Huntley, with four Division I recruits, is hoping to make a big splash in 2022. Rankings. Somebody’s got to do ‘em. So here we go. Another year, another best guess.Mother McAuley coach Jen DeJarld says her 2022 team is the strongest she’s had since the 2016 group that was declared national champion. But there’s no shortage of challengers, including Barrington, which returns nearly everybody from the team that finished third last fall.Elsewhere, Normal U-High and Illinois recruit Lily Barry claim the top spot in Class 3A, Pleasant Pla...
SPVB 18 Blue, 18 Red, 16 White, 1st Alliance 16 Onyx net titles on final day of AAUs
Sports Performance 16 White dropped only one set during the entire tournament to win the 16 Spirit division at the 49th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday. Orlando, Florida – There are exceptions to the “No sure thing” rule.For example, take the 18 Classic championship match at the 49th AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday.There was no way that a Sports Performance team wasn’t going to walk away with a national title. The only question was whether i...
Just another day at the beach for Horwath in Barrington's season-opening victory
Barrington opened the 2022 season with a 22-25, 25-19, 25-12 victory at Stevenson. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s Jessica Horwath, a University of Arizona beach volleyball recruit, opted out of the indoor club season last winter and spring to work with Progression Beach Volleyball club in Darien, where she and her partner played in several big-time tournaments against taller, more mature opponents.So whatever happens on the court during this high school season is unlikely to fluster her … for example, dropping the first s...
Kehoe is key to Oswego's comeback; Downers North rides Schuller past Neuqua
Oswego's Anthony Ramirez (6) had 4 kills in the Panthers' regional semifinal win over Naperville North in a Downers Grove North regional semifinal Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSometimes it takes more than a powerful outside hitter or a strong blocking middle making play after play to turn a match around.Sometimes it takes a 5-foot-6 defensive specialist.After his team dropped an error-plagued first set to Naperville North, Oswego 5-6 junior Connor Kehoe toed the service line to begin the second.B...
Presenting the Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb Coaches Hall of Fame Class of '22
The late Dave Boze established the first volleyball club in the Great Lakes Region more than 40 years ago when he founded “Circus.” Four 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 input from current and former coaches, players and officials, Illprepvb.com put together the initial class of the ...
Illprepvb.com presents 100 of the top high school players in the Class of '24
Edwardsville's Sydney Davis (14) and teammates will have some big shoes to fill with the graduation of Gabby Saye off last year's IHSA Class 4A fourth-place finisher. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2024 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Class of 2024 Gwen Adler, 5-9, Jr., S, BarringtonAvery Allen, 5-7, Jr., OH, Mahomet-SeymourMolly Amendt, 5-11, Jr., MB, Lena-WinslowAddison Beekman, ...
Late for graduation? 'No way,' says Tomaszewski. Lockport also advances
Logan Clarida (20) and his Lincoln-Way West teammates will meet Lockport for a regional title Thursday after they defeated Plainfield North in a semifinal Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't be late!Andrew Tomaszewski made sure the Lincoln-Way West seniors weren't to their graduation.Tomaszewski, a senior setter, served an ace on match point as the Warriors avenged a season-opening loss to Plainfield North by toppling the Tigers, 25-22, 25-23, Tuesday in the opening semifinal of the Lockport Regiona...
Illprepvb.com presents 150 of the top high school players in the Class of '23
Fresh off winning an AAU national championship, Plainfield North's Lauren Jansen (11) hopes to lead Plainfield North to a Southwest Prairie Conference crown this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2023 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Later this week, we will be publishing a list of the top juniors and sophomores we anticipate/expect/hope to see this fall when the high school volleyball...
Leaving a legacy is foremost on the minds of Volling, Plainfield East's eight seniors
Jace Milka (4) is one of eight Plainfield East seniors who are trying to do something even the great 2018 team was not able to achieve. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 2022 Plainfield East Bengals are poised to do something even the great 2018 Plainfield East team could not accomplish.The 2018 Plainfield East team is the benchmark by which all the school’s boys volleyball teams are measured.That team opened the season with 19 consecutive wins before losing to Brother Rice, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23, at Brother Ric...
That's a wrap for the first AAU boys' tournament with 630, SPVB leading the way
MOD Elite B18 Blue joined Adversity B18 Adidas in the championship bracket of the 18 Open division at last week's AAU Boys National Championship in Orlando. Orlando, Florida – The results from the first AAU Boys National Championships at the Orange County Convention Center this week in Orlando were a mixed bag for the boys from Illinois.But one thing seems certain, the AAU boys’ championships are likely here to stay.“We’re pretty happy with AAUs,” said 630 Volleyball club director Nick Maruyama, whose team walked away with seven medals last...