1,127 wins later, girls volleyball legend named new coach at (Downs) Tri-Valley

Donna Dulle led Mt. Pulaski to 1,127 wins, 23 sectional championships, 14 IHSA state tournament appearances and two state titles during her 39 years as head coach. (Photo courtesy of Decatur Herald-Review) Former Mt. Pulaski coach Donna Dulle directed the (Downs) Tr-Valley freshman and eighth grade teams last year. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comDOWNS – Considering Donna Dulle’s volleyball coaching success, many jobs would seem to be beneath someone of her stature.That explains why Josh Roop, Tri-Valley High School’s athletic dir...

Presidents Day winners lead latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls Rankings

Gwen Wolkow and her SPVB 18 Elite teammates will get a look at some of the top teams in the country, including Triple Crown NIT champion Munciana 18 Samurai, in less than two weeks at the 22 Adidas Bluegrass Tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Some liked it hot. Some liked it cold. Not everyone came home happy. The long Presidents Day weekend is over, and while it was a mixed bag for many Illinois teams, there were a few that stood out. 1st Alliance 15 Gold won the Triple Crown NIT, while 1st Alliance 18 Gold went all the way to ...

SPVB 18, 15 Elite, 18 Blue take home top honors at Presidents Day Challenge

SPVB 18 Elite outside hitter and Wisconsin recruit Ella Wrobel (Plainfield North) was named MVP of the 18/17 Open division at the SPVB Presidents Day Challenge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/Nv4F9fYMlvw By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSports Performance’s 15 Elite team has taken the court 18 times this season – 24 if you count the six matches it played during a scrimmage early in the season – and only five times has the team on the other side of the net been in the same age bracket.So after dropping the second set o...

Vander Wal, Warren head Illprepvb.com’s top-ranked players in the Class of 2025

Maureen Pokryfke (right) was second on West Aurora's varsity team in kills and blocks last fall and is currently playing for Fusion 15 Red. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we rank the top players in the Class of 2025. The list is headed by 6-3 outside hitter Abby Vander Wal (Timothy Christian), who has powered 1st Alliance 15 Gold to a 16-3 record in the Windy City Power League, and 5-8 Aniya Warren, who is carrying on the tradition of great liberos at Benet Academy. The list also includes two downstate Illinois freshmen who showca...

Fairfield's Robbins, Evansville United get warm welcome at SPVB Presidents Day

Kaylee Sharkey (80) and SPVB 18 Kahl stayed perfect in the 2022 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center on Saturday by outlasting Xcel 18 Elite (Hendersonville, North Carolina), 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 24-26, 15-11. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/FFy6ZN1HQ8o By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen you grow up playing volleyball in Fairfield, Illinois, you really only have two choices if you plan to play club – St. Louis, Missouri, slightly more than 120 miles to the west, or Evansville, Indiana, sl...

Presenting the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls Club Rankings

Adversity G18 Adidas had to win its final match last weekend at the Ohio Valley 18s Qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, to earn a bid to the USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship. In the immortal words of Tina Turner, Adversity G18 Adidas “never ever do nothing nice and easy.”Certainly not last weekend while trying to secure a bid to the USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 22-24, while competing at the Ohio Valley 18s Qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.Cancelled flights. Driving through a snow storm....

Is one Sky High better than two? Which 1st Alliance team is first? It's still undecided

Sky High Adidas 16 Elite is a combination of two 15s teams from a year ago and has found itself among the upper echelon of teams in the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division. On the home page is Sky High Adidas 16 Elite setter Jenna Meitzler from Barrington. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBack and forth they go.1st Alliance 16 Gold and 1st Alliance 15 Gold found themselves in familiar territory Saturday during Windy City Power League play at the 1st Alliance facility in Woodridge – the championship match of Bracket A.Whether i...

Chemistry fuels 1st Alliance 17 Gold; emotion is the potion for Sky High 17 Elite

Kamryn Chaney of 1st Alliance 17 Gold and Marist smashes a kill past the outstretched arms of two VC United 171 defenders during the final day of Windy City Power League seeding Saturday at 1st Alliance in Woodridge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat a week for 1st Alliance 17 Gold.First, the girls from the western suburbs earned an Open bid to the USAV Girls Junior National Championship by crushing the field at the 2022 Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier last weekend in Omaha, Nebraska.Then Saturday, 17 Gold ...

Lafata winner Adversity tops Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com rankings

SPVB B16 Alpha won the 16 USA division at last weekend's Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic in St. Louis, Missouri, becoming just one of two No. 1 seeds to win their respective divisions. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSeeding. It’s not exactly an exact science.Nowhere was that more apparent than at last weekend’s 2022 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.15 USA top seed? 630 Volleyball 15-2. Result? Lost in a Gold bracket quarterfinal.16 Open? C2 16 Boys SMACK (Hendersonville, Tennessee). Result? ...

White, Nelson head Illprepvb.com's top 100-ranked players in the Class of 2024

Libero Sydnie Hernandez (Illini Elite VBC) helped lead Normal Community West to the IHSA Class 3A semifinals at Redbird Arena this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we rank the top 100 players in the Class of 2024. The list features some of the best young talent in the state of Illinois, led by 5-11 setter/rightside hitter Ellie White, who had more than 500 kills and 280 digs this fall to lead Mother McAuley to the IHSA Class 4A championship game.The list also includes some of the best power hitters in the state regardless of class, ...