St. Francis’ Addy Horner is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week

St. Francis' Addy Horner (22) recently achieved both her 1,000th career assist and 1,000 career kill. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSome players are fortunate and skilled enough to accumulate 1,000 assists in their high school careers.Other players may be so talented as to amass 1,000 kills.But very few achieve both milestones.  St. Francis’ Addy Horner is one of those few.Horner, a 6-3 setter/opposite/rightside hitter and two-time IHSA Class 3A champion who is committed to the University of Wisc...

Barrington’s Mayer-Jakubowski takes road less-travelled to post 600 career wins

Barrington (far court) advanced to the IHSA Class 4A semifinals for the third consecutive year under coach Michelle Mayer-Jakubowski in 2023. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington coach Michelle Mayer-Jakubowski has made a few stops along the way during her 27-year coaching career.“So many memories, so many people involved,” she said. “I have been blessed to have some amazing teams and meet some amazing people. I've been lucky to be in this career for really, really long time. I love high school volleyb...

Skutt scuttles McAuley’s three-peat bid at ASICS, Macs stop Marist (again) for third

Mother McAuley's Abbey Williams tries to work off the block attempt of Skutt Catholic's Kiera Link (18) and Avery White. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSince the ASICS Challenge was established at Mother McAuley in 1987, only one team (Assumption, 2011-2013) has won three-consecutive championships.That trend continued Saturday as Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Nebraska) ended Mother McAuley’s three-peat bid in the semifinals, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23.  Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Kentucky), which defeated Marist, 2...

Two teams sought for inaugural First Point boys nat’l high school tournament

The Inaugural First Point National High School Invitational Volleyball Tournament will be held Saturday March 29, and Sunday, March 30, at the Austin Sports Center in Austin, Texas.It is believed this tournament will be the first of its kind anywhere in the United States - a truly national tournament featuring 16 boys high school volleyball teams hailing from up to 16 different states.The event will be live streamed, profiled in VolleyballMag and "The BIC" (AVCA boys/men's volleyball newsletter) and promoted/publicized via First Point ...

Haley Burgdorf gets career kill No. 1,000, leaves a few dents on floor at St. Francis

St. Charles North junior outside htter Haley Burgdorf (23) is joined (from left) junior middle hitter Sidney Wright, junior setter Mia McCall, libero Meg Kalenowski and junior outside hitter Amber Czerniak. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe balloons were ready. So, too, were the flowers and flashbulbs.St. Charles North’s 6-0 junior outside hitter Haley Burgdorf eclipsed the 1,000-career kill mark early in the second set Wednesday at St. Francis.The North Stars immediately called a timeout to allow Burgdorf to celebrate with her team...

Benet Academy is Scholastic fantastic; Bloomington CC stuns Normal U-High

Normal West sophomore setter Lainey Thompson (2) gets ready to set on of her attackers during Saturday's championship match of the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Versatility. Benet Academy has it, and it certainly shows.The Redwings had more blocks from their setter than they did from their middle hitters. But one of their middles, 6-foot-5 junior Lynney Tarnow, also had 2 aces and an assist. It all added up to a 25-12,...