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...
Barrington loaded for another run; St. Francis is mature, focused … and more
Barrington plans to take advantage of Ben Ridgway's (7) versatility as it seeks its third consecutive IHSA quarterfinal berth. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2020 boys' high school volleyball season with another set of team previews. Illprepvb.com provides the best in boys volleyball coverage throughout the season anywhere in the state. School: BarringtonConference: Mid-Suburban WestHead coach: Rob Ridenour (15th season)Last season’s highlights: 29-11 overall, 9-1 in conference (conference co-champ...
Illprepvb.com presents the 20 All-Time Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Teams, Nos. 11-15
Benet won the school's fourth Class 4A championship in 2019, avenging its only loss - at defending state champion Marist -- in the semifinals, and defeating Wheaton Warrenville South in the championship match. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) There have been many great teams throughout the history of IHSA girls’ high school volleyball – undefeated champions, once-beaten champions, and some teams that did not win a state championship despite their pedigree. Today, Illprepvb.com continues its countdown of the 20 All-Time Best Illinois Gir...
Maine West building on record season; Lake Park regional streak at 11, and more
Josh Schellinger (11), Luke Nelson (5) and Andrew Deardorff (14) all return for perennial contender Lake Park, which has won 11 consecutive regional titles. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com continues its look at the 2020 boys' high school volleyball season with another set of team previews. Illprepvb.com provides the best in boys volleyball coverage throughout the season anywhere in the state. School: Lake ParkConference: DuKaneHead coach: Brian FischerLast season’s highlights: 25-12 overall, 4-2 in conference, finis...
High school, club, or both? The IHSA board is expected to decide Monday
Girls may have to choose between playing high school or club volleyball this spring if the IHSA Board of Directors upholds current eligibility restrictions. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The IHSA Board of Directors is expected to decide at its Monday, August 24 meeting whether to allow student-athletes to compete for their high school teams while simultaneously participating in club and travel sports.Current IHSA eligibility rules state that students who choose to participate in non-school sports during a sport season will not be eligible to ...
While we're waiting … here's a sneak peek at some of the top 15s girls' club teams
Springfield Shock 15 Under Armour head coach Bruce Wible said this group has a chance to be “really special.” This is the final installment of Illprepvb.com’s look at some of the top clubs in Illinois in their respective age groups. The 15s are always the most difficult to predict for a variety of reasons. This season, that uncertainty is magnified partly because most 14s experienced a shortened competitive season in 2020, and in some cases, no season at all.However, there are some things we can say for certain.Year in and year out,...
Illprepvb.com presents 200 reasons we can't wait for volleyball in the fall: Middle hitters
Emily Surin was the third-leading attacker for Joliet Catholic during its run to the Class 3A championship match last fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues its look at 200 reasons why we’re looking forward to girls high school volleyball resuming in the fall.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday released long-awaited guidance for schools across the state that would allow them to re-open in the fall. Each school district will determine how to implement the guidance based on its unique circumstances, the statement ...
IHSA moves girls' volleyball to 'spring,' boys' volleyball season to 'summer'
The IHSA released a revised schedule for girls' and boys' volleyball, which means that scenes like this played out last November will have to wait until April or May of 2021, if at all. Some Illinois high schools plan to reopen as usual this fall. Others plan to use a “hybrid” approach format, combining in-person and e-learning. Then there are those high schools that will rely entirely on e-learning for the first semester.But whatever their differences are and whichever learning format they employ, they all have one thing in common – th...
While we're waiting … here's a sneak peek at some of the top 17s girls' club teams
Fremd's Rylen Reid (13), who toils for Adversity Volleyball Club, and Marist's Mary Clare Brusek (5), who plays for Michio Chicago Volleyball Academy, saw a lot of each other in the 2019 IHSA Class 4A third-place match and could see each other again during club play in 2021. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Yes, they are playing club volleyball in some parts of the country. Wisconsin and Nevada held events last week. But the immediate future does not look in Illinois as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the state.The Windy City Power L...