Lake Park's Josh Schellinger was the third of three siblings to play volleyball for the Roselle school, following in the footsteps of older brother Nick and older sister Ally. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) University of California-San Diego recruit Josh Schellinger. Mr. Irreplaceable?Volleyball is a way of life in the Schellinger household. Recent high school graduate, 6-foot-6 outside hitter Josh Schellinger, followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Nick, and older sister, Ally, to play volleyball at Lake Park.Siblings begetting siblin...

Rachel Muisenga led Benet to a 51-1 record during her two years as the Redwings' setter, capped by a 23-25, 25-11, 25-22 victory over Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet's Rachel Muisenga By Matt Le CrenSpecial for Illprepvb.comThere is an aura that all great athletes project during competition.They play with a self-assuredness that ensures no challenge is too large for them to overcome, and no task too small for them to complete.For those fans who get to watch...

Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top girls volleyball players in Illinois in the classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 who have yet to commit to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 who have yet to commit to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. The following list includes players who compete at a very high level either for their high school or club teams. All par...

Marist won it all in 2019, and if the RedHawks are to successully defend their title (providing there is a state tournament beyond the promised regionals), it will be due in large part to 6-8 senior Nyherowo Omene (center, standing behind Marty Jepsen), the one holdover from that championship team. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). (Updated 4/23)Marist won the IHSA boys’ championship in 2019, the last time a state series was conducted, the last time a boys’ volleyball season was conducted in Illinois.Who would have won it all in 2020? We can only s...

Emily Holbrook (8) of Joliet Catholic and Sports Performance is now playing collegiately at Arizona State. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Illinois not only ranks third among all states in the number of girls who play high school volleyball (behind California and Texas), it is also at the top of the list for the number of its student-athletes who go on to play volleyball in college.So we asked club directors to send us their lists of alumni who are currently playing volleyball at a college or university anywhere in the country. There are nearly 50...

Fremd's Curtis Pinley (in background, left) has a combined 50 years of coaching boys and girls volleyball at Palatine and Fremd high schools. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Three years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, nothing ever came of that phone call. But we felt then, as we do now, that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue.Last July, with input from current and former coaches, players and officials, Illprepvb.com p...

Nadia Goich (17, far court), a 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Lockport and 1st Alliance Volleyball Club, has committed to the University of New Hampshire. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2021 and 2022 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 ...

Thought the IHSA lists its enrollment as 88.5 students, (Freeport) Aquin has an actual enrollment of 75 students this fall. Fourteen of them participate in the volleyball program. Bentleah Stovall By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhen (Freeport) Aquin coach Robyn Stovall went to dinner with her family one recent Friday night, she had one request.“I said no volleyball talk,” Stovall said.That’s easier said than done considering she coaches her daughters, Bentleah and Ainsley, and the Bulldogs soon could be the talk of the town afte...

Middle blocker Jada Hampton (10, on right, with Desiree Anderson) was a big part of the 2019 Minooka team that went 32-8 and reached the supersectional before falling to eventual Class 4A state champion Benet. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJada Hampton marches to the beat of a different drummer.Her own.Hampton is a standout middle hitter for the Minooka volleyball team. But the 6-foot-1 inch senior also does something else. She plays the bass drum in the Indian's marching band. "I've got many big respo...