(Updated July 19) Six-foot-4 sophomore middle hitter Lynney Tarnow of Benet Academy has verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated 8:25 p.m., Friday, July 19)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 features the names of players t...
Where are Illinois’ top boys volleyball recruits in the Class of ’24 headed?
(Updated 7/15) Jack Mally, a 6-6 outside hitter from Geneva and Sports Performance VBC, has committed to Loyola University-Chicago. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated, 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 15)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 Glenbard West's Ja...
In memoriam …
Former Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter/editor Steve Tucker passed away Friday, May 10, at the age of 74. Steve “Tuck” TuckerFormer sportswriter/editor, Chicago Sun-TimesDecember 5, 1948-May 10, 2024Tucker become a stringer for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1984, often covering area sporting events. Eventually, Steve became a supervising editor for the Sun-Times’ high school sports section. He also was assigned to cover many state tournament events. In addition, Steve was involved with an Amateur Athletics Union high school girls’ basketball t...
Beach volleyball explodes on college level, providing more opportunities for girls
Jessica Horwath, who led Barrington to consecutive IHSA Class 4A third-place finishes, is now playing beach volleyball at the University of Arizona where she posted a 20-11 record as a freshman. (Photo courtesy of the University of Arizona Athletic Department) Editor's note: The 2024 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Chamionship gets underway Friday at Gulf Place in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Beach volleyball, also known as sand volleyball, has been gaining popularity on the college level in recent years. With its fast-paced, exciting gam...
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,”...
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...
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,...
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...