Illini Elite 17 Cardinal defeated Illini Elite 18 Cardinal, 25-15, 25-20, to win the I-74 Challenge this weekend in Bloomington. The tournament also featured teams from Prime Time Volleyball Club in Champaign and Eastside Volleyball Club in East Peoria. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyzNAf15O00 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat do EVC (Eich’s Volleyball Cub) 18 Elite and Belusa United 18 Cyclones have in common?Neither team could say “No” to Michigan, as in Dynamic Impact 18U Carrie/Kenna of Grandvi...
After the gold rush, here are the latest 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb Boys Club Rankings
MOD Elite B15 Blue finished third in the 15 Open division at last weekend's The Socal Cup: The Open Championship in Anaheim, California. On the home page is SPVB B18 Elite, which finished third in the 18 Open division in California, best among all entries from Illinois. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Just about everybody in Illinois flew a little more than 2,000 miles to compete at The Socal Cup: The Open Championship in Anaheim, California, last weekend. But their next trip will be considerably shorter.Illinois boys’ club t...
Feeling 'free and easy,' 1st Alliance 18 Silver rules first weekend of power league
Now that's how you celebrate a point! Mission 17 Elite libero Delaney Molloy (8) tests her vertical, much to the delight of her teammates. Mission 17 Elite went 3-0 on Saturday to move up to Bracket B and finished the weekend 4-2 during Windy City Power League 18/17 Open division play at the Energy Sports Complex in Niles. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAt this still-way-too-early stage of the girls’ club season, many teams remain in a “Getting to know you” stage.1st Alliance 18 Silver is no different. Only five players return from...
Illprepvb.com presents a first look at Illinois' top 2023 club teams … the 16s
Lauren Coyne (center) led Wheaton Warrenville South in kills during the high school season and will be counted on to do more of the same for Sports Performance's 16 Elite team. On the home page is 1st Alliance's Abby Vander Wal of Timothy Christian. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we turn our attention to the 16s as we continue our look at some of the top club teams in Illinois. This year’s crop of 16s features some of the best young talent in Illinois.Among the 16s taking the court this winter...
SPVB 18 Kahl, 18 Red eye Orlando; Xtreme 16U rocks, 15 Thunder rolls, 18 Theta wins
Yuliia Shchepkina (Neuqua Valley) and her SPVB 18 Kahl teammates went 3-0 Saturday during pool play at the Champions Cup hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/ioVBnWsnKW0 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Bria Lomax looks to her left, glances to her right or peeks behind her, she doesn’t see many familiar faces.“Yes, I am the sole survivor,” she said.Lomax, a 6-0 middle hitter, is the only returning player from the Sports Performance 18 Kahl roster that finished second ...
Adversity G18 Adidas advances, others falter at Windy City Girls 18s Qualifier
Six-foot-3 outside hitter Catherine Burke (Loyola) and her Adversity G18 Adidas teammates finished second in their pool Saturday at the Windy City Girls 18s National Qualifier in Schaumburg. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/9NSxa5L6H5w By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAdversity G18 Adidas lived to fight another day, but VC United 181 Elite was not as fortunate, losing a three-way tiebreaker in its pool during day one of the Windy City Girls 18s National Qualifier Saturday at the Schaumburg Convention Center.Adversity defea...
Life is a highway for Illini Elite; Michio, Team One roll on day one of 16/15 seeding
The Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division seeding event got underway Saturday. Two weeks ago, Mission 17 Elite (pictured) went 3-3 at the 18/17 Open division seeding event, finishing 21st overall and 12th among the 17s. https://youtu.be/4IfrKftYYYQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 1st Alliance Volleyball Club training facility in Darien is just a hop, skip and jump for Bloomington-based Illini Elite Volleyball Club owner/director and Illini Elite 16 Cardinal coach Andy Erins.“What I like about this (location) is that I ...
VC United 182 Elite punches ticket to Ohio at Windy City Girls 18s National Qualifier
VC United 182 Elite defeated 1st Alliance 18 White in the championship match of the 18 American division at the Windy CIty Girls 18s National Qualifier in Schaumburg to earn a bid to the 2023 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, April 28-30. https://youtu.be/ViX7WUS68nQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorVC United 182 Elite was a resolute band of warriors during its journey through the 18 American division of the 2023 Windy City Girls 18s National Qualifier at the Schaumburg Convention Center this weekend,...
MOD's acquisition by 3STEP provides greater opportunity for growth, says Jensen
MOD Elite G16 Blue outside hitter Sofia Rossi (11) of Maine South tries to avoid the block attempt of an Ultimate Asics G15 Gold defender during the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division seeding event Sunday at the 1st Alliance Training Center in Darien. MOD Volleyball is the first Illinois club purchased by 3STEP Sports, a company that specializes in operating youth sports clubs and events. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFirst step? Marriage. Second step? 3STEP.A little more than two years after the ...
1st Alliance 16 Gold tired of taking the fifth; Ritterbusch, Sky High 16s stay perfect
MOD Elite G16 Blue's Mary Hamann of Rolling Meadows slams a kill against Ultimate Asics G15 Gold during the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open seeding event Sunday at the 1st Alliance Training Center in Darien. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhile finishing fifth at the USAV Girls Junior Nationals Championship once would be cause for celebration for many clubs, it’s getting to be old hat for Abby Vander Wal and her 1st Alliance 16 Gold teammates.As in old and wearisome.After losing in the quarterfinals as 13s,...