2014 ASG/SENIOR SHOWCASE A SUCCESS!

5 years running, and still going strong.

Wheaton College once again hosted the 5th annual sportstownchicago.com Illinois High School Volleyball All Star Game and 2nd Annual Senior Showcase.

Players that came from as far south as Auburn, IL to as far north as Rockford, IL, were able to put their skills out on the floor the fans in attendance to see, and for those watching online on sportstownchicago.com. Players met new teammates for the last time at the high school level and quickly we saw all the teams gel immediately.

It was the color white that reigned supreme tonight. In the showcase game, in quick fashion, team white beat team pink in 3 straight sets. While for the All Star Game, which followed after the senior showcase, team white won a long battle in 5 sets.

If you missed any of today's action, go to http://sportstownchicago.com/asg2014 and http://sportstownchicago.com/showcase2014

Mighty Macs Win Battle of Heavyweights

What's a better way to kickoff our coverage of 2014 Illinois High School Volleyball?

Put the defending class 3A Champs (St. Francis Spartans) against the c lass 4A champs (Mother McAuley Mighty Macs) on one court and battle it out.

A capacity crowd, performances by the McAuley school band, and the school choir made it all a nice evening, as not only was it a battle of volleyball elites, but it was also Alumni night at Mother McAuley.

To the match we go...

The Mighty Macs, with the home court/crowd on their side, seemed to fuel that as energy, keeping control of the match on their side for basically the whole match. For the Spartans, any mini rally was stopped by a counter from the Mighty Macs, or service errors caused by the Spartans.

On this night, it was the defending 4A champs Mother McAuley who owned the night, taking a 2 set sweep 25-16, 25-20.

This, however, won't be the last time these teams will see each other. Mother McAuley will be hosting the ASICS Challenge on October 3rd, and 4th. Teams from around the country will be coming into Chicago as the nation's best teams in that 2 day span will go toe for toe on the court.

IHSA State Championship Rundown

The 2013 IHSA Girl's Volleyball season is over, and what a season it was, my friends.  In the class 4A championship game you had a powerhouse showdown between Mother MacAuley and Benet Academy.  The Mighty Macs won a tightly contested game in straight sets 25-22 and 25-19.  Mother MacAuley did not lose a game this season to a team from Illinois and have won 17 straight.  This was their first state championship since 2004, but was their state record 14th title.  The Benet Academy Redwings were no slouch though.  The two-time defending 4A champions finish the season in 2nd place and an overall record of 36-6.  Benet has been a force for a few years in class 4A. From 2011 to the end of this season they have won 2 consecutive state titles and finished this year in 2nd place with a combined record of 114-10.  Both teams are graduating a number of seniors, five for Benet Academy and eight for Mother MacAuley, but they should surely be teams to watch next season.  With programs as storied as these, the class 4A competition is unrivaled.

The other class championship games played out with the following:

Class 1A champions are Keith Country Day School from Rockford.  They win over Stewardson-Strasburg High School in straight sets 25-18; 25-17.

Class 2A champions are Immaculate Conception Catholic of Elmhurst.  They win over Edwards County High School in straight sets 25-15; 25-19.

Class 3A champions are St. Francis of Wheaton.  They win over Lasalle-Peru High School in straight sets 25-19; 25-7.

With this compelling season of volleyball in the books these teams and many others look to reload after graduating the senior leaders from their teams.  We had a great number of contests this year and will surely have a great number more next year.

Game TONIGHT

Tonight is the night. the 3rd  annual Illinois High School Girls Volleyball ALL STAR GAME.

It's wild to think its been three years since the idea for a gloified "scrimmage" came to fruition in the first years game.  It was thrown together in less than a month and frankly I was glad it happened and that it ACTUALLY happened.  I found a few local sponsors, had my colleague make a logo for the event, convinced my "higher ups" at the station/school to back up the idea (and forever grateful they did), ask around to locate the top players in the state, find a location and POOF it happened. Less than a month mind you!

Last year was an all hands on deck event for the event with things moving along nicely, more notoriety, mentions from many major media sources and volleyball experts. More knowledge from myself and the sport as a whole, with more attention and detail put into each and every selection. Great jersey donations and great people.

This year will be the best as it should be (if it wasn't there'd be a problem).  The recommendations came from more coaches / press / scouts / families than ever. More press has already written about the game and more press will be in attendance than before. The jerseys are cooler than ever (thanks MIZUNO & Great Lake Center).  The players are bigger stronger faster than ever and the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY is going to recieve some funds to help battle breast cancer.

Two headlines that press has posted so far that I truly appreciate are:

"SportsTownChicago.com vs Cancer" - Volleywood.net
"Breast Cancer awareness isn't just for October" - Volleyballmag.com

I think there is a theme here.  The games are being played not only to have fun, impress scouts, have coaches and family watch and listen live, give Illinois Center for Broadcasting students hands on training but the participation is for a greater cause...a greater good.  Its not just in October, nor has the fight been won.

