Girls Volleyball

For three straight seasons, Benet has found itself just one set away from getting its hands on the Class 4A championship trophy. But for the third straight season, the quest ended just short. Marist rallied from down a set to beat Benet 19-25, 25-16, 25-19.

Lockport girls volleyball captured third place in Class 4A on Saturday at the IHSA State Finals in Normal.

Benet faced Marist girls volleyball in the Class 4A State Championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at at CEFCU Arena in Normal.

Huntley had to contend with another tough block Saturday and fell to Lockport 25-12, 25-21 in the Class 4A state tournament third-place match at Illinois State's CEFCU Arena. The Red Raiders still bring home their first state trophy since 1997. "I’ll always be proud of us."

Huntley girls volleyball faced Lockport in the Class 4A State Consolation match on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.

Prairie Ridge was back in top form Saturday. The Wolves, led by 20 kills from sophomore outside hitter Maizy Agnello, ended the season by beating DePaul Prep 25-22, 25-23 in the Class 3A state tournament third-place match at Illinois State's CEFCU Arena.

Timothy Christian used a balanced attack around Abby VanderWal, Bella Potempa and Ella Rickert to secure a straight-set victory over El Paso to secure third place in Class 2A, tying for the program's best finish at state.

Benet put up 14 total blocks, with Wisconsin-bound Lynney Tarnow dropping four of them, to take down Huntley in straight sets to advance to its third consecutive Class 4A title match.

Making their first state appearance in 25 years, the Porters had some nerves. But they rallied in the second set before falling 25-14, 25-22 to Marist in the final Class 4A semifinal on Friday at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State in Normal.

Making its first state semifinals appearance since 1997, top-seeded Huntley fell to No. 1 Benet 25-15, 25-19 in their Class 4A state semifinal at Illinois State's CEFCU Arena. The Raiders will play Lockport for third place at 7:25 p.m. Saturday.

Top-seeded Prairie Ridge, making its first state appearance in six years, saw its seven-match winning streak come to an end against No. 2 Limestone 25-18, 25-15 on Friday in the Class 3A state semifinals at Illinois State's CEFCU Arena in Normal.

Timothy Christian had its 38-match winning streak snapped with a 25-21, 25-16 loss to Bloomington Central Catholic in the Class 2A semifinals on Friday in Normal.

Huntley and Prairie Ridge are the first McHenry County teams to reach state since 2018. The Red Raiders and Wolves look to continue their special seasons Friday and Saturday at Illinois State University's CEFCU Arena in Normal.

The Porters haven't made it to the state tournament since 1996. Now that they're here, they're not satisfied with just making the trip. They want to take home a state title.

The Interstate 8 and Lincoln Trail conferences released their all-conference volleyball teams.

Here is the All-Kishwaukee River Conference girls volleyball team for the 2024 season, as selected by coaches. Richmond-Burton senior outside hitter Elissa Furlan was named KRC Player of the Year.

For the third match in a row, the Cissna Park girls volleyball team seemed to be heading to a third set that would decide its season

Henry-Senachwine seniors Lauren Harbison and Kaitlyn Anderson were named All-State Second Team, the Three Rivers, Tri-County and Little Ten released their all-conference volleyball teams and the Three Rivers announced its all-conference soccer.

Led by dominant net play from Brooklynne Brass and Lynney Tarnow, Benet secured a 25-17, 25-15 victory over New Trier to advance to state for the third straight season.

The Timberwolves will play Calhoun at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at CEFCU Arena in Normal for the state semifinals, returning to the site of their fourth-place finish from last season.

Providence Catholic's season came to an end in a 25-23, 25-23 loss to Bartonville Limestone in the Class 3A Pontiac Supersectional.

Maizy Agnello had 17 kills, 12 digs, three aces and two blocks, and Prairie Ridge rallied to beat St. Francis 10-25, 25-10, 25-17 in the Class 3A Grayslake Central Supersectional on Monday night. The Wolves are headed to state for the first time since 2018.

Sophomore Kate Vogelzang served two consecutive aces to give Timothy Christian the lead for good in the second set, and Texas recruit Abby VanderWal had 15 kills to lead the Trojans past Latin 25-23, 25-23 to the program's first state appearance since 2015.

