Oswego's Greyson Covay (13, above) and Lyons Township's Brody Lee-Caracci (on the homepage) are two of the top high school players in Illinois. (photos 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. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe club season behind them until June, the Illinois boys high school season kicks off with the first day...
IHSA to boys volleyball coaches: ‘Get out of the seeding business (at least for now)’
This sping, boys volleyball coaches will no longer be involved in seeding the IHSA tournament as the sport will turn to MaxPreps to determine sectional seeds for the 2026 postseason. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhile the arguments for adopting a two-class system and determining more equitable sectional assignments have grown louder over the past few years, there will be at least one significant change in boys volleyball for the upcoming 2026 season.The IHSA is taking seeding out of the hands of coaches.This ...
Where are Illinois’ top girls volleyball recruits in the Classes of ’26, ’27 and ’28 headed?
(Updated 2/26/26) Haley Burgdorf, by way of St. Charles North and Sports Performance VBC, who led all Illinois girls high school players in kills last fall, 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 2028 who...
Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Classes of ’26, ’27 headed?
(Updated 3/6/26) 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 Plain...
Who are the top 100 boys club players in Illinois heading into the ’25-26 season?
Six-foot-8 setter Greyson Covay of Sports Performance VBC and Oswego High School is a University of Southern California recruit and arguably one of the top volleyball players in the country. 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. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorReady or not.The boys’ club season kicks off next weekend with THE Point Series 16/1...
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...
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 ...