Barrington junior Kalyn Brookbank ranks among the top attackers in Illinois this fall with more than 350 kills. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTalk about tough acts to follow.Barrington’s 6-1 junior Kalyn Brookbank hails from a strong lineage of outstanding athletes. Her mom, Betsy Spicer-Brookbank, was a two-time All-Big Ten volleyball selection at Illinois. Her aunt, Nellie Spicer-Coleman, starred at UCLA and was a member of the U.S. national team.Last season as a sophomore, Kalyn played high school ball...
Here are the best 10 things we saw at the Saints Fall Classic in Bloomington
Mascoutah finished fourth at the Saints Fall Classic Saturday in Bloomington, and had a good time doing it. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorHere are the best 10 things we saw (and heard) at the Saints Fall Classic Saturday in Bloomington1. The championship match.Bloomington Central Catholic and Normal U-High met up for the second and final time this season – the Saints are Class 2A-bound in the postseason and U-High is solid contender in Class 3A – in the championship match Saturday. It did not disappoint. The Saints overcame deficits o...
Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Classes of ’26, ’27 headed?
Oswego's 6-8 setter/rightside hitter Greyson Covay (13), who plays club for Sports Performance VBC, has committed to the University of Southern Califonia. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top Illinois boys volleyball players from the Class of 2026 and 2027 who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. If you are a coach, club director or parent and know of a player who should be on this list, please contact us at Illprepvb@gmail.com.Class of 2026 Oswego's Greyson Cova...
Where are Illinois’ top girls volleyball recruits in the Classes of ’26, ’27 and ’28 headed?
(Updated October 7, 2025) Haley Burgdorf, by way of St. Charles North and Sports Performance VBC, who led all Illinois girls high school players in kills last fall, has committed to Penn State. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2026, 2027 and 2...
No ‘babying’ or ‘sugarcoating,’ just family love at Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Johnsburg
Johnsburg's Adelaide Bruns (left) and Abriana Bruns flank their mother and head coach, Abby. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comGood luck naming a sport that doesn’t include relationships.Volleyball, for one, is chock full of them.But what happens when the relationship between a coach and player involves tough love crossing paths with familial love?Things can get complicated. Feelings might get hurt.Folks around the volleyball programs at Johnsburg and Georgetown-Ridge Farm high schools, however, can attest that teams creating a fa...
IHSA boys volleyball finals are on the move, but not everyone’s happy about it
Bolingbrook has hosted boys regionals and sectional tournaments through the years, including Glenbard West's sectional victory over Downers Grove North in 2024 (see homepage), and will now host the boys state finals beginning in 2026. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com The IHSA boys volleyball state finals are on the move for the first time in 30 years.Only it’s not the move many coaches were hoping for. The venue change was precipitated when Hoffman Estates, which has hosted the boys tournament since 1995, decided to end its run...
Saturday, October 11 results
Morton finished third at the Saints Fall Classic played at the Illini Elite Volleyball Center in Bloomington. Saturday, October 11 results At Bloomington Central Catholic Normal U-High def. Bloomington Central Catholic 18-25, 26-24, 15-7 (championship)Normal U-High (29-4 overall, 9-0 in the Central State Eight): Emma Jean Lehnen (1 assist, 1 ace), Addison Donahue (2 kills), Morgan Petelin (13 assists, 5 kills, 2 bocks, 1 ace), Taylor Penn (1 kill), Ava Crabtree (7 kills, 1 ace), Alyssa Wolf (1 kill), Laney Snow (10 kills, 1 block, 2 ...
Friday, October 10 results
Maizy Agnello (7) and Prairie Ridge will vie for the tournament title at Huntley on Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, October 10 results At Huntley Huntley def. Mundelein 25-15, 25-19Huntley def. Johnsburg 25-14, 25-8Huntley (17-6 overall, 12-2 in the Fox Valley Conference): Sophia Tocmo (1 kill, 1 assist, 15 digs, 1 ace), Rachel Hein (3 assists, 1 block, 6 digs), Emily Ernst (3 kills, 12 assists, 2 blocks, 1 dig), Mia Jacobelli (9 kills, 1 block, 10 digs, 5 aces), Riley Galanis (6 kills, 1 assist, 1 block), Su...
Thursday, October 9 results
Ava Yeakel (14) and Mahomet-Seymour defeated Taylorville, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14, Thursday in Mahomet. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, October 8 results Barrington def. Fremd 25-23, 25-20Barrington (17-10 overall, 7-1 in the Mid-Suburban East): Kalyn Brookbank (11 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace), Jaelyn Connole (8 kills, 2 assists, 7 digs), Alessandra Mirkovich (3 kills, 3 blocks), Eve Adler (27 assists, 7 digs), Ella Krull (9 digs), Toni Rojas (2 digs, 3 service points), Kinley Shinhoster (3 digs, 1 ace), Lexi Szlezak (8 kills, 2 digs).Fremd...
The culture change at DeKalb includes expecting to win, not moral victories
DeKalb took DuPage Valley Conference-leading Naperville North to the limit Wednesday. but changing the culture at the smallest school in the conference does not include talk about moral victories. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDeKalb’s volleyball records are a little shaky between 2017 and the time when Keith Foster arrived in 2024.In fact, according to the IHSA record books, they’re non-existent.Now, Foster is trying to help the Barbs write a few chapters worth remembering.Foster came to DeKalb after spending 14 season as head coach...