630 Volleyball 17-1's 10th place finish in Orlando last week was easily the highest by any Illinois entry in the 17 Open division. (Photo courtesy of AAU) Thursday’s wrap-up of the 2022 USAV Boys Junior National Championship at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, signaled the end of the 2021-22 boys’ club season.Led Nathan Finck (O'Fallon) and the Massey brothers -- 6-4 freshman Riley and 5-11 junior Trent (St. Louis DeSmet), Boys BSVBC 14-1 (Blue Steel, O'Fallon, Illinois) finished in second place in the 17 USA div...
Forty-two boys representing Illinois clubs earn AAU all-tournament recognition
SPVB B18 Alpha's Britten Beallis (17) of Naperville North was named to the 18 Classic all-tournament team at the recently-concluded AAU boys' nationals in Orlando. SPVB B18 Bravo's Brannen Almarales of Downers Grove South (on the homepage) was named 18 Classic MVP. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Forty-two boys representing Illinois volleyball clubs were named to their respective division all-tournament teams at the recently-concluded AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida:2022 AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball...
Volleyball community mourns the passing of Benedictine coach Christian Staple
Christian Staple, the head men's volleyball coach Benedictine University and an assistant coach at Future Volleyball Club who previously served as a coach at Sports Performance VBC and McKendree University, passed away July 7 at he age of 31. The volleyball community and the Benedictine University family are mourning the loss of head men’s volleyball coach Christian Staple.Staple, 31, suffered a devastating stroke on Tuesday, July 5, and passed away two days later surrounded by loved ones.Staple was named the head coach at Benedictine U...
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, ...
1st Alliance 15 Gold falls short in USAV title bid; HP Illinois is 11th in Freedom
1st Alliance 15 Gold finished fifth in the 15 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship in Indianapolis this week, falling to the eventual national champions in a Gold bracket quarterfinal. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Somebody should have told 1st Alliance 15 Gold that the shortest distance between two points in a straight line.Instead, 1st Alliance took a roundabout route to the championship bracket of the 15 Open division at the 2022 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at the Indianapolis Convention Center this wee...
Hutson, Egan head Illprepvb.com's top 100-ranked players in the Class of 2023
Grace Egan, who was instrumental in Sterling's second consecutive IHSA Class 3A championship in 2019, toils for 1st Alliance 17 Gold during the club season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com ranks the top 100 players in the Class of 2023.The list features more than a dozen players who have already committed to Division I schools, led by 6-3 outside hitter and Florida recruit Kira Hutson /(Team One VBC), who led Metea Valley to an IHSA Class 4A championship in the school’s first-ever appearance downstate.Also at the top of the lis...
Here are the final Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls 18s Club Rankings
SPVB 18 Kahl enjoyed a light moment during the 49th AAU GIrls Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, last weekend. Some will soon be off to college to continue their playing careers. Others to focus on academics. Many have played their final competitive game of volleyball and will concentrate on pursuing careers in law, medicine, education or engineering, or perhaps the most noble and selfless profession of them all.The Class of 2022 provided us with unforgettable moments – both exhilarating and heartbreaking – an...
Andrew Invitational
Friday-Saturday, September 9-10 ...
More time on the beach is within reach for Barrington standout Jessica Horwath
Jessica Horwath, the leading attacker on Barrington's IHSA Class 4A semifinalist, is foregoing club volleyball this season to train for a possible college career in beach volleyball. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Jessica Horwath was invited to participate in the USA Volleyball National Beach Volleyball Team Development Program in late September in Gulf Shores, Alabama. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAfter leading Barrington to third place at the IHSA Class 4A state finals in November, Jessica Horwath will be looking to lift the Fil...
Lofty ranking no burden for No. 1 Normal U-High in victory at Bloomington
Normal U-High, the No. 1 team in Illprepvb.com's preseason Class 3A rankings, opened the 2022 season Monday by defeating Bloomington in straight sets. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBLOOMINGTON – When Bloomington High School scored its first point on Monday, Purple Raider fans showered Class 3A’s No. 1-ranked visitor, Normal University High, with the obligatory chant of, “overrated.”After the Pioneers shrugged off that opinion to win, 25-14, 25-17, Joe Sanders, coaching his 25th season-opener for Bloomington, wasn’t sure what a rea...