Adversity G18 Adidas is loaded with talent, but putting it all together could take some time, said coach Melissa Masterson. https://youtu.be/CAIXJmHGmm4 Every time Adversity G18 Adidas takes the court this season, it will have the proverbial target on its back.“I think we have a lot of talent,” said Adversity’s 6-foot junior setter Rachel Muisenga from Benet, who is committed to perennial Big 10 volleyball powerhouse Penn State. “But it's going to be what we do with that talent that will determine how we come out.“Each match, we have...
Here are the latest Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com Girls Club Rankings
There was some movement in this week's girls club rankings with Sky High Adidas 18 Black taking over the top spot among the 18s and Michio Chicago 16 National moving to the top of the 16s field. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The Windy City Power League seeding is over and the league season is underway. Surprises? There were a few. Meanwhile, with a few exceptions, the schedule is a little light prior to Presidents’ Day tournaments hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora and Sky High Volleyball Center in Crystal Lake. ...
Michio Chicago 18 National getting it done with defense and a 'no fear' attitude
Michio Chicago 18 National is unbeaten at 9-0 after two weekends of seeding in the Windy City Power League. https://youtu.be/M50k_E2ZVDc This is not last year’s Michio Chicago 18 National team.Gone from the team that went 5-3 and finished in 25th place at the USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Dallas last April are such big bangers as Marian Catholic’s Temitayo Thomas-Ailara (Northwestern), Sandburg’s Erica Staunton (Northeastern) and Latin middle blocker Kelsey Watkins (Furman).But different is not always a bad thing.Afte...
Sky High Adidas 16 Black shows it can compete with the nation's elite
Sky High Adidas 16 Black flashed its potential when it finished 10th at the 2020 Triple Crown Volleyball NIT two weeks ago. https://youtu.be/FOg54ng8no4 Perhaps no one is harder on Sky High Adidas 16 Black than … Sky High Adidas 16 Black.“I have a lot of perfectionists on this team,” said Sky High Adidas 16 Black coach Steve Bonnem. “You can’t be that in this sport. You have to learn to get over the mistakes and move on from them. Even an elite team is going to make mistakes.”Sky High Adidas 16 Black certainly showed it can be an el...
Shorthanded Michio Chicago 16 National hanging on until reinforcements arrive
Michio Chicago 16 National has yet to field its complete lineup this season, but hopes to have everyone back by the time it competes in the Mideast Qualifier in late March. https://youtu.be/YRzI_HfBbTw Michio Chicago 16 National’s bench is getting to be a very lonely place.But when the cavalry does arrive in a few weeks or so, the girls from the south side figure to be a force to be reckoned with.Last weekend in the Windy City Power League, Michio played without 5-9 setter Caroline Macander (concussion) from Mother McAuley, 5-7 defen...
1st Alliance 16 Black plays second fiddle to no one at the Windy City Power League
1st Alliance 16 Black has shown with its play on the court that it's a No. 2 team in name only. https://youtu.be/650uA-vrHT4 There are “No. 2” teams, and then there are “No. 2” teams that are really “No. 1s” in sheep’s clothing.Technically, 1st Alliance 16 Black may the Woodridge club’s “No. 2” 16s team, but you would have a hard time convincing anybody competing in the Windy City Power League 15&16 Open division.Saturday at the Sky High Volleyball Center in Crystal Lake, 1st Alliance 16 Black defeated UNO Girls 16 Elite (25-12, 2...
Here are the post-Lafata Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com Boys Club Rankings
Future 18 Elite and SPVB B16 Elite finished second in their respective divisions at the just-concluded 2020 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic in St. Louis. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The 2020 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic in St. Louis, Missouri, is in the books. Illinois teams did not win a single Open championship, doing most of their damage in the USA and Club divisions.Local division winners at Lafata included SPVB B18 Lenny (18 USA), Future 17 White (17 USA), 630 Volleyball 16-1 (16 USA) and Ultimate B15 Blue (15 Club).Runners-up in th...
Cook, Stone learning on the fly, while Future soars on the volleyball court
Future 18 Elite features several players from west suburban powerhouses Glenbard West and St. Francis, including James Meinhart and K.J. Glab. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comStarting a business is a heavy lift for anyone, but recent college graduates Nic Cook and Jacob Stone are seeing instant success.The long-time friends decided to hang out their own shingle after the club where Cook was coaching folded last year.Their new venture, Future Volleyball Club, is off to a great start. The Carol Stream-based ...
Here are the post-Presidents' Day Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com Girls Club Rankings
Alexis Mines (70) from Joliet West helped SPVB 16 Elite finished third in the 18/17 Power division at the Presidents' Day Challenge hosted by Sports Performance at the Schaumburg Convention Center last weekend. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The Presidents’ Day tournaments are in the books with Illinois teams competing from Kansas City to St. Louis to Schaumburg. The Triple Crown NIT Volleyball Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, proved to be the most difficult hurdle for teams from the Great Lakes Region, with 1st Alliance 16 Silver tu...
Young SPVB 18 Elite's unbeaten run ends at Presidents' Day Challenge
SPVB 18 Elite saw its 15-match winning streak to open the 2020 season come to an end against Alabama Performance 18 Red in the 18/17 Power division championship match of the Presidents' Day Challenge Monday at the Schaumburg Convention Center. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Something about the “SPVB” lettering on the front of the jersey brings out the best in the opposition.Alabama Performance 18 Red’s best Monday was pretty darn good.Led by its trio of Division I recruits – 6-foot-3 outside hitter Merritt Beason (Florida), 6-3 middle hitter Gabr...