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,”...
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...
Smiley, Kushner, SPVB 18 White hope to shine under the bright lights in Florida
Sydney Kushner (above, No. 2) and Cailey Smiley (home page, No. 14) and their SPVB 18 White teammates know their work is far from done despite their big win at the recent JVA World Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorRed, white and … feeling blue?Not in the plan for this crew.Cailyn Smiley, a 5-9 outside hitter from Oswego East, played for three different 18s teams at Sports Performance (18 Red, 18 White) as a junior, finally landing on the 18 Elite roster at the 49th AAU Girls Ju...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...