Lockport's Haley Rak (3) soars to clear the block attempt by Joliet West's Peyton Darguzis (18) during the Tigers' sectional championship victory Wednesday at Oswego. Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith his team having an excellent first half of the season, Joliet West girls' volleyball coach Chris Lincoln had some prophetic words. "No coach is going to be upset at being 18-1," he said on September 26 following a close win over Minooka. "But we have to get every girl playing on the same level at the same tim...
Where are Illinois’ top girls’ volleyball recruits in the Class of ’23, ’24, ’25 headed?
(Updated 7/26) Benet Academy's 5-8 junior libero Aniya Warren from the Class of 2025 and 1st Alliance VBC has committed to Indiana University. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025 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 fa...
Nathan Grutza does it all as Plainfield East stops Plainfield North in SPC finale
Plainfield East's Kendall Killins (2) had 11 kills in the Bengals' victory Thursday at Plainfield North. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPlainfield East coach Jeff Wilkie left nothing to chance going into Thursday’s regular season finale against host Plainfield North.“We’ve been preparing for this all week, watching film,” Wilkie said. “I found a whole lot of crowd noise on a YouTube video and played it in our gym one day, just because of how loud it was in our gym last year when they were at our house.“I...
Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb First, Second and Third All-State Teams
One of the best liberos in the country, Benet Academy's Aniya Warren was named the MVP of every tournament in which the Redwings competed this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls First, Second and Third All-State Volleyball Teams. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future pote...
Presenting the preseason Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com girls rankings
Mother McAuley and Benet Academy could be headed toward another IHSA Class 4A championship match clash, or will the folks downstate pair the two big-school powerhouses in a supersectional smashup like they did in 2014? Stay tuned. (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 EditorLet the (guessing) games be...
Six returning starters with a ‘chip on their shoulders’ bodes well for York Dukes
York's Luke Shorter is one of several players back from last year's team hoping to make a run at the school's first IHSA quarterfinal appearance since 1999. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHow long has it been?There is not a single player on the York roster this season who was born the last time the Dukes appeared in an IHSA boys’ quarterfinal. There is a greater possibility that their parents were still in college, or perhaps in some cases, had not even met yet.The year was 1999. Behind Tim Geigner, Rich S...
Will Aquin dance again? IC Prep has unfinished business; more ’23 previews
IC Catholic Prep libero Alyssa lLawton (2) chases down a deep volley during the Knights' 2022 IHSA Class 2A championship match against Genoa-Kingston. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinios girls high school volleyball season begins in earnest in a little more than a week, and today Illprepvb.com continues its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.So, here are some fac...
Smiley, Kushner, SPVB 18 White hope to shine under the bright lights in Florida
Sydney Kushner (above, No. 2) and Cailey Smiley (home page, No. 14) and their SPVB 18 White teammates know their work is far from done despite their big win at the recent JVA World Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorRed, white and … feeling blue?Not in the plan for this crew.Cailyn Smiley, a 5-9 outside hitter from Oswego East, played for three different 18s teams at Sports Performance (18 Red, 18 White) as a junior, finally landing on the 18 Elite roster at the 49th AAU Girls Ju...
We wanted to know why girls play volleyball, so we asked them. Here’s what they said
New WAVE 16 Tornado's Megan Boertlein, opposite twin sister, Sarah (31) and flanking teammates Taryn Bazon (10) and Gabriella Flores (73), said she was drawn to volleyball by watching her two older sisters play. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere are a number of benefits volleyball provides young girls that can positively impact a young girl’s life – physical-fitness, learning teamwork and how to communicate with others, self-confidence, mental toughness and body image.But if you ask girls why they play volleyball, the reason they ...
Who was ballin’ out during WCPL 17/18 Club South play in Woodridge?
1st Alliance 18 Red's Caitlin Bochantin (5) tries to go over the block of Belusa United 18 Cyclones' Addison Ciesielski (23) and Ava Valentin (10) during both team's finale in the 17/18 Club South Red division Sunday in Woodridge. (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 EditorToday, we’re takin...