Meet me in the middle? SPVB 18 Red defeats Illini Elite 18 Black for AAU title

Illini Elite 18 Black survived nearly a half-dozen three-set matches to reach the championship match of the 18 Club division in Orlando, but ultimately fell to SPVB 18 Red. Orlando, Florida – Sports Performance 18 Red and Illini Elite 18 Black traveled a combined 2,300 miles to play in the championship of the 18 Club division at the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center.Wouldn’t it have been easier to settle things somewhere in the middle? Say, Dwight, Illinois?Maybe the accommodations are...

College of DuPage to offer men's volleyball beginning in 2022-23 with aid of grant

A $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Foundation will help to establish a men's volleyball program at College of DuPage.  College of DuPage will launch a men's volleyball program during the 2022-23 academic year, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Foundation, the college announced June 30. COD is one of 15 institutions to receive grant funding as part of the NJCAA and Fi...

Presenting the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team

Glenbrook North libero Paul Wyszynski helped to lead the Spartans to an IHSA championship and a 25-0 season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our third annual effort to honor the best boys high school volleyball players in Illinois.Coaches were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or c...

Presenting the Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys Player of the Year

Lake Park's Josh Schellinger was the third of three siblings to play volleyball for the Roselle school, following in the footsteps of older brother Nick and older sister Ally. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) University of California-San Diego recruit Josh Schellinger. Mr. Irreplaceable?Volleyball is a way of life in the Schellinger household. Recent high school graduate, 6-foot-6 outside hitter Josh Schellinger, followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Nick, and older sister, Ally, to play volleyball at Lake Park.Siblings begetting siblin...

A few points decide VC United 171's fate; Illini Elite 15 White rules AAUs

VC United 171 Elite, seeded No. 2 in the 17 Open division, found out that a few points can make a big difference. Orlando, Florida – VC United 171 Elite learned a valuable lesson the hard way at the 48th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center. “I guess when coaches say every point matters, this is an example why,” said VC United club director/owner Eric Schulze. VC United, seeded second in the 17 Open division, rolled through its first eight matches at the Orange County Convention...

Munciana foils SPVB 18 Elite's bid for AAU national championship

SPVB 18 Elite's Ella Wrobel (pictured here earlier this season) had 8 kills in the second set, but the Aurora girls were unable to overcome Asics Munciana Samurai in the 18 Open championship match Monday at the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships. Orlando, Fla. -- Sports Performance 18 Elite unveiled their bright new jerseys for the championship match of the 18 Open division Monday at the 48th AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center.Unfortunately, it was the same old Asics Muncian...

Here are the final 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Rankings

Glenbrook North complete just the sixth unbeaten season (albeit an abbreviated one) for an Illinois boys' volleyball team when it defeated Lake Park, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, Saturday at Glenbard West. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) After weeks and weeks of speculation (will we or won’t we?), we did.The 2021 boys’ volleyball season ended with an IHSA-sponsored tournament. And though, as always, it was far from perfect – sectional imbalance and “geographic representation” continue to be issues the IHSA refuses to address – somehow, the two best te...

Glenbrook North breaks 28-year drought, beats Lake Park for IHSA title

Glenbrook North celebrates its first IHSA boys volleyball championship since 1993 after defeating Lake Park, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, Saturday at Glenbard West. (All photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/yT7bIUyd8K4 When it came to winning state championships, Glenbrook North was in cicada territory.You have to go all the way back to 1993 to discover the last time the Spartans won an IHSA championship in boys’ volleyball.They came close twice since, losing in the title game in 2004 to a Wheaton Warrenville South team led by 6-9 Matt Mc...

Saturday, June 19 results

Glenbrook North junior libero Paul Wyszynski digs a ball during the Spartans' 25-22, 18-25, 25-19 victory over Lake Park in the IHSA boys volleyball championship game Saturday at Glenbard West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Saturday, June 19 results IHSA boys semifinals Glenbrook North def. Lincoln-Way East 25-17, 25-14Lincoln-Way East (20-6 overall): Tyler Walenga (8 kills, 1 assist, 1 ace, 2 digs), Ian Nicholson (4 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs), Owen Morrow (17 assists, 2 kills, 1 dig), Jason Kougan (1 kill, 2 blocks), Jon Guch (4 kills, 3 di...

Walenga, L-W East send Porters packing; Spartans, 'Toppers, Lancers move on

Glenbard West's Danny Pasinski (7) will lead the host Hilltoppers into Saturday's IHSA 12:00 p.m. semifinal against Lake Park. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Glenbard West coach Christine Guinta-Mayer had little reason to be displeased with her team's performance Friday. You never want to let your older brother outshine you, especially when he’s sitting on the bench just a few feet away from you, watching your every move.But that’s the situation in which Lincoln-Way East sophomore Tyler Walenga finds himself.Eight years ago, his older brothe...