Where are Illinois’ top girls’ volleyball recruits in the classes of ’24 and ’25 headed?

(Updated March 13) Six-foot outside hitter Maggie Uhwat (7) from Richmond-Burton and Mission VBC has committed to Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, March 13)Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2024 and 2025 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 featur...

Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Class of ’24 headed?

Jack Mally, a 6-6 outside hitter from Geneva and Sports Performance VBC, has committed to Loyola University-Chicago. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated, 3:45 p.m., Friday, March 1)Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top Illinois boys volleyball players from the Class of 2024 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 2024 Warren's Tyrise Armstrong Tyri...

NCAA’s new double contact rule: is it good or bad for high school volleyball?

The NCAA is also adopting a new rule to allow the use of two liberos during the same set, although only one can be on the floor at a time. The rationale for the proposal is to allow more players the opportunity to compete and to increase action and improve play. The National Federation of State High School Associations may also explore adopting that rule. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYou could soon see fewer double contacts called in high school volleyball.The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently ap...

Presenting the Sports Performance VBC/ Illprepvb.com top 100 boys club players

Loyola-Chicago recruit Jack Mally of Geneva returns after helping to lead Sports Performance's 18 Elite team to a fifth-place finish in the 18 Open division at last summer's AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, the best finish by an Illinois 18 Open entry in Florida. On the home page is Adam Graham of 630 Volleyball VBC by way of Glenbard West. (Photos by Dave Ruggles). (Originally published October 20, 2023)By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhile the girls’ high school season begins its inevitable drawdow...

Day One: David Vales won’t let cancer steal his hope, his joy, or his love

David Vales has been a positive influence on young people throughout his 27-year career of coaching boys and girls volleyball and teaching math at Sandburg High School in Orland Park. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Sandburg boys' and girls' volleyball coach David Vales. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDay One.That’s the motto Sandburg volleyball coach David Vales has lived by since the beginning of 2020, when he decided to change his mindset.“That year I gave up pizza, sweets, pop and fast food for the whole year, even before COVID,”...

Together at last, Minooka’s Brass sisters hope to create golden memories on the court

Minooka's Brooklyn Brass (far right) played club volleyball for Sports Performance's 15 Elite team last season. This fall at Minooka, she'll finally be able to play with her two older sisters, twins Kennedi and Makenzie, (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPeople often assume that Minooka sisters Kennedi, Makenzie and Brooklyn Brass are triplets.They are only two-thirds right.Seniors Kennedi and Makenzie are triplets, but with their brother Trey, who plays basketball.Brooklyn, a sophomore, is two years younge...

Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Class of ’23 headed?

(Updated 5/19) Hononegah's Brayden Savitski-Lynde (far left), who plays club for 630 Volleyball VBC, has committed to Ball State University. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top Illinois boys volleyball players from the Class of 2023 and beyond 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 2023Aaron Amawan, S, Bartlett/Pipeline VBC,...

There’s no place like home, but if you can’t play here, then it’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’

Barrington's Jenna Meitzler (back row, fourth from left) and her Sky HIgh Adidas 17 Elite teammates opted to stay downtown during the USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place this week, but some clocal lubs chose the creature comforts of home. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s easy to forget that with more than 50,000 people from all parts of the country descending on Chicago to participate as a player, coach or spectator at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place, there were also ma...

Same old song: another year and nothing has been done to address disparities

Downers Grove South and New Trier locked horns in an IHSA quarterfinal at Hoffman Estates in 2022. The road to Hoffman in 2023 is laden with pitfall for both teams, while it's just an easy pass away for others whose main qualification is geography. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHey, boys’ volleyball fans, once again it’s time to play, “Pick the Winner.”Can you pick the winner of the Jones College Prep sectional?Acero/Garcia, Acero/Soto, Chicago Military Academy-Bronzeville, Hope Academy, Cristo Rey J...

Where are Illinois’ top girls’ volleyball recruits in the Class of ’23, ’24, ’25 headed?

(Updated 7/26) Benet Academy's 5-8 junior libero Aniya Warren from the Class of 2025 and 1st Alliance VBC has committed to Indiana University. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025 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 of players that have been submitted so fa...