Future 16 Elite defeated Ultimate B16 Gold in the championship match of the Asics Boys Summer Challenge 16 division Sunday in Mokena. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe Future is now.With a healthy lineup, Future 16 Elite captured the championship of the Asics Boys Summer Challenge on Sunday at the Velocity Training Center in Mokena with a dominating 25-14, 25-22 victory over Ultimate B 16 Gold. “I’d say it was a pretty good day for us,” said Future coach Kate Wright. “We’ve got all our starters back on the court, a...
Transitioning from high school to club presents 18s with challenge at Velocity
Jack Yurkanin and Ultimate B18 Gold are using the Asics Boys Summer Challenge to get ready for nationals beginning June 30 in Dallas. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) This weekend’s Asics Boys Summer Challenge at Velocity Athletic Center in Mokena is serving as the final tune-up for several teams that have qualified for the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships, June 30-July 7, in Dallas, Texas. Among them is Ultimate B18 Gold, which finished second in the country as 17s last year and has its eyes on the big prize next week with a rost...
630 Volleyball’s mission: win national championships, prepare players for college
Serve City 16 National will fly the Serve City flag at USAVs this summer, but will be playing under the 630 Volleyball banner during the 2019-20 season. Former Glenbard East player, college assistant and USA Men's Junior National Team technical coordinator Alex Hurlburt. Alex Hurlburt knew his body could not withstand the rigors of playing competitive volleyball after he played his final match for Glenbard East in 2010.“I was fairly tall and fairly athletic, but not skilled in any way,” he said. “After I made it through that last match m...
Cyclones kick up a storm at Navy Pier, win Asics Junior National 17s, 18s championships
Cyclones 17 Black Adidas defeated Epic United 17 Elite ROX to win the 17s age division title of the Asics Junior National Volleyball Championships Sunday at Navy Pier. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere was a fog hanging over Navy Pier early Sunday morning. By 3:00 p.m. or so, it had turned into a cyclone. The Cyclones 17 Black Adidas volleyball team, that is. After finishing second in their age group in the same tournament the past three years, the Cyclones completed their mission this year, defeating Epic United 17 RO...
We peer into the Illprepvb.com crystal ball at the boys’ 2020 season
New Trier's Colin Heath (12) and Glenbard West's Ben Harrington (1) could meet at Hoffman Estates again in 2020. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Which teams will be among Illinois’ best in 2020? Peering into the Illprepvb.com crystal ball … Can Glenbard West return to the top of the Illinois boys volleyball world after falling to Marist and Marty Jepsen in the 2019 IHSA championship game? Can Marist repeat without the 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year? Will New Trier ride its two fabulous outside hitters to the school’s first title in 25 years...
Introducing the 2019 Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team
(Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Illprepvb.com 2019 Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Team of the Year. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the Illprepvb.com all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court as high school players, not on any future potential or current recruitment status. These players excelled on the court and represented their schools, their teams and their communities with distinction...
A difference-maker and class act, Jepsen is the 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year
Marty Jepsen celebrates with his teammates after Marist won the 2019 IHSA Boys Volleyball championship. (Photo courtesy of Joe Hovanes) 2019 Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Marty Jepsen of Marist. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarist had just edged Glenbard West 25-21, 25-23 in a hard-fought IHSA championship match. The two teams congratulated each other after they received their medals.As the Marist players shook hands with her and her team, Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer took time to give o...
Who were some of the best of the best? We asked the coaches, and the nominees are:
New Trier junior Peter Brown led the Trevians to a third-place finish in the IHSA Boys Volleyball Tournament. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com asked boys' volleyball coaches statewide to nominate players for this year's all-state team. The Player of the Year will be announced Saturday and the all-state team will be announced Sunday. These are some of the players who were nominated by their coaches for the all-state team: Sammy Adkisson, 5-10, Sr., L, Vernon HillsThe Player of the Year in the Central Suburban North, Adkisson ama...
Where are Illinois’ top girls’ volleyball recruits headed? (updated 6/17)
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois 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 far. If you know of a player who has already committed to a college or university, please contact us at Illprepvb@gmail.com. Katie Jablonski of Kaneland and Club Fusion 18 Red, w...
Who are some of the top uncommitted Illinois boys in the classes of 2019, 2020? (updated 6/10)
Six-foot-2 junior Anthony Torres (15, on the home page) of Oswego East and 6-6 senior rightside/middle hitter Luke Vozenilek (23) of Hinsdale Central are two of the top uncommitted boys volleyball players in Illinois. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is compiling a list of boys’ volleyball players in the Classes of 2019 and 2020 who are as of yet uncommitted and are looking play volleyball at the next level. If you know of someone who should be on this list, please email their name, height, position, year in school and school to illpr...