Downers Grove North's 6-5 junior Aiden Akkawi (11) had 8 kills and an ace to pace the Trojans to a 25-13, 25-20 victory over Naperville Central in both teams' season opener Monday. On the home page is Plainfield South's 6-1 junior outside hitter Chase Kreitzer. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNobody expects perfection the first time a team takes the court.Not even from a team burdened by the expectations that follow Downers Grove North.“Typical first game, I’ve seen it a million times … they haven’t, but I have,...
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...
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...
Glenbrook South ready to take its chances sans ’23 Player of the Year Shampine
Six-foot-4 outside hitter Kris Blumberg, who accounted for 224 kills as a junior, is one of several seniors back to boost Glenbrook South's bid to return to Hoffman Estates this spring. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo what are Glenbrook South’s chances of repeating last year’s near-flawless run to the IHSA quarterfinals?That depends on whether the Titans can compensate for the loss of Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Chance Shampine.Shampine led Glenbrook South (33-2) on its return to...
Great Lakes Regional Championship … what does it mean? Nothing. Everything.
Michio Chicago 15 National 's (from left) Malley Green, Luca Bombacino, Kyla Mitchell and Mikayla Marshall. https://youtu.be/VYIKGqz9szQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBid, lose or draw, they came with a purpose.The 15s and 16s age divisions took center stage this weekend to compete in the 2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park and Southland Complex in Lynwood.1st Alliance 16 Gold and 1st Alliance 15 Gold, the top cats in the 15/16 Open division of the Windy City Power Leagu...
Top Notch notches top St. Louis finish; stars come out in Kansas City, Aurora
Competing in the Open division for the first time at last weekend's President's Day in St. Louis, Springfield-based Top Notch 15U Elite finished in third place. (Photo courtesy of Top Notch VBC) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Presidents’ Day weekend produced a number of medal-winning team efforts and outstanding individual performances – from VC United 181 Elite’s perfect 10 in the 18 Open division at the Presidents Day Classic in St. Lous to 1st Alliance 17 Gold’s runner-up run at the 2024 Triple Crown NIT in Kansas City.But per...
Silvers max out well, bring the hammer down to sweep Great Lakes Regional
Adversity G16 Adidas' (from left) Charlotte Kozak, Bella Potempa, Marin Thaxton and Audrey Schabes. https://youtu.be/JKxm7IvNlrg By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The great late comedian George Carlin once said, “Behind every silver lining, there’s a dark cloud.”Sunday at the 2024 Great Lakes Girls Regional Championships, however, behind every Silver lineup there was a pot of gold.1st Alliance 16 Silver defeated Adversity G16 Adidas, 25-22, 25-23, to win the 16 Open division, and 1st Alliance 15 Silver stopped Michio Chicago 15...
It was a MOD-earn family kind of weekend at the Brew City Battle in Milwaukee
Adversity South 17 Adidas won three consecutive three-set matches to win the 17 Open division at the Brew City Battle last weekend in Milwaukee. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMOD ruled last weekend in Milwaukee.MOD Elite Volleyball Club out of Evanston won three age divisions – 18 Open, 18 Classic and 16 Classic – at the boys’ 2024 AAU/JVA Brew City Battle held at the Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center) In Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Overall, it was a successful weekend with a lot of great volleyball being played,” said ...
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 ...
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...