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comVolleyball is music to Emilio Ortiz’s ears. Ortiz, a senior at West Aurora, is a middle hitter on the Blackhawks’ volleyball team....

Wheaton Warrenville South setter Sarah Burau clutches the supersectional plaque after the Tigers rallied to defeat Huntley Friday at Streamwood. Wheaton Warrenville South has practically elevated that whole rising from the grave thing to an art form.  “It’s crazy,” said Wheaton Warrenville South setter Sarah Burau. “One of the things were really good at is getting down in the beginning, which we should not be good at. So we’ve learned to come back, which again, we shouldn't have to be good at.” But if practice, even at something bad, ...

Downers Grove South junior middle hitter Allison Bogdanski (11) helped the Mustangs sweep Leyden on Tuesday in Downers Grove. However, the Mustangs fell in straight sets to rival Downers Grove North on Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPlainfield North’s Ella Wrobel is the 24-carat diamond whose brilliance outshines every other player on the court.The 6-foot-4 outside hitter has committed to Wisconsin, so, of course, everybody knows her name.Far fewer people have heard of Wrobel’s teammate, 5-10 junior...

Sophomore Kennedi Burnett (left) led St. Joseph-Ogden to a third-place finish in the IHSA Class 2A tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we begin to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Girls All-State Volleyball Team with those players named Special Mention. 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. Playe...

Top Notch club director Jen Holliday, a former All-American at Florida and standout at Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, knows when it's time to be serious and when it's time to have fun. Top Notch 16-1 setter Megan Becker from Springfield High School. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comSPRINGFIELD – As a measure of coaching excellence, few statistics reveal more than the number of invitations to weddings.Great coaches win, of course, but the best also win when wedding invitations arrive from former players, clear evidence a coach ...

Loyola's 6-foot-6 junior middle hitter Liam Roberts had 6 kills and 4 blocks in Friday's thrilling 25-23, 22-25, 25-15 victory over Glenbrook North in Northbrook. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Loyola's Jack Howard. At Glenbrook North The much-anticipated showdown between top-seeded Loyola and No. 2 New Trier became a reality following Friday's sectional semifinals at Glenbrook North, but not before both teams had to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. Loyola scored the final 6 points of the first set and ran away with the third to defe...