MOD Elite G16 Blue's Mary Hamann of Rolling Meadows slams a kill against Ultimate Asics G15 Gold during the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open seeding event Sunday at the 1st Alliance Training Center in Darien. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhile finishing fifth at the USAV Girls Junior Nationals Championship once would be cause for celebration for many clubs, it’s getting to be old hat for Abby Vander Wal and her 1st Alliance 16 Gold teammates.As in old and wearisome.After losing in the quarterfinals as 13s,...
Fusion 17, UNO 17, HP Illinois 16 make noise at Windy City National Qualifier
HP Illinois 16 National had already punched its ticket to USAV nationals at the Mideast Quallifier in Indianapolis, but reaching the finals of the 16 USA division Sunday at McCormick Place was icing on the cake. On the home page, Fusion 17 Gino defeated UNO Girls 17 Elite to win the 17 Freedom division Sunday, but both teams will advance to nationals after earning bids in Chicago. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSome came to Chicago to get better. Others came to improve their seeding for nationals.Many, however, came just for the oppo...
Here are the top 17s, 16s, 15s boys' club teams in new 1st Alliance/Illprepvb poll
Adversity 16 Adidas-South finished third in the 16 Open division at the 2022 AAU/JVA Chi-town Boys Challenge on November 19-21 at McCormick Place. And now, the rest of the story. Monday, we announced the initial 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys Club 18s rankings of the new season. Today, we take a look at the top 17s, 16s and 15s boys club teams in Illinois. (Of course, this could all change by the end of the week when THE Point Series 15-18s 2022 wraps up.) But for now, strap in. Here are the initial 1st Alliance VBC/Illpre...
Who’s who among the best in Illinois boys’ volleyball? We try to sort it all out
Despite some graduation losses, Lincoln-Way East (far court) again figures to be among the best boys volleyball teams in Illinois this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHere are the 2023 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Preseason Rankings (with last season’s record):1. Glenbard West 39-3Trevor Powell, Danny Dorsey and Gavin Swartz are gone, so who will step up this year? Next up: Thursday vs. Lincoln-Way East.2. Marist 36-3Six-foot-5 Marty Canavan and sophomores Nathan Toth,...
Bella Bullington admits her Japanese is a little rusty ahead of her trip ‘home’
Six-foot sophomore outside hitter Bella Bullington from Marist is one of 21 Sports Perfromance players who are going to Japan to train with college and high school players from Tokyo and Nagano March 23-April 1. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSpending a week in Japan may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some high school student-athletes, but for Bella Bullington, it’s like going home.Or, in her case, it is going home.“I’ve actually lived in Japan,” said Bullington, one of 21 Sports Performance vo...
Lyons Township teaches York that to err is human, but to be consistent is divine
York players gathered prior to their West Suburban Silver match with visiting Lyons on Tuesday, won by the Lions, 25-23, 25-20. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat’s the difference between a good team and a great team?“Consistency,” said Lyons Township’s 6-6 junior outside hitter Luka Kostic. “We’ve really been focusing on consistency because early in the season we were having our ups and downs. We want to be a very good team at all times and not have ups and downs or loops or hills or anything like that.“Consistency … that’s the ma...
McAuley's Moonans celebrate final home game with big win over Lyons Township
Kamryn Lee-Caracci had 5 kills for Lyons Township at Mother McAuley on Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMother McAuley honored its seniors Wednesday, and the Mighty Macs sent them out in style.In a possible sectional championship preview, McAuley made short work of visiting Lyons, 25-16, 25-16.Junior Ellie White led the way with 9 kills, 16 digs and a block, while middle blocker Maeve Moonan made sure her final home match was a good one with 6 kills and 4 blocks.“I was excited,” Moonan. “I was a li...
Sports Performance’s 18 girls, boys win 2023 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge titles
SPVB 18 Elite's Audrey Brcka (Wheaton North) overcomes the block of a pair of defenders during action at the 2023 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorKitty Sandt was happy simply to be back on the court.Winning the 18/17 Girls division at the 2023 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge was a bonus.“We had a month off,” said Sandt, SPVB 18 Elite’s 5-11 setter and the tournament MVP. “I think we really improved since then because we've been really training hard. But it was nice to finally play so...
Up, down and out … just another Sunday at Windy City Power League 16/15 Open
Fusion 16 Dawgs' Elissa Furlan (Richmond-Burton) passes a ball from the back row during the Marengo club's match with MOD Elite G16 Blue Sunday at the 1`st Alliance Training Facility in Woodridge. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“One day you're up and the next day you're down …” Maybe the Blues Magoos were on to something back in 1967, because the lyrics to their one-hit rock wonder, “We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet,” off the album “Psychedelic Lollipop” and popularized in the movie “Easy Rider,” describe perfectly S...
Life is a highway for Illini Elite; Michio, Team One roll on day one of 16/15 seeding
The Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division seeding event got underway Saturday. Two weeks ago, Mission 17 Elite (pictured) went 3-3 at the 18/17 Open division seeding event, finishing 21st overall and 12th among the 17s. https://youtu.be/4IfrKftYYYQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 1st Alliance Volleyball Club training facility in Darien is just a hop, skip and jump for Bloomington-based Illini Elite Volleyball Club owner/director and Illini Elite 16 Cardinal coach Andy Erins.“What I like about this (location) is that I ...