SPVB B18 Lenny features five players who return from last year's team that finished third in the 18 USA division at the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships in Dallas, Texas. https://youtu.be/uD9zQD2XUUY There’s something about Lenny.Whether it’s chemistry, continuity or just top-to-bottom talent, Sports Performance’s “No. 2” team is hardly what most observers would consider a “second team.”SPVB 18 Lenny has been a fixture in the top brackets in the B18-Palos Points Series at Palos Courts this season. Saturday, after losi...

Former Glenbard East and Ohio State star Amanda Peterson played in Austria for four years before the COVID-19 pandemic put her professional career in jeopardy. (Peterson photo courtesy of the University of Kentucky, Clark cover photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAmanda Peterson is coming home. Tiffany Clark is staying home.The former Illinois high school stars are among 40 players who have signed with Athletes Unlimited, which is launching a new women’s professional volleyball league. When ...

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...

Breese Mater Dei's Jessie Timmeman set a school record for single-season assists in 2019. (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.Of course, there is no guarantee that Illinois schools will re-open by mid-to-late August, and the IHSA will most likely follow the lead of state government before it OKs high school sports in the fall. But if schools do re-open, and the IHSA gives the go-ahead to fall sports, not only will...

SPVB 18 Kahl's Katie Kaburov (26) rips a kill between two Rolling Thunder 18 Blue defenders Sunday during the Presidents' Day Challenge at the Schaumburg Convention Center. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Greek philosopher Heraclitus coined the phrase “change is the only constant in life.”Although Heraclitus lived more than 2,500 years ago, he could have just as easily been talking about Sports Performance’s No. 2 18s team.After a successful run as 13s, Kayla Closset (Naperville Central), Gretchen Ketelhut (Plainfield North), Maddie Bourque (York...

Payson-Seymour's 2017 team was one of the most dominant Class 1A champions in IHSA history, going three sets in only one of its 41 victories. 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 begins its countdown of the 20 All-Time Best Illinois Girls' High School Volleyball Teams.The task was monumental, to be sure. There have been 84 championship tea...