http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com Latest news from the Chicago Sun-Times - High School Sports en-us webmaster@suntimes.com (Editor) Newspapers http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/YourSeason/assets/img/logo.gif http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com 84 34 30 Copyright 2013 Shepard, which shared the South Suburban Red crown in 2011 with Richards, reigned alone this season after beating Evergreen Park on Oct. 18 to finish 12-1. The fun run may not end there. The program overall was 72-20-1, with the freshmen going undefeated in conference and the sophomores 12-1. “Bottom to top it’s been a special season,” Shepard coach Dan Grunauer said. … ]]> Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:57:16 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/16042408-393/girls-volleyball-shepard-getting-the-system-down.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/16042408-393/girls-volleyball-shepard-getting-the-system-down.html
There will not be an undefeated champion in the South Suburban Conference. Lemont made sure of that Tuesday in very emphatic fashion, marching into Shepard and sweeping the host Astros 25-12, 25-17. “We were really ready to go,” middle Kelly Ferguson said. “We prepared ourselves all week for this match at practice. We were tired after a tournament (at Glenbard East), but … ]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:11:19 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/15795404-393/girls-volleyball-lemont-stings-shepard.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/15795404-393/girls-volleyball-lemont-stings-shepard.html
Stephanie Korbakes, 17, of Palos Heights, is in her fourth season as a varsity player for the Astros. How did it feel to be the South Suburban Red Player of the Year last season? It was a great feel, a confidence-booster. I never really thought I could be that great, and getting that award meant a lot to me. Why did you … ]]> Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:11:13 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/15646348-393/q-and-a-with-stephanie-korbakes-shepard-volleyball.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/15646348-393/q-and-a-with-stephanie-korbakes-shepard-volleyball.html Keep on pushing. That, Shepard’s Natalie Carberry said, is pretty much the attitude the Astros have been taking during one of the program’s best starts to a conference season. Tuesday’s 25-22, 25-22 victory over visiting Oak Lawn has Shepard (13-4 overall) at 9-0 in the South Suburban Red and in front of the pack by two games in the chase for the … ]]> Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:38:44 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/15528661-393/girls-volleyball-shepard-tops-oak-lawn.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/15528661-393/girls-volleyball-shepard-tops-oak-lawn.html
Shepard right-side hitter Stephanie Korbakes wreaked plenty of havoc in and around the net, but it was from the back row were she landed her most lethal blow Thursday in the Astros’ 25-17, 25-23 South Suburban crossover victory over host Oak Forest. The Bengals had roared back from a 23-19 deficit in Set 2 to get even at 23 when setter Caroline … ]]> Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:05:17 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/14985774-393/girls-volleyball-shepard-downs-oak-forest.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/14985774-393/girls-volleyball-shepard-downs-oak-forest.html First-match jitters had set in and Shepard was wobbling, down 15-12 in the first set of Monday’s nonconference battle against visiting Illiana Christian when back-row balance kicked in. First, Stephanie Korbakes banged down a long-distance kill. Then, Natalie Carberry went to the service line and rifled back-to-back aces. “The difference in the match. I didn’t see the timid looks on their faces … ]]> Mon, 20 Aug 2012 20:04:01 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/14622856-393/girls-volleyball-shepards-natalie-carberry-stephanie-korbakes-down-illiana-christian.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/14622856-393/girls-volleyball-shepards-natalie-carberry-stephanie-korbakes-down-illiana-christian.html The neighborhood volleyball programs will clash for the second time this year after Lincoln-Way Central and Providence advanced from their Class 4A Providence Regional semifinals Tuesday. Lincoln-Way Central will hope to avenge an earlier season defeat to the Celtics, but the Knights had to avoid a scare from Shepard, winning 15-25, 25-18, 25-20, to move on. Providence was a 25-10, 25-14 winner … ]]> Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:38:39 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/8419331-393/l-w-central-providence-advance.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/8419331-393/l-w-central-providence-advance.html
For the match, she’d had exactly one kill. To say the least, Eisenhower’s Cayley Green didn’t overthink things when she went up for the potential match-clinching spike in Thursday’s South Suburban Red finale against host Shepard. “Oh, God, I just thought, ‘Don’t miss it,’ ” Green said. She didn’t. A split-second later she had two kills and Eisenhower a 16-25, 28-26, 25-23 … ]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:24:31 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/8330351-393/eisenhower-makes-shepard-share-crown-with-richards.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/8330351-393/eisenhower-makes-shepard-share-crown-with-richards.html As Shepard’s starting setter, Stephanie Korbakes’ focus first and foremost is spreading the ball around to her teammates. As for other aspects of the game, the junior has to pick and choose. Dishing out the ball, putting down kills, coming through with blocks and aces, Korbakes did it all in Tuesday’s 21-25, 25-18, 25-17 South Suburban Red win at No. 7 Richards. … ]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:10:01 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/8164699-393/korbakes-leads-shepard-past-richards.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/8164699-393/korbakes-leads-shepard-past-richards.html
Oak Forest’s 21-25, 25-14, 25-21 South Suburban crossover volleyball victory Thursday over host Shepard was a real pulse-pounder. Bengals coach Amanda Brown had proof. “I’m sure it went off a few times,” said Brown of a heart monitor she wore while being treated for an irregular heart rhythm. “We sure made it interesting.” Gina Ryan (12 kills, 9 digs), Stephanie Dagenais (11 … ]]> Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:04:31 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/7416380-393/oak-forest-finds-its-rhythm-beats-shepard.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/7416380-393/oak-forest-finds-its-rhythm-beats-shepard.html
One slogan defending Class 2A champion Chicago Christian can’t use this season is “unfinished business.” How about “Do It Again”? “Well, we’re definitely hoping to. That was the ultimate ending,” Becky DeRuiter said after the No. 4 Knights kicked things off Tuesday with a 25-21, 25-12 victory over visiting Shepard. Maggie Kamp, who at 6-foot-2 is the tallest on the roster for … ]]> Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:18:27 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/7243730-393/chicago-christian-outlasts-shepard.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/7243730-393/chicago-christian-outlasts-shepard.html
The nerves for the most part were all gone. It was time to make her first big varsity impression. Chicago Christian freshman Emily Workman's quick set near the end of Game 2 against host Shepard was right there above the net for 6-foot-2 junior middle Becky DeRuiter to soar up to and blast to the floor. DeRuiter did soar, and boy, did … ]]> Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:28:02 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/4455138-393/short-handed-knights-handle-shepard.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/4455138-393/short-handed-knights-handle-shepard.html Shepard volleyball coach Dan Grunauer is enjoying watching his sophomores grow up. On the night outside hitter Breanna Witt celebrated her 16th birthday, she and fellow sophomores Stephanie Korbakes and Natalie Carberry helped the Astros roll to a 25-14, 25-18 South Suburban crossover win Thursday over Tinley Park in Palos Heights. Witt and Carberry had four kills each and Korbakes added three … ]]> Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:14:01 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/4454315-393/shepard-too-much-for-tinley-park.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/shepard/girls_volleyball/4454315-393/shepard-too-much-for-tinley-park.html