Plainfield East defeated Southwest Prairie Conference regular-season champion Minooka on Saturday to win the league's season-ending tournament in Minooka. Minooka’s plaque might be bigger, but Plainfield East got the last word.Plainfield East overcame a 24-21 deficit in the first set and fought back after squandering an early 9-5 led in the second to defeat regular-season champion Minooka, 28-26, 25-21, and win the season-ending Southwest Prairie Conference Tournament Saturday in Minooka.“It's absolutely amazing,” said Plainfield East se...
1,600 days? That's lots of water under the bridge and many Marist foes under foot
Kamryn Chaney (23) had 7 kills as Marist continued its mastery at home Monday with a 25-22, 25-13 victory over Joliet Catholic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comIt's 1600 days and counting.The Marist girls’ volleyball team continued its home mastery with a 25-22, 25-13 victory over Joliet Catholic in an East Suburban Catholic Conference clash Monday.It was the 30th straight home win for the RedHawks. The last time they lost at home? Exactly 1,600 days ago, a 25-20, 25-22 loss to eventual IHSA Class 4A and nat...
Here are the latest Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com Boys 15-18 Club Rankings
Grayson Juel (58) and his UNO Boys 18 Elite teammates battled their way to the 18 Open division Gold bracket quarterfinals at last weekend's Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The 2020 Boys Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place last weekend was a boon for some and a nightmare for others. Despite earning several bids, Illinois teams came away with only two championships in the 15-and-over divisions – SPVB B18 Lenny in 18 USA and SPVB B16 Alpha in 16 USA. Ultimate B14 Gold did win t...
A look at some of Illinois' uncommitted boys in the classes of 2021 and 2022
Illprepvb.com is creating a list of Illinois boys in the classes of 2021 and 2022 who have yet to commit to a college or university and have indicated a desire to continue their volleyball careers. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of Illinois boys in the classes of 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 high level either for their high school or club teams. All high school...
Here are the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com girls H.S. rankings
Barrington's Jessica Horwath (2) and the Fillies handed Class 3A No. 1 Belvidere North its first loss of the season Saturday at the Huntley tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). (Editor's note: There will be no rankings Monday, October 18. The final regular-season rankings will run Monday, October 25.)The “rolling of the peas” took place Monday morning at the IHSA offices in Bloomington to determine the semifinals pairings for all four classes November 12-13 at Redbird Arena.No one should expect all the top seeds to survive their sectio...
Shock's players may fly under the radar, but team's success is gaining attention
Springfield Shock 18 Elite went 6-2 and won the Bronze bracket in the 18 American division at the Winter Volleyball Championship last weekend at McCormick Place. Seeing some action at the pin for Springfield Shock was New Berlin's Emilie King. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDalton Tucker traveled a long way to coach the Springfield Shock 18 Elite team.The squad has gone farther than any of the players could have imagined.“I lived in Iowa last year and drove four hours back and forth to coach them because ...
Where are Illinois' top boys volleyball recruits headed? (updated 5/25)
Elijah Fleming of Bolingbrook and Sports Performance has committed to Lourdes University in Ohio. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top boys players in Illinois from the Class of 2021 and beyond who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. If you are a coach, club director or parent and know of a player who should be on this list, please contact us at Illprepvb@gmail.com.Class of 2021Josh Albers, 6-3, S, Rockford Guilford/VC United VBC, Rockford UniversityMatt Arens, 6-5,...
Final 2019 Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com rankings, and what lies ahead?
Zayna Meyer (left) and Wheaton Warrenville South rode some mid-season changes to the IHSA Class 4A finals at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The 2019 season is in the record books.Newark and Sterling repeated. Benet denied Marist’s bid to three-peat. St. Teresa ruled Class 2A. But once again, the tournament reinforced the idea that the final eight teams in each class, if not the final 16, should be seeded, and the “rolling of the peas” abandoned. And while they’re at it, “geographic representation” should be trashed, too.The...
Glenbard West after beating Downers North … 'Let's play again, and again, and again'
Downers Grove North's (from left) Justin Griesbaum, Daniel Eckmann, Luke Saranecki, Ian Schuller and Cole Fulton. Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer is trying to schedule as many matches as possible this spring.One problem. The West Suburban Conference will not allow schools to schedule teams outside the conference or outside their own school districts.So Glenbard West will play York four times this spring. The Hilltoppers will play Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove South and Lyons three times instead of the usual home-and-away. They...
Future falls short against Rockstar in 18 Open championship at McCormick Place
Future 18 Elite and Ben Harrington (11) of Glenbard West advanced to the Boys 18 Open championship match of the Winter Volleyball Championship Monday at McCormick PLace before falling to Team Rockstar 18 Rockstar from California. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Future 18 Elite was Chicago’s last hope to win the 18 Open division at the 2020 Boys Winter Volleyball Championship Monday at McCormick Place.But like Sports Performance and Chicago Bounce before them, Future had no answer for Sam Collins and top-seeded Team Rockstar 18 Rockstar (Carson,...