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 ...
150 reasons to watch boys' high school volleyball in the spring of 2021, Part II
Metea Valley's Chad Luckinbill (9) was a pivotal part of Sports Performance 16 Elite's highly successful club season and should help the Mustangs when they return to the court in the spring of 2021. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 boys’ high school season, shutting down what had promised to be a highly competitive and entertaining quest to crown the 29th champion since the IHSA began sanctioning high school volleyball tournaments in 1992.Although we regret that so many talented seniors were denied a be...
Providence provides pioneering former Brother Rice coach with new start
Paul Ickes' 2007 Brother Rice team, led by Sun-Times Player of the Year Josh Scaletta (back row, fifth from left), was 39-0 heading into the IHSA quarterfinals before being upset by New Trier, a team it has defeated earlier that season. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPaul Ickes is going back to his roots, and the former Brother Rice volleyball coach could not be happier.Ickes, 56, who won 552 matches and took five teams to the IHSA state finals, is now at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox. He is a theology teacher and wi...
From here to there and back again: a recruiting nightmare with a happy ending
Amy Schwem (far right) and Lemont won the Silver division championship at the Wheaton Classic during her senior season. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Amy Schwem led Lemont to a 30-8 record and a regional championship as a senior. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSometimes something seemingly very insignificant turns out to be a bit of foreshadowing.Such was the case for Amy Schwem, a four-year varsity setter at Lemont and a second-team Illprepvb.com all-state selection, during Senior Night festivities on Oct. 17, 2019. Her larger-than...
Judson University is looking for a few good men for its young volleyball program
For information about Judson University's Men's Volleyball program, contact Irick Gardner at irick.gardner@judsonu.edu. https://youtu.be/A_rs4bpM2VM For admissions information, go to https://myjudson.judsonu.edu/ICS/Admissions/Admissions_Home.jnz?portlet=Traditional_Undergrad&formname=Undergraduate ...
150 reasons to watch boys' high school volleyball in the spring of 2021, Part I
Led by outside hitter KJ Glab, St. Francis should be among the top teams in the state next spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 boys’ high school season, shutting down what had promised to be a highly competitive and entertaining quest to crown the 29th champion since the IHSA began sanctioning high school volleyball tournaments in 1992. Although we regret that so many talented seniors were denied a better ending to their high school careers, it’s not too early to look ahead to next spring when ...
Georgetown-Ridge Farm coach recognized for efforts in and out of the classroom
Georgetown-Ridge Farm's Kim Fraser coaches volleyball and softball at the Vermilion County school of approximately 300 students. Congratulations to Georgetown-Ridge Farm volleyball coach Kim Fraser. Fraser was honored by the IHSA and Country Financial as part of of a program to recognize the efforts of educators and coaches/advisors who go beyond the call of duty to positively impact the lives of Illinois high school students inside and outside of the classroom. Fraser took over a program 11 years ago that had not won a match in fo...
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 ...
Illprepvb.com ranks the 10 All-Time Best Illinois Boys High School Volleyball Teams, Nos. 1-5
Wheaton Warrenville South's 2012 unbeaten IHSA championship team, which went 42-0 and dropped only two sets all season, was named the ESPN National Champion The COVID-19 pandemic denied high school volleyball fans a 2020 boys’ season, but we can still celebrate some of the great teams of the past by naming the 10 All-Time Best Boys High School Volleyball Teams.The boys' first sanctioned state tournament was held in 1992. Richards dominated the landscape that season, not only becoming the first state champion in IHSA history, but also th...
Disney World or bust … USA Volleyball cancellation leaves clubs with only one choice (updated 5/31)
Marist's Ewalina Gacek and her 1st Alliance 17 Black teammates are on a short list of teams tentatively scheduled to participate in the AAU Girls Junior National Championships beginning July 14 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) USA Volleyball has made the decision easy.“I’m going to Disney World.”At least until further notice.Late last week, USA Volleyball announced the cancellation of the USA Volleyball Indoor National Championships for the 2020 season, including the Girls Junior National Championship in Dallas and the Girls 18s...