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...
The boys are back in town, but who will wear the crown … if there's a crown to wear?
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...
Where are they now? A look at where 600+ Illinois girls are playing college volleyball
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...
Hersey’s Lill reflects on long and winding road on way to joining 1,000-win club
Nancy Lill won her 1,000th career game as a varsity girls' coach at Hersey earlier this month. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Hersey coach Nancy Lill gives instructions to libero Maddie Mullin during the Mid-Suburban League championship game. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Nancy Lill believes things happen for a reason.That's led her to register over 1,000 wins as a girls’ volleyball coach.Lill, who has been the head coach at Hersey since 1988, reached that milestone on Friday, October 18. when the Huskies defeated Evanston, ...
Michio Chicago 15 National rules open division at JVA Summerfest in Columbus
Michio Chicago 15 National defeated CVC 15 Black to win the 15 Open division at the JVA Summerfest in Columbus last weekend. It was hot fun in the Summer(fest)time for Michio Chicago 15 National last weekend. Michio Chicago 15 National overcame the loss of one of their best attackers and a field of 36 teams Sunday to win the 15 Open division at the JVA Summerfest at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus. Ohio. Michio finished 7-0 in the tournament dropping only three sets along the way, defeating Tri-State Elite 15 Blue,...
Where are Illinois' top girls' volleyball recruits headed? (updated 7/16)
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 ...
1st Alliance 18 White wins American division in Kansas City, earns USAV bid
1st Alliance 18 White won the 18 American division at the ASICS Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City, Missouri, April 3-5, to earn a bid to the USA Volleyball 18 Girls Junior National Championship. Team members include Kennedi Bell, Lea Bunch, Delaney Davis, Isabella LaCoco, Jillian MacInnis, Gillian Peterson, Grace Reckamp, Lauren Shroba, Maya Thompson and McKenzie Washington. 1st Alliance 18 White is coached by Madisen Babich. ...
A superstar spouse and help from a ‘guardian angel’ have Harlan back in the game
Dave Harlan (left) said the outpouring of love and support from the volleyball community following his heart attack made him feel "outstanding." Dave Harlan worked the Silver division of the Asics Challenge at Brother Rice. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Dave Harlan could feel a little discomfort in his left arm when he arrived at his Indian Head Park home after officiating a match between Plainfield Central and visiting Nazareth on August 27. But he shook it off.“My wife asked me, ‘What's wrong with you?’” Harlan said. “I said, ‘Nothing. I'm O...
Who’s qualified on the boys’ side for the USA Volleyball Junior Nationals?
Chicago Bounce 17 Red qualified for the 2019 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships by finishing fifth in the 17 Open division at the Winter Volleyball Championships at McCormick Place in January. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Here are the Great Lakes Region qualifiers for the 2019 USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships, June 30-July 7, at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas:18 OpenAdversity B18 Adidas (Gateway Qualifier)Future 18 Elite (Gateway Qualifier)Pipeline 18 Nike (Gateway Qualifier)SPVB ...
From top to bottom and everywhere in the middle, Blue Steel VBC is about family
Blue Steel Volleyball Club's 16-1 boys team went 5-4 and finished 13th in the 16 USA division at the USAV Boys Junior National Championship. The team was coached by Melissa Massey (far right) and her sister, Lauren Martin (far left), and featured Massey's three sons -- Riley (23), Sutton (9) and Trent (standing behind Sutton) -- and Martin's son Landon (17). The first thing that jumps out at you when surveying the roster for the Boys BSVBC 16-1 team that competed at the recent USAV Boys Junior National Championship in Kansas City is th...