Taking home state trophies became a commonplace occurrence during Chris Scheibe's tenure at Joliet Catholic. Chris Scheibe, here flanked by Erin O'Grady and Bella Ray, would often be seen supporting her players during club season. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFor Christine Scheibe, it was just time.After a phenomenally successful career as the head girls’ volleyball coach at Joliet Catholic Academy, Scheibe has decided to step down. She leaves with a 21-year career record of 602-198-10 and enough memories to last many lifetim...

1st Alliance 18 Silver was Illinois' top finisher in the Girls 18 Open division at the Winter Volleyball Championship, finishing fifth. Indianapolis, Indiana – After his team’s 19-25, 25-17, 16-14 loss to FVP B18 Blue in a Round Two pool finale Sunday, SPVB 18 Lenny coach Zach Splitt said his team had to learn to handle pressure situations better.They’re still learning.Twenty-four hours after that loss, Lenny fell to FVP B18 Blue again, 25-17, 26-24, in the championship match of the Boys 18 USA division Monday at the Winter Volleyball Cham...

Kate Dean (left) calls older sister Karli "her best friend." (Cover photo by Douglas Cottle) Karli Dean is now a freshman at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. (Photo by Douglas Cottle) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com TUSCOLA – As they seek to maintain a level-playing field, sports rule enforcers keep an eye on performance enhancers. Kate Dean, however, has surely found a performance enhancing loophole that will never be outlawed in volleyball: her big sister, Karli, a 6-foot-1 freshman middle hitter at the University of...

Kenzie Brower (14, left, middle) had 3 kills as Naperville Central began its pursuit of a DuPage Valley Conference title Thursday with a victory over Neuqua Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comKaitlyn Skowronski and her Naperville Central teammates put a new twist on the familiar adage about how the key to success is not how you start, but how you finish.Strong starts by the Redhawks in both sets finished Neuqua Valley, which could never dig out of big early holes as Naperville Central rolled to a 25-16, ...

Downers Grove South's 6-3 junior middle hitter Hugo Hu had 2 blocks and a kill Tuesday against visiting Hinsdale Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). There is a large wooden plaque hanging on the west side of the Downers Grove South gymnasium honoring the 2013 state championship boys’ volleyball team.That plaque is getting lonely, and if given the opportunity, Dominic Fallara and his teammates would like to change that.“We’re waiting to get the ‘go’ on state,” said Fallara, a 6-foot senior setter. “That’s what we’re pushing for. We’re here t...

Ben Schwieger (9) had 18 kills, 2 blocks and 12 digs in his final appearance in a Waubonsie Valley uniform before he departs to begin his college basketball career Sunday at Loyola-Chicago. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Ben Schwieger donned his Superman cape … er, his Waubonsie Valley jersey … for the last time Thursday at Naperville North.He made his final game one to remember.The 6-foot-6 senior outside hitter, who will begin his college basketball career Sunday when he arrives on the campus of Loyola University-Chicago, pounded 18 kills to g...

Neuqua Valley's Kevin Kauling is now plying his talents at Lewis University in Romeoville, where he was a second team All-MIVA selection as a freshman. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illinois not only ranks second among all states in the number of boys who play high school volleyball (trailing only California in the most recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations), it is also near the top of the list for the number of its student-athletes who go on to play volleyball in college.So we asked club directors to send us ...