Mission Volleyball Club enjoyed a successful competitive debut at the Wisconsin Juniors Pre-Season Kick-Off at the Lake View RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Mission Volleyball Club was initially conceived as a rebranding of Club Fusion's branch operation in Marengo before becoming its own entity. If you open it, will they come?That’s the question for anyone thinking of starting a new volleyball club.For Mission Volleyball Club, the answer has been a resounding, “yes.”Over 200 athletes ...

Montini's Billy Cyze, flanked by his brothers Daniel (left) and Thomas (right), has learned to adapt to a rare birth defect, and in addition to being a valued member of the school's volleyball team, is a member of the school's robotics team and a licensed UAS pilot. Billy Cyze is a leader on Montini's robotics team, and holds an Unmanned Arial System (UAS) license that allows him to fly drones up to 55 pounds. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMontini senior Billy Cyze can best be described as a problem-solver.The 6-foot-3 outside ...

Lincoln-Way East's Wil McPhilllips finds it tough sledding against the Marist block during Tuesday's sectional championship match at Marist. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Marist junior outside hitter Jake Bonnett had 7 kills during Marist's win Tuesday. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Playing his final match on his home court, Marty Jepsen had an opportunity to do something he had never done and the Marist boys’ volleyball team hadn't done in nine years.Get to state.The 6-foot-1 outside hitter made sure he didn’t miss his final opp...

Princeton recruit Valerie Nutakor (25) of St. Teresa blocks a shot by Maroa-Forsyth's Carlye King during St. Teresa's 33-31, 25-17 victory Monday in Decatur. Also at the net for the Bulldogs was senior middle blocker Addison Newbon (35). (photo by Randy Sharer). By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comDECATUR – For a rivalry match, Decatur St. Teresa’s status as the reigning IHSA Class 2A champion didn’t count for much against Maroa-Forsyth in a nonconference battle Monday.That was especially true during the first set as the visiting Tr...

Because of its vast geographic expanse, the eight-team Western Big Six conference has taken to playing two conference matches in one day, prompting Quincy to make the 324-mile round trip to Geneseo on Saturday to play Sterling and the host Maple Leafs. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith a pair of starters out and two early losses, which already doubled its loss total from last season, Illprepvb.com Class 3A top-ranked Sterling looked like it might be ripe for the picking heading into Saturday's Western Big 6 Conference triangular ...

Bloomington Central Catholic High School sophomore Isabelle Niepagen (7) hammered 13 kills in Tuesday's 25-18, 22-25, 30-28 loss to visiting Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBLOOMINGTON – It’s a rare volleyball match when both teams go home happy, but that’s what happened after a raucous Illini Prairie Conference battle on Tuesday.Visiting Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central got the win, but Bloomington Central Catholic didn’t feel or look like losers after escaping a 17...

Former Nazareth star Ella Sandt took her considerable talents to St. Mary's College of California, a private Catholic college in Moraga, California. The Gaels compete in the West Coast Conference. (Sandt photo by Dave Ruggles. Ally VanEekeren cover photo by Mark Kuhlmann) There are 334 schools that play Division I Women's Volleyball in the United States, including 13 in Illinois. Based on information provided by club directors, Illprepvb.com has identified approximately 235 girls who either played high school or club volleyball in ...