Libertyville's Jack Stevens led the Wildcats to three consecutive regional championships. (Photos courtesy of Chicago Tribune) Today, we continue to count down the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players. The players were selected based on their athletic ability, their individual accomplishments on the court, how they impacted their team’s success, their place in IHSA history, and in some cases, how they continued to represent themselves and Illinois volleyball on the national and international stage. High School boys ha...
Illprepvb.com presents the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players
Barrington's 6-9 middle hitter TJ Murray continued his stellar career at Lewis University, where he was named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American following the pandemic-shortened season. (Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune) Today, we begin to count down the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players.The players were selected based on their athletic ability, their individual accomplishments on the court, how they impacted their team’s success, their place in IHSA history, and in some cases, how they continued to represent thems...
Illprepvb.com presents the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players, Nos. 31-40
Former Glenbard East star Dan Mader, the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year in 2008 and currently the associate director of Volleyball Club Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, stands in front of the club's new facility currently under construction. Today, we continue to count down the 50 All-Time Best Illinois Boys Volleyball Players. The players were selected based on their athletic ability, their individual accomplishments on the court, how they impacted their team’s success, their place in IHSA history, and in some cases, how they ...
Club directors face tough decision with nationals still scheduled to proceed
Amanda Rice (7) and Adversity G18 Adidas teammates are one of 16 girls teams from Illinois that have qualified for the 2020 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship in Dallas, Texas, June 25-July 4, in the 15-18 age divisions. But will they go? (Photos by Dave Ruggles) (Updated Thursday, April 30)Should we stay or should we go?That is the overriding question facing Illinois volleyball clubs with the news that, as of today, USA Volleyball still plans to conduct its boys and girls national championships notwithstanding the COVID-19 ...
His varsity career likely ended after one week, but his future still looks bright
St. Viator senior Daniel Fecko (foreground) personifies the definition of "student-athlete," according to his volleyball coach, Katie Post. St. Viator's Daniel Fecko (4). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDaniel Fecko always puts forth an extra effort.The fact that the St. Viator senior achieved a perfect score of 36 on his ACT exam is certainly proof of that.Fecko has been playing soccer and volleyball at St. Viator since he was a freshman. This spring, however, would have been his first opportunity to play on a varsity team.But w...
IHSA pulls the plug on state tournaments, but does not nix spring sports entirely
There will not be an IHSA boys volleyball tournament at Hoffman Estates in 2020. But the organization refused to rule out the possibility that some contests could be conducted later this spring or summer if the state government and health professionals deem it is safe. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Following Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzer’s decision Friday to close all Illinois schools for the remainder of the year, one astute boys volleyball coach reacted to the IHSA’s announcement that it would postpone until today a decision whether to cancel spri...
One of the best-ever women tackles new challenge with Culver-Stockton men's program
Culver-Stockton College, an NAIA school with about 1,000 undergraduates in Canton, Missouri, established a men's volleyball program eight years ago. (Photo courtesy of Culver-Stockton College) Culver-Stockton men's volleyball coach Caren Kemner. Three-time Olympian. Six-time recipient of the United States Olympic Committee Female Volleyball Athlete of the Year and a five-time winner of Team USA MVP award. Member of the University of Arizona and International Volleyball halls of fame.Caren Kemner, a native of Quincy who led Quincy Notre D...
Looking to help during the COVID-19 crisis? These girls have a suggestion
1st Alliance and Lions Jrs. Volleyball Clubs are sponsoring a food drive to help people in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Here's how you can help. The coronavirus pandemic is scary. Everyone is at risk. It has already turned society upside-down. Millions of people are out of work. Many families who depended on their weekly paychecks are living day-to-day. The fragile in society are even moreso.But there are ways in which those people who still have the wherewithal can help. The can donate to charities. They can give blood. They c...
Minooka's Ooms remains hopeful while recovering from a serious ankle injury
Minooka's Shane Ooms (2, far left) suffered a serious ankle injury during club season, but hopes to come back and lead Minooka to an IHSA championship. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Minooka's Shane Ooms By Matt Le Cren Special to Illprepvb.comMinooka star Shane Ooms had visions of leading his team to a state championship this spring.Instead, the 6-foot-4 senior outside hitter has been cooling his jets while rehabbing a gruesome ankle injury.Now the coronavirus pandemic has sidelined all of his teammates and every other athlete indefi...
A master of Fortnite, Badrljica has now set his sights on the volleyball court
Naperville Central's Nick Badrljica spends hours each day playing "Fortnite," the most popular video game in the world. He and his partner are among the top-ranked players in the United States. "Fortnite" has more than 200 million registered players worldwide. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAs a freshman, Nick Badrljica decided he didn’t have time to try out for the volleyball team at Naperville Central.He was too busy playing video games.In an earlier generation – or even just a decade ago – that would be considered a sign of ...