Josilyn Wadas (16) and her Mission 18 Elite teammates wrapped up 2024 Windy City Power League play on Sunday, finishing 7-5 overall and seventh among the 18s. teams. On the home page is Fusion 18-1 National's Gabby Rendina. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorCongratulations to 1st Alliance 17 Gold after wrapping up the 2024 Windy City Power League championship over the weekend and finishing second in the 17 & Under division at the 2024 Triple Crown NIT in Kansas City on February 17-19.There were a few cha...
Here are the (not so) final Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys Club Rankings
MOD Elite B18 Blue's J ack Lopez (far left, 35) is caught trying to catch a few winks (?) in between points during MOD's run to the 18 Open championship at the Brew City Battle in Milwaukee on January 27-28. (Photos by Ben Johnson, courtesy of MOD Elite Volleyball Club) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWith the exception of a few teams competing in the 24 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic this weekend in St. Louis or the SPVB President's Day tournament next weekend, most boys’ club teams are disbanding for a few months with the ons...
The boys take center stage at the 2024 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge
SPVB 16 Elite's Greyson Covay (24) slips a kill past a pair of Predators 18U Boys Legacy (Kitchener, California) defenders while Adam Hartung (57) and Benjamin Brown (23) look on. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/mUr4NvUXil4 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhile most Illinois boys’ club teams have disbanded until mid-June to prepare for the spring high school season, a few die-hard souls gathered prior to going their separate ways for the 2024 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora.H...
Kansas City here we come – 1st Alliance, SPVB and others bound for Triple Crown
Sidney Hamaker (17) and SPVB 18 Elite will compete in the Triple Crown NIT this weekend in Kansas City. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTaking a peek at the pools and pairings for the 2024 Triple Crown NIT at the Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, this weekend, we’re certain they must be determined by some kind of well-established mathematic formula.We’re just not sure even J. Robert Oppenheimer could figure them out.Nevertheless, the Triple Crown NIT, arguably the Midwest’s premi...
New season, new coach and new faces enter the picture at Brother Rice
Dan Dwyer ended his 31-year tenure as an assistant and head coach at Brother Rice at the end of last season. Former Crusader player Brandon McGinnis is the school's new boys' volleyball coach. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Brother Rice coach Brandon McGinnis By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe first day of practice for the spring 2024 boys high school volleyball season is just a week away, and nowhere is the upcoming season more eagerly anticipated than at Brother Rice.The Crusaders are coming off the program’s winningest season since...
Presenting the latest 2024 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls’ Club Rankings
Illini Elite 17 Cardinal's Maia Olson (31) goes up against the block of 1st Alliance 17 Silver's Keira O'Donnell (1) and Layla Christian (67) during Windy City Power League play Sunday in Woodridge. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorA busy weekend around girls’ club volleyball with things only promising to get hotter in two weeks over the Presidents Day weekend.Meanwhile, here are the latest 2024 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls Club Rankings (with records in parenthesis) as of February 7, 2024:...
How to improve your vertical jump and become a better hitter, blocker, server
There are a number of ways volleyball players can improve their vertical jumps and become a better attacker, blocker and server. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Volleyball requires a combination of speed, agility and power. One of the most important skills in volleyball is the ability to jump high, also known as vertical jump. A higher vertical jump can give you an advantage in hitting, blocking and serving.So how can you improve your vertical jump? Plyometric ExercisesPlyometric exercises are a great way to improve your vertical jump ...
Glenbard West eyes another three-peat behind Graham, Maas and company
Afre winning its second consecutive title last June, Glenbard West will chase its second IHSA championship three-peat in nine years this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Hilltoppers are at it again.After winning three IHSA championships between 2015 and 2017, then falling short from 2018-2021 – twice losing in the semifinals – Glenbard West has won the last two titles and is positioned to complete another three-peat this spring.Sure, Parker Moorhead has moved on. Last year’s leading hitter is now...
NCAA’s new double contact rule: is it good or bad for high school volleyball?
The NCAA is also adopting a new rule to allow the use of two liberos during the same set, although only one can be on the floor at a time. The rationale for the proposal is to allow more players the opportunity to compete and to increase action and improve play. The National Federation of State High School Associations may also explore adopting that rule. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYou could soon see fewer double contacts called in high school volleyball.The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently ap...
These girls are making a difference through their work ethic and their play
Benet Academy's Ellie Stiernagle is a threat as a setter and an attacker for SPVB 16 Elite. On the homepage is one of Stiernagle's club teammates, St. Charles North's Haley Burgdorf. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we continue our look at the players who are crushing on the court for their respective clubs:Tori Brents5-10, 8th grade, Setter/rightsideBalance 15 WhiteBrents is a homegrown Balance player who can do it all, said Balance VBC director Patty Langanis. “Tori runs a 6-2 and leads this team, e...