Glenbard West is going home (but in a good way); Lockport, Lake Park win

Sophomore Jakobi Lange (7) had 13 kills for Hinsdale Central, but it wasn't enough as Glenbard West prevailed, 25-21, 25-18, at the Hinsdale Central Sectional. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Glenbard West senior Danny Pasinski knew he was going to get a lot of work Tuesday against Hinsdale Central.The 6-foot-4 outside hitter was ready for it.“We knew from the scouting report that our outside was going to work a little bit more than our other positions tonight,” Pasinski said. “So I think I got ran a little bit more, which is nice.“I hit a load to...

Recruiting 101: What you can do to help college coaches find you

Former Benet setter Ally Van Eekeren is one of hundreds of former Illinois high school stars now playing at the collegiate level. Some are discovered by coaches. But many handle their own recruiting. (Photo courtesy of Creighton Athletics) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMajor life choices that come up for the first – and perhaps only – time can be challenging.Take, for example, volleyball players looking to continue their careers in college.By the time they learn the ins-and-outs of the recruiting process, they may wish they’d had...

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...

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...

St. Francis, York advance; Lockport wins, Lincoln-Way Central survives thriller

Oswego (left) surprised Benet in a regional semifinal Tuesday in Lisle. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/b8pYfsg-cDk By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMary Brown has the video of the final point when her Lincoln-Way Central boy's volleyball team upset Lockport to win the regional title in 2017.The Knights will have an opportunity to add to Brown's video highlight collection Thursday. That's because they persevered in a wild and crazy match with a 25-23, 36-34 victory Tuesday over Plainfield East in the second semifin...

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...