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...
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...
Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Class 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...
With her sister off to college, Stephens steps up as next leader for Southeastern
Junior Kara Stephens will step into the role of team leader for Augusta Southeastern, following in the footsteps of her older sister Amanda, now a freshman at Indiana University-Indianapolis. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com AUGUSTA – Kara Stephens finds herself in the middle of a very team-oriented sport, stepping into the somewhat solitary assignment of volleyball team leader. No matter what challenges arise during the next four months, the 5-foot-10 Augusta Southeastern High School junior middle blocker/setter can take comfo...
A hot basketball recruit, Carmel frosh Liv Johnson can heat up volleyball courts, too
Carmel freshman Liv Johnson plays club basketball for All Iowa Attack and already has offers from Illlnois, Iowa, Marquette and DePaul, among others. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comCarmel freshman Liv Johnson knows how to make a good first impression. And a second.Carmel coach David Pazely first saw the 6-foot-1 middle hitter play last season.“I actually watched her play in a tournament in Milwaukee for her club team,” Pazely said. “She was in the middle of her eighth-grade year and she was playing right side and I was impressed b...
Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Class of ’25, ’26 headed?
(Updated April 24) Oswego junior setter/rightside hitter Greyson Covay (13) is committed to the University of Southern California. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated, 1:15 p.m., Thursday, April 24)Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top Illinois boys volleyball players from the Classes of 2025 and 2026 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 2025 ...
Where are Illinois’ top girls volleyball recruits in the Classes of ’25, ’26 and ’27 headed?
(Updated July 10) Six-foot-5 junior middle hitter Lynney Tarnow (12) of Benet Academy has verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated 4:00 p.m., Thursday, July 10)Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. All coaches and club directors have been invited to provide the names of their players who should be on the list. The attached list features the names o...
USAV’s dance card is filled up; here’s a complete list of the girls going to Dallas
(Updated June 2) 1st Alliance 15 Gold quallified for the 15 Open division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship in Dallas, June 25-July 3. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHere is the final list of the local teams that have qualified for the 2025 USAV Girls Junior 14s-17s National Championship at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, June 25-July 3.The 2025 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championship will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 3-6.The ...
‘My love for the game kept me going;’ Fremd’s hidden gem sets in plain sight
Fremd's Victoria Belmonte overcame a devastating knee injury to lead her team to a Mid-Suburban West division title and an IHSA Class 4A sectional championship last fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Fremd/Adversity VBC setter Victoria Belmonte By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.com PALATINE – Victoria Belmonte never set out to become invisible. Some of the worst-timed knee injuries imaginable, however, have camouflaged the Fremd High School volleyball star’s considerable talent to the point of making her almost undetectable. Lo...