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...
1st Alliance good as Gold in 18 Open; Club Fusion 18-1 National wins Liberty division
Alex Bardouniotis (19) and her Club Fusion 18-1 National teammates won the 18 Liberty division to earn a bid to the 2024 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Baltimore, Maryland, April 26-28. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) 1st Aklliance 18 Gold defeated City 18 Gold to win the 18 Open division at the 2024 Windy City National Qualifier Sunday at the Schaumburg Convention Center. https://youtu.be/aN88sAaoFPs 1st Alliance 18 Gold's winning point against Team Pineapple 18 Black. (Video courtesy of Trish Samolinski) By Phil Bro...
Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb Girls Special Mention All-State Team
Rock Falls' libero Carlie Kobbeman set a new single-season school record with 385 digs for the IHSA Class 2A third-place Rockets. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls Special Mention All-State Volleyball Team. 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 potential or current recruitment ...
Here are the final regular-season Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb Girls H.S. rankings
GabriellaTowns (6) and the Oak Park-River Forest Huskies finished fifth at last weekend's Autumnfest tournament hosted by Glenbard East. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOK, who is the No. 1 team in Class 4A this week?Right now, it’s Benet Academy (again).Why?Mathematics. It’s as simple as A beats B, B beats C, C beats A. Benet is 1-1 against Marist (splitting two matches) and 1-0 against Mother McAuley. Meanwhile, Mother McAuley is 0-1 against Benet Academy and 1-1 vs. Marist, and Marist is 2-2 with a win an...