Sandburg Blue knew what to do Thursday at Palos Courts. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com As he has done the past few years, Sandburg volleyball coach David Vales entered two teams in the Palos Courts Summer League. His logic to how he divided them was simple. “I split our team down the middle,” he said. “I'm constantly going against tough teams in the sectional, and sometimes in the past I'd go all in on the summer league. But with 10 players back from last season’s team, how would I know how well they will play together ...
Brittany Welch begins a new life after Resurrection
Following a career that included nearly 1,200 kills, 750 digs, 100 aces, 140 blocks, every conceivable school record and a state runner-up trophy, Brittany Welch is beginning life after Resurrection. “It's something that I’ll never forget,” Welch said about her high school career at the northwest side of Chicago school. “I miss it so much. I would go back if I could. They (her teammates and friends) all said, ‘Stay home, stay home.’ But I can’t. “It’s a long way from home, but I like it here,” she said. “Here” is New Mexico State Un...
SPVB 18 Alpha wins USA division; Ultimate 17 Gold, Adversity 16 Purple take second at BJNC
18 USA division champions SPVB 18 Alpha went 9-2 and won the 18 USA division of the 2018 USAV Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the Aurora-based club's first boys title at BJNCs. "(Head coach Victoria Vandeleur) and I both wore pink pants," joked assistant coach Susie Nelson. "I think that's what clinched it." Team members are Edward Jakubauskas, Parker Nelson, Jakub Migus, Cameron Menini, Matthew Russo, John Kenny, Petar Lumovic, Jeremy Cardenas, Ryan Swartz, Matthew Nealon, John Davis and Andr...
Adversity amps up for bigger, brighter future
New personnel. New facility. New energy. Founded by former USA Women’s National Sitting Volleyball and USAV CAP Level 5 coach Mike Hulett, Adversity Volleyball Club has been around for more than 20 years. But the Vernon Hills-based club is getting a complete overhaul from top to bottom. “We plan to take over the world,” said Adversity’s new boys’ program director Keith Kujawa, half-kidding and half-serious. “We have a lot of great things that will be happening here now and over the next few years.” The “overhaul” began recently with the hi...
Kane County 18 Gold as good as … well, gold
KC Johnsen has been coaching volleyball for a long time, but he might never have had a group as resilient as this season’s Kane County 18 Gold team.Minus one of the two seniors on the team and with a roster featuring two sophomores and five juniors, Kane County 18 Gold won the 18 Open division at the 2018 Asics National Jr. Volleyball Championships June 15-19 at Navy Pier.“I’m really proud of this group of kids and how resilient they were,” said Johnsen, who founded Kane County Juniors 20 years ago and coached at Geneva for 13 years. “They ...
Illprepvb.com Final Girls Club Volleyball Rankings
Michio Chicago 17 National (pictured at top) won the 17 National division and Uno Girls 17 Elite (pictured below) won the 17 American division at the 2018 USAV Girls Junior National Championships in Detroit, Michigan. Michio Chicago 17 National and Uno Girls 17 Elite joined the national championship parade Tuesday, winning the 17 National and 17 American divisions, respectively, at the 2018 USAV Girls Junior National Championships in Detroit, Michigan.Six Illinois teams ranked by Illprepvb.com won national championships at either the AAU...
Marist guts out win over Minooka in 4A; Belleville Althoff, St. Thomas More, Payson Seymour also win
Class 3A champion Belleville Althoff Savannah Thompson never had a doubt. “Honestly, in the back of our heads there was no doubt,” said Marist’s 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter. “We had no doubt. The whole time I knew the other 17 girls, we wanted it just as bad and it feels freaking great to do right now, right here with these girls.” Thompson had 14 kills and 13 digs, Molly Murrihy added 32 assists and Maggie Meyer had 9 kills as Marist (41-1) defeated Minooka with a gutty 22-25, 25-22, 25-15 victory in the IHSA Cl...