Club teams from throughout Illinois scattered across the Midwest and beyond to compete in President's Day tournaments. Texas. Nebraska. Missouri, Indiana. Michigan.Illinois teams scattered to the corners of the Midwest – and 1,000 miles to the south – to compete in tournaments over the President’s Day weekend. Four ocal teams earned championships, including Adversity G17 Adidas (17 Open in St. Louis), VC United 161 Elite (16 Premier in Indianapolis) and Springfield Shock 15 Under Armour (AAU STL Crossfire Super Regionals).But none was w...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Sports Performance VBC Girls H.S. Player of the Year
Rachel Muisenga led Benet to a 51-1 record during her two years as the Redwings' setter, capped by a 23-25, 25-11, 25-22 victory over Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet's Rachel Muisenga By Matt Le CrenSpecial for Illprepvb.comThere is an aura that all great athletes project during competition.They play with a self-assuredness that ensures no challenge is too large for them to overcome, and no task too small for them to complete.For those fans who get to watch...
VC United taking boys, girls volleyball to a new level in the Rockford area
VC United attracts boys and girls from throughout the Rockford and northwest Illinois areas, like 5-11 outside hitter Gracey Lovgren (17) from Stillman Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEric Schulze had been involved in club volleyball for two decades when he decided to put out his own shingle in 2017.He picked a good place to do it.Schulze was informed by some Rockford-area residents that an area club had dropped its boys’ program and asked if he wanted to help form a new one. At the time, he been coac...
Ultimate B16 Gold, vying to be top dog at Palos Courts, sees unbeaten streak end
Ultimate B16 Gold finished third Saturday at the Palos-B16 Point Series #3. https://youtu.be/6uDvC1_hKmo It had to happen sometime.Ultimate B16 Gold entered Saturday’s Palos-B16 Point Series #3 on the heels of 17 consecutive wins to start the season. After extending its win streak to 18 with a 25-15, 25-20 victory over SPVB B16 Charlie, Ultimate ran afoul of MVC 16-Jake, 14-25, 25-19, 15-7.Ultimate rebounded to beat Adversity 16 Adidas, 25-19, 25-13, in its finale Saturday, and will look to start another long win streak, and avenge it...
Muisenga, Wrobel and Rodriguez are worth watching, and still waiting
Plainfield North's Ella Wrobel, Benet's Rachel Muisenga and Sterling's Lexi Rodriguez were recently named to Volleyball Magazine’s Girls 25 Underclassmen to Watch list. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/yhHxJD5w5aU Like many of her peers during these anything-but-typical times, Rachel Muisenga is doing her best to remain ready should the girls’ club volleyball season resume.Working out. Running when weather permits. Or a pick-up volleyball game in her backyard with older sisters Sarah (St. Francis/University of Chicago) who is...
St. Charles East rallies behind Skyler Misch to topple young St. Francis
St. Francis coach Lisa Ston flanked by some of her players. By Phil BrozynskiFor Illprepvb.comSkyler Misch probably could have taken a dozen more swings if needed. “My arm is pretty good,” she said. “I play softball. I’m a pitcher, so my arm is pretty warm all the time.”Misch wasn’t just warm Saturday night, she was smokin’. The 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter had a team-high 14 kills to lead St. Charles East (2-0) to a 21-25, 25-15, 25-13 victory over St. Francis Saturday night in Wheaton.Misch’s strategy is simple.“It's not about hitti...
Heldmann, Beaty know they're doing a good job … if nobody notices them
Jon Heldmann of Bolingbrook has worked several boys state tournament games, including this 2019 semifinal between Glenbard West and New Trier. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Bill Beaty became interested in officiating after his daughter finished her playing career at Divernon High School. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLike most officials, Jon Heldmann and Bill Beaty prefer to remain anonymous, hiding in plain sight as the action goes on around them.“Honestly, if we’re doing our jobs, we don’t want people to hear about us,” Heldmann sai...
Who are some of the top uncommitted girls in Illinois in the classes of 2020-23? (updated 2/12)
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...
Major challenges await teams in Michio Chicago/Illprepvb.com rankings
Marist will be among the teams vying for the title at this weekend's Asics Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) What do Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky), Ballston Lake (Burnt Hills, New York), St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), Marist, Sandburg, St. Francis and Huntley all have in common? They are among the 24 teams competing this weekend at the Asics Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley. The Asics Challenge has long been the playground of Ron Kordes’ Assumption Rockets, although the locals have broken t...
A look at some of Illinois' top uncommitted girls in the classes of 2021-23
Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top girls volleyball players in Illinois in the classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 who have yet to commit to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the classes of 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 par...