St. Francis' Peg Kopec won 12 state titles during her 42-year career, including titles in four classes -- A, AA, 3A and 4A. (Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune) Two 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 feel now, as we did then, that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue. So here it is – the initial class of the Illprepvb.com Illinois High School Volleyball Coach...

Nazareth's Izzy Decker (3) drives a ball past a pair of Marist defenders in a match earlier this season between two 2019 state semifinalists. Decker, a 6-0 outside hitter, is an honorable mention all-state selection. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Today, we are pleased to announce the 2021 Illprepvb.com/Michio Chicago VBA Girls All-State Volleyball Team.Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school stude...

Former Joliet Catholic star Kelly Murphy (left) was an All-American at Florida and later a member of the U.S. National team who helped the United States earn a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Tim Casey) Kelly Murphy was the first four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American at Florida. (Photo courtesy of UAA Communications) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJoliet Catholic girls’ volleyball coach Christine Scheibe is always delighted when one of her former players decide...

Illprepvb.com is compiling a list of the top uncommitted players in the classes of 2020-22. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top boys players in Illinois in the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 who have yet to commit to a college or university and have indicated a desire 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 high school coaches and club directors have been invited to contribute to this list. ...

Seton Hall-bound setter Taylor Jakubowski has led Huntley to a 18-2 record despite the graduation of seven seniors and several key starters from last year's 35-4 team. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) (Editor's note: This story originally ran on October 9, 2019) Huntley's 5-foot-8 senior setter Taylor Jakubowski. Although no exacting scientific study has been published on the subject, some estimates put the distance a setter runs during a match at anywhere from a half-mile to three miles.Then there are days where a setter may feel like the...

Illprepvb.com is compiling a list of the top uncommitted players in the classes of 2020-23. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the classes of 2020, 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 parents, coaches and club directors are invited to provide the names of their players who should be on the list.If yo...

Matt Pollock (back row, No. 18) was named to the Chicago Sun-Times All-Area Boys Volleyball Team in 2008. (Sun-Times photo by Jean Lachat. Cover photo courtesy of JVC Civita Castellana) Matt Pollock played professionally overseas after graduating from Pepperdine. (Photo courtesy of JVC Civita Castellana) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMatt Pollock is excited.But the Orland Park native and 2008 Sandburg graduate is not only excited about his new job as assistant men's volleyball coach at Pepperdine University, where he starr...