I want to thank all involved for what is about to occur this evening, all the parents for allowing their children to participate. Thanks to the girls for choosing to play. The staff for helping put this together. The sponsors for making this game happen. Thank the Illinois Center for Broadcasting for their training and student participation and equipment.

SO Tonight is the night. lets have some fun! Lets break some floorboards, see some dumps, roofs, and tools (have to love Volleyball terms).  

ALL STARS 2012

2012 All-Star Game

TEAM WHITE

11 - Abby Luebbers Libero Mater Dei

3 - Sheila Doyle Libero Benet Academy

6 - Alyssa Baznik  Setter Naperville Central

10 - Erienne Barry Setter St. Charles East

7 -Krista Brakauskus  Setter Providence Catholic

15 - Ciara Hill Outside Hitter Bolingbrook

4 - Jessica Brezwyn Outside Hitter Hinsdale South

9 - Morgan Reardon Outside Hitter JCA

25 - Meghan McDowell Outside Hitter/Setter Hinsdale Central 

12 - Mellisa Deatsch Outside Hitter York

8 -Danielle Davis Outside Hitter Bloomington Central Catholic  Small

13 - Mallory Wilczynski  Middle Block Cary Grove

14 - Kelly Clark Middle Block Mother McAuley x

19 - Logan Walling Middle Block/ Outside Hitter Normal U. High School

5 -Emily Lindemulder   Middle Hitter Chicago Christian 

TEAM PINK

2 - Emily Milligan Libero Nazareth Academy

3 - Kayla Katarzynski  Libero West Chicago

7 -Lauren Carlini  Setter West Aurora 

15 - McKenna Kelsay Setter St. Francis

14 - Sophia Dodd Setter St. Ignatius 

17 - Mallory Salis  Outside Hitter Marist

6 - Tara Blake Outside Hitter Marian Central Catholic

11 - Jane TrzaskaOutside Hitter Glenbard South

18 - Katie Roustio  Outside Hitter O’Fallon

12 - Amanda Dolan Outside Hitter Lincoln Way Central

13 - Corinne Gajcak Outside Hitter Naperville North

5 - Sarah Parker Middle Block Edwardsville

16 - Hannah Lee Middle Hitter Whitney Young

8 -Cindy Zhou Setter Libertyville

9 – Caleigh Ryan Setter Glenbard West

THE LIST of ALL STARS!!!

TEAM WHITE – Brad Baker

OH – Jenna Jendryk – Benet

OH - Michelle Shultz – Payton

OH – Ally Davis – Hinsdale Central

OH – Dakota Hampton – Sandburg

OH - Jessie Tulacka – Downers Grove North

OH – Laura Williams – Lyons

S – Alexis Villaunis – Lyons

MH – Megan Haggerty – Benet

L – Kristi Gierman – QOP

L – Amy Dion – Huntley

RS/OH – Maureen Carls -Andrew –

OH – Tori Lanzelotti – Lake Forest

MH – Melissa Nava – Hinsdale South

OH – Becky Deruiter – Chicago Christian

OH – Caroline Rose – York

MB/RS – Taylor Voss – Breese Central

OH - Megan Niski – St. Charles East

S – Sam Bedard – Mater Dei

============

TEAM PINK – Natalie Holder

Libero – Mary Grassano – SICP

OH - Amelia Wegman – Rosary

S – Ashley Holder – Marist

OH – Lizzy Scanlon – Mother Mcauley

OH – Kelly Feigh – JCA

RS – Nora Mitros – Providence

OH – Amelia Anderson – Crystal Lake Central

OH/MB – Ashley Rosch – Cary Grove

OH – Melanie Jereb – Cary Grove

S – Abby GIlleland – Marian Central

OH - Madisen Lenzini – Whitney Young

OH – Stacey Perinar – Minooka

OH – Julia Conard – West Chicago

OH – Sam Epenesa – Edwardsville

OH – Cassidy Kingery – Heyworth

OH - Casey Durham – Evanston Township

Liberio – Abbie Magrini – Mahomet-Seymour

MB - Daiva Wise – St. Francis (Wheaton)

Almost Over

And so the super sectionals have ended, and we now know in Class 4A, that there will be a NEW state champion (Cary Grove can have 2 out of past 3, but still different from last.)

Edwardsville vs. Benet TRULY showed us at STC the strength of the RedWings and they REALLY were powerful and mentally outmatched Edwardsville.

Epenesa still proved strong and almost single handed-ly won the second set, but the problem was the "curse" of the 17-10.

Three times in the past week 1/2 we at STC/CSR have seen a 17-10 lead blown to lose the game (SICP vs. Hins Central, Eds vs. Benet, and in college - Depaul vs. Seton Hall).

Benet, Cary Grove, St. Charles East and Marist...we wish you the best of luck, and see you soon!