1st Alliance 18 Silver brings home Bronze from USAV national championship

1st Alliance 18 Silver finished third in the 18 National division at the just completed 2023 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio. COLUMBUS, OHIO – That’s a wrap.The 2023 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championship concluded Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, and while Illinois did not produce any national champions, there were some solid finishes among the 11 teams from the state that competed.1st Alliance 18 Silver was the top finisher from the Great Lakes Region, going 7-1 and advancing to the Gold bra...

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...

Washington’s Jori Dowling among first class of IHSAF scholarship recipients

Photo courtesy of Peoria Journal Star/Matt Dayhoff. Washington's Jori Dowling Jori Dowling, a 6-0 middle hitter from downstate Washington, was one of 14 members of the inaugural class of scholarship winners named by the Illinois High School Activities Foundation (IHSAF).Each of the 14 winners are currently seniors at IHSA member high schools and will receive a $1,000 scholarship towards their future education. To be eligible for the scholarship, the candidates had to be seniors at IHSA schools who plan to major in education in college, i...

Scholar program creates opportunities for student-athletes like Dimaano, Patel

Godwin Dimaano (left) and Divit Patel are participants in the highly-selective Schuler Scholar Program at Maine East. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDivit Patel and Godwin Dimaano are two reasons why Maine East coach George Wong believes his program is on the upswing.The juniors give new meaning to the term, “upwardly mobile.”“I can’t speak more highly of these two,” Wong said. “What makes me really proud of the guys is that they are solid volleyball players and they’re solid citizens.“They always come to practice with a smile on th...

Bella Bullington admits her Japanese is a little rusty ahead of her trip ‘home’

Six-foot sophomore outside hitter Bella Bullington from Marist is one of 21 Sports Perfromance players who are going to Japan to train with college and high school players from Tokyo and Nagano March 23-April 1. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSpending a week in Japan may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some high school student-athletes, but for Bella Bullington, it’s like going home.Or, in her case, it is going home.“I’ve actually lived in Japan,” said Bullington, one of 21 Sports Performance vo...

MOD's acquisition by 3STEP provides greater opportunity for growth, says Jensen

MOD Elite G16 Blue outside hitter Sofia Rossi (11) of Maine South tries to avoid the block attempt of an Ultimate Asics G15 Gold defender during the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division seeding event Sunday at the 1st Alliance Training Center in Darien. MOD Volleyball is the first Illinois club purchased by 3STEP Sports, a company that specializes in operating youth sports clubs and events. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFirst step? Marriage. Second step? 3STEP.A little more than two years after the ...

Illprepvb.com presents 70 heavenly players in the freshman Class of 2026

Montini's 5-11 freshman middle hitter Francesca Lorenzo is part of a young lineup that could challenge for another Class 2A championship this fall. On the home page is St. Charles North's outside hitter Haley Burgdorf, one of the leading attackers in the Class of 2026. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we complete our look at some of the top players in Illinois by listing (alphabetically) players in the Class of 2026.The list features players who are making an impact on their high school varsity teams this fall – either in the starting r...

A refugee from the war in Ukraine, Bondar finds safety, joy in the United States

Sonia Bondar, who fled war-ravaged Ukraine with her family last February, is able to put thoughts of the horrors back home out of her mind when she plays volleyball with her teammates at Vernon Hills. (Photos by VIP Photography) Sonia Bondar By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comVernon Hills senior Sonia Bondar and her teammates stood in a circle as they got instruction from coach Chris Curry before a recent practice.The 6-foot opposite is just like the rest of the Cougars in many respects – tall, athletic and full of energy.The one di...

Penn State recruit Ava Falduto has little IC Catholic Prep thinking big

IC Catholic Prep's Ava Falduto will head to Penn State University to play libero when her high school career ends in two years. (Cover photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorState.Hall of Fame coach Jean Field led Immaculate Conception (now IC Catholic Prep) to Redbird Arena six times during her long and storied career, winning Class A championships in 1981 and 1984 and a Class 2A title in 2013.IC Catholic Prep has not been back since. Ava Falduto wants to change that.“Lucy (5-0 junior setter Russ) and I have been on v...

‘It’s a Miracle!’ Martensen returns two years after freak accident nearly claimed her life

Alleman head coach Morgan DeBruine, who is amazed Miracle Martensen (kneeeling, second from right) is even playing at all, now calls her one of the most versatile players on the team. Alleman's Miracle Martensen By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMiracle Martensen wasn’t always thrilled with her unique name.The Rock Island Alleman senior doesn’t personally know anyone else named Miracle.“It always kind of annoyed me when I was younger because my name was talked about so much,” Martensen said. “But now it’s cool that there is a meani...