Adversity G18 Adidas advances, others falter at Windy City Girls 18s Qualifier

Six-foot-3 outside hitter Catherine Burke (Loyola) and her Adversity G18 Adidas teammates finished second in their pool Saturday at the Windy City Girls 18s National Qualifier in Schaumburg. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/9NSxa5L6H5w By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAdversity G18 Adidas lived to fight another day, but VC United 181 Elite was not as fortunate, losing a three-way tiebreaker in its pool during day one of the Windy City Girls 18s National Qualifier Saturday at the Schaumburg Convention Center.Adversity defea...

Miscues foil Limestone's plans for an upset as No. 2-ranked Metamora romps

No. 2-ranked Metamora received 7 kills from Esma Frieden (8) during a 25-14, 25-18 win over visiting Bartonville Limestone on Tuesday. On the home page, Bartonville Limestone setter Alayna Rudebeck (2) found herself in a joust against Metamora's Sophie Fletcher. (Photos by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMETAMORA – What was slated to be a barnburner got washed away by uncharacteristic unforced errors from Bartonville Limestone in a matchup of Mid-Illini Conference co-leaders on Tuesday.Few opponents of Metamora, rank...

Taylorville stuns No. 1 Normal U-High; IC's Falduto, Russ keep their vow

The Taylorville Tornado3s are surrounded by their fans after knocking off No. 1-ranked Normal U-High at the (Chatham) Glenwood Class 3A Supersectional. (Photo by Randy Sharer) At (Chatham) GlenwoodCHATHAM – Down a set and trailing 23-17 in Game 2, Taylorville needed a lot of things to go right in order to upset Normal University High in the Chatham Glenwood Class 3A Supersectional on Friday.The stars improbably aligned as Taylorville pulled out a 22-25, 26-24, 25-23 shocker over U-High, which came in ranked No. 1 by Illprepvb.com.“We w...

Presenting the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Team

Lincoln-Way East's Jared Byas was named the Southwest Suburban Conference Player of the Year and led the Griffins to the IHSA championship game. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our fourth annual effort to honor the best boys high school volleyball players in Illinois.Coaches were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and as high school student-ath...

Presenting the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Special Mention Team

Oswego East's Vivian Campbell (far court) led the Wolves to a Southwest Prairie Conference title and one of the best seasons in school historty. On the home page is Joliet Catholic's Ava Neushwander. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2022 Girls All-State Volleyball Special Mention 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 stu...

Where are Illinois' top girls' volleyball recruits in the Classes of '22, '23 headed?

(Updated 7/18) Six-foot-3 junior middle hitter Annie Eschenbach (17) of Benet Academy and 1st Alliance VBC has committed to Xavier University. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2022 and 2023 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 far.If...

Connor Durst puts finishing touches on Glenbrook North's win over Glenbard West

Glenbrook North, which won the Tiger Classic at Wheaton Warrenville South earlier this season, added another title to its resume Saturday at the Northside Classic by defeating Glenbard West in the championship game. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWith Danny Dorsey in a walking boot and Gavin Swartz sidelined by illness, Glenbard West was running out of options.Glenbrook North, on the other hand, had Connor Durst.Durst, a 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter, had 5 kills and 2 blocks during a 9-3 run that put the fin...

‘The Generator’ sparks Lincoln-Way East over Glenbard West in ’22 title rematch

Parker Moorhead had 10 kills in Glenbard West' loss Thursday to Lincoln-Way East in a rematch of last year's IHSA championship match. (file photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLincoln-Way East star Tyler Walenga has a nickname for fellow senior Joey Glennon.“We like to call Joey 'The Generator,’” Walenga said. “He generates so much energy at the perfect time, all the time.“He’s got a high motor and is a great player. Whenever we need him, he always delivers.”Glennon lived up to his moniker on Thursday, delivering 1...

Aquin feels no pressure in 1A; G-K's Pierce puts dagger in IC Catholic's 2A title bid

Alayna Pierce (16) had 18 kills to lead Genoa-Kingston past IC Catholic Prep in the Class 2A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor NORMAL -- Genoa-Kingston’s Alayna Pierce didn’t have the kind of performance she had hoped for in the Cogs’ semifinal victory Friday over Chillicothe IVC. The 5-foot-11 junior had 8 kills, but those came at the expense of 38 attempts and 9 errors for a -.025 hitting percentage.So, Pierce went back to the drawing board.“At practice this mor...

Illprepvb.com presents a first look at Illinois' top 2023 club teams … the 18s

(On the home page) SPVB 18 Elite and SPVB 18 Kahl tangle at the Great Lakes Volleybal Center in 2022. (Above) Marist's Kamryn Chaney (far court) returns for 1st Alliance 18 Gold along with six other players who won a national USAV championship as 17s. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFirst, congratulations to former Mother McAuley great Kayla Caffey, who played in her second NCAA Division I national championship in two years when Texas defeated Louisville on December 17.A 2016 graduate of McAuley, Caffey was gr...