Downers Grove South girls volleyball faced Lockport on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 in the Class 4A Riverside-Brookfield Supersectional in Riverside.

Lockport came back from a set down to beat Downers Grove South 23-25, 25-9, 25-22 in Monday's Class 4A Riverside-Brookfield Supersectional to punch the Porters' first trip to the state volleyball tournament in 28 years.

After coming so close in two of the previous three seasons, Huntley finally broke through with a 25-22, 25-16 win against Fremd in the Class 4A DeKalb Supersectional to send the Red Raiders to the state semifinals for the first time since 1997.

Benet girls volleyball faced New Trier on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 in the Class 4A St. Charles North Supersectional in St. Charles.

St. Francis faces Prairie Ridge in the IHSA Class 3A Grayslake Central Supersectional volleyball match on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at Grayslake Central High School.

Erie-Prophetstown senior volleyball player Jamie Neumiller, who was a key player in the Panthers' first regional title win and run to the Sweet 16, is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is her Q&A with Drake Lansman.

Wheaton Warrenville South girls volleyball faced Benet in the Class 4A West Aurora Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Aurora.

Oswego girls volleyball faced Joliet West in the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Bolingbrook.

St. Charles North girls volleyball faced Metea Valley in the Class 4A West Aurora Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Aurora.

Downers South captured its first sectional since 2004 by outlasting rival Downers Grove North 25-13, 23-25, 25-21 in the Class 4A Willowbrook Sectional title match.

The Wilmington girls volleyball team’s chase for its first sectional title since 2008 came up short on Thursday night. The Wildcats had their season end with a 2-0 loss to Chicago Christian in the IHSA Class 2A Manteno Sectional Championship, losing both sets 25-20.

The Henry-Senachwine volleyball team saw its record-breaking season end with a 25-19, 25-22 loss to Illini Bluffs in the Class 1A Williamsfield Sectional final Thursday.

Using their height to perfection, the Porters did what few others have this season. They neutralized the Oswego attack. The result was a 25-21, 25-21 victory over the Panthers on Thursday evening in the title match of the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional.

Top-seeded Prairie Ridge beat No. 4 Crystal Lake South 25-15, 25-21 Thursday in the Class 3A Crystal Lake South Sectional final to win the program's first sectional championship since 2018.

This year's Erie-Prophetstown volleyball team raised the bar for future Panthers after making their first ever run to the Sweet 16. E-P (32-4-2) fell to El Paso-Gridley in Thursday night's sectional final.

Providence Catholic fell behind 7-1 in the first set to Evergreen Park, but regrouped to come away with a 25-17, 25-22 win in the Class 3A Kankakee Sectional title match

Georgia Watson and the Huntley volleyball will return to the supersectional round, knocking off Libertyville for a sectional title.

Lemont battles fiercely in the first set before falling behind early in the second in a loss to St. Laurence in the Class 3A St. Laurence Sectional final on Thursday.

Oswego faced Lockport girls volleyball on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional final.

St. Charles North faced Benet girls volleyball on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in the Class 4A West Aurora Sectional final.

Downers Grove North faced Downers Grove South girls volleyball on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in the Class 4A Willowbrook Sectional final in Villa Park.

St. Francis junior Mackenzie Krzus had to watch from the stands last season as the Spartans won the Class 3A state title. Krzus was very ready and so were her Spartans teammates as they swept Wheaton Academy 26-24, 25-20 Thursday to win the Class 3A sectional title.

Dreams finally became a reality for Timothy Christian. After consecutive years of having to watch IC Catholic Prep celebrate, the Trojans finally were able to flip the sectional script Thursday.

After trailing by as many as six points in the second set, Benet to secure a straight-set victory over St. Charles North to advance to the supersectionals for the third straight season

Huntley faces Libertyville in an IHSA Class 4A McHenry Sectional volleyball final match on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at McHenry High School Freshman Campus.

Crystal Lake South faces Prairie Ridge in an IHSA Class 3A Crystal Lake South Sectional final volleyball match on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at Crystal Lake South High School.

Lacey Eissens and Jess Johns combined for 29 kills as top-seeded Sauk Valley Community College opened the postseason in Region 4 with a sweep of South Suburban at home Wednesday night.