Downers Grove North's Aiden Akkawi led the Trojans to the championship of the Downers Grove South Richard Griesheim Invitational with 13 kills in the title match against Oak Park-River Forest. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEach week during the volleyball season, we announce an Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. Coaches throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a player for their outstanding performance on and off the court.This week, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week is Do...
Where are Illinois’ top girls volleyball recruits in the Classes of ’25, ’26 and ’27 headed?
(Updated July 10) Six-foot-5 junior middle hitter Lynney Tarnow (12) of Benet Academy has verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) (Updated 4:00 p.m., Thursday, July 10)Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 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 o...
Benet Academy looks to get acquainted, Lincoln-Way East looking to get healthy
Benet Academy seniors Lynney Tarnow (12) and Ellie Stiernagle (11) are still getting to know their new teammates after graduation claimed 10 players off last year's Class 4A runner-up. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBenet Academy is looking to get better acquainted. Lincoln-Way East is just looking to get healthy.The two teams met Tuesday in Lisle, and although the Redwings won, 25-17, 25-14, the result was almost secondary to the process.“It’s still really early, and we’re still trying to get to know each othe...
Top-ranked Bloomington Central Catholic weathers test from (Downs) Tri-Valley
Auburn recruit Kampbell Niepagen of Central Catholic (7) battled at the net against Northern Iowa-recruit Annabelle Bischoff (16) and Isabella Medeiros (8) of Tri-Valley at Downs on Thursday. Central Catholic won, 25-14, 26-28, 25-17. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy Sharer Special to Illprepvb.comDOWNS – It’s not often both teams in a high school volleyball match get what they want, but that’s what happened Thursday as host Tri-Valley showed it can make a state title contender sweat.Sweating now, however, could help Bloomington Central ...
Making a jump in class, Timothy Christian proves it can still play with the big girls
A Class 2A semifinalist in 2024, Timothy Christian made its debut as a Class 3A school Monday against visiting York. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAfter reaching the Class 2A semifinals last year for the first time since 2015 and setting a school record for wins (35) behind Texas freshman and Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com all-state selection Abby Vander Wal, Timothy Christian finds itself reclassified Class 3A this season.Abby gone? 2A done?Who? Me worry?“We're super excited about it,” said Timothy Christian’s four-year starter an...
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb present ’25 preseason Class 2A rankings, previews
Aubrey Fair (5) and Bloomington Central Catholic don't have to worry about another run-in with Breese Mater Dei in the Class 2A championship this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprpvb.com EditorSt. Francis, DePaul College Prep and St. Laurence? You’re movin’ on up. You, too, Breese Mater Dei and IC Catholic Prep. Did you enjoy your time in “success-factor” purgatory, Joliet Catholic and Nazareth Academy? How about Normal West? Well, no more Mother McAuley and Marist for you. And Rochester? You got to be l...
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb present ’25 preseason Class 3A rankings, previews
Purdue University recruit Lily Bosworth (6) returns as Mahomet-Seymour seeks to repeat as Class 3A champion this fall. )Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprpvb.com EditorSt. Francis, DePaul College Prep and St. Laurence? You’re movin’ on up. You, too, Breese Mater Dei and IC Catholic Prep. Did you enjoy your time in “success-factor” purgatory, Joliet Catholic and Nazareth Academy? How about Normal West? Well, no more Mother McAuley and Marist for you. And Rochester? You got to be lovin’ you some 2. When the IHSA...
Bergman, Leavitt top Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com ’25 Hall of Fame Class
Stan Bergman, flanked by sons Alec and Aden and wife, Amy, has taken three different schools to Redbird Arena, winning IHSA championships with two of them. (Photo courtesy of the Champaign News-Gazette) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSeven years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, at the time, nothing ever came of that phone call. But we felt that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue. In July 2020, with inp...
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb present 200 girls high school players to watch in 2025
Eden Eyassu (8) is one of the reasons Joliet West figures to be among the top Class 4A teams in Illinois this fall. On the homepage is Mahomet-Seymour's Lily Bosworth, a 6-4 middle hitter and Michigan State recruit. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFirst of all, congratulations to ...
MOD Elite earns three Bronze medals, UNO Boys wins one as AAUs wrap up
MOD Elite B17 Blue was one of six entries from the Northbrook club to reach the championship bracket during Wave 2 of the 2025 AAU Boys National Volleryball Championships in Orlando, Florida. On the home page is MOD Elite B15 Blue, which advanced to the semifinals of the 15 Open division in Orlando. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOrlando, Florida – Many are called, but few are chosen.Wave 2 of the 2025 AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, wrapped up Monday with the ...