(Updated 6/21) Glenbard West's Trevor Powell has committed to the University of Southern California. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top boys players in Illinois from the Class of 2022 and beyond who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. If you are a coach, club director or parent and know of a player who should be on this list, please contact us at Illprepvb@gmail.com. Class of 2022Julian Abulescu, 6-6, OH, Deerfield/Chicago Bounce VBC, University of California...
Willowbrook, Linnig stun WW South; Metea Valley, Mother McAuley move on
Willowbrook continued its amazing run through the 2021 season Wednesday, defeating Wheaton Warrenville South, 19-25, 25-21, 27-25, at the Class 4A Bartlett Sectional. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe last point.When would it come?Who would it come from?How about the least likely person on the court?“I just felt like, ‘Should I do it?’” said Willowbrook’s 5-7 setter Katie Linnig. “I did it once in the beginning (of the match), but not toward the end. I thought, ‘We’re winning this game.’ I knew they weren’t going to get to it.“I b...
Gavin Swartz gets in on the family fun as Glenbard West wins IHSA championship
Liam O'Neill (14) had a pair of kills in the semifinal as Glenbard West defeated Libertyvillle, 25-21, 25-13, on its way to its fourth IHSA championship. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/1QfZHq8kMU4 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Glenbard West won the first of its three consecutive IHSA championships in 2015, 6-foot-5 middle hitter Parker Swartz contributed 7 kills, 3 digs and a block to the Hilltoppers’ 25-15, 25-13 victory over Vernon Hills in the title match.Meanwhile, the volleyball career of middle brother Ryan...
Who will reign supreme? Illprepvb.com looks at the IHSA finals in Normal
Six-foot-3 junior and Florida recruit Kira Hutson has led Metea Valley to the first regional, sectional and supersectional titles in school history. Can she add a state championship trophy to the school's trophy case? (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters.Pleasant Plains has five of them who watched their older siblings win an IHSA Class 2A championship in 2018 – Kylee Garrett (Jade), Adi Fraase (Ali), Jaycee Smith (McKenzie), Lauren Buxton (Madaly...
High school careers come to a close for dozens of Illinois girls at USAV nationals
Fusion 18 Silver took just seven players to Phoenix due to illness, injury and other commitments, but went 6-2 in the 18 American division and placed 25th. The high school volleyball careers of dozens of players from Illinois ended last weekend at the 2022 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.And while there were no national championships to celebrate, each team had its own story of courage, determination, and ultimately, survival.Three local teams competed in the 18 Open division – Adversity G18 Adidas, 1st Alli...
The Volleyball Institute/Illprepvb.com present the top boys in the Class of 2024
Barrington's 6-10 sophomore outside hitter Cole Hartke (15) led Pipeline 17-1 to the championship match of the 2022 Dennis Lafata Boys Bid Classic. (Photo courtesy of Daily Herald) Today, we rank the top boys in the Class of 2024. The list is headed by the most impactful freshman from the 2021 high school season, Lockport's 5-foot-10 setter Evan Dziadkowiec, who led the Porters to their first-ever appearance in the IHSA quarterfinals and continued to flash his brilliance this winter at the reigns of Ultimate B16 Gold. Just behind...
Heavy graduation losses aside, Lockport not missing a beat, drums Joliet West
Joliet West, which won its own tournament last weekend by defeating Stevenson and Lincoln-Way West, suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday at Lockport. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEvan Dziadkowiec is the captain of the Lockport boys’ volleyball team. He’s also one of four sophomore starters for the Porters. Dziadkowiec dished out 23 assists as the new look Porters continued their good start by defeating Joliet West, 25-18, 25-20, in a Tuesday morning matinee in Lockport. It was Joliet West’s first loss of t...
Lincoln-Way East leaves 'em feeling blue at Crimson Classic; Benet, McAuley roll
Lockport's 6-1 sophomore middle blocker Jenna Kolosta (18) is greeted at the net by Lincoln-Way East's Hayven Smith (16) and Tamia Maddox (12) during the Crimson Classic championship match at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere was something about finishing last season only one game over .500 that didn’t sit well with Lincoln-Way East veterans Ava Nepkin and Jada James.“Going into last season, we all anticipated having a good year,” Nepkin said. “Unfortunately, it wasn't.”But ...
Latest Michio Chicago boys' rankings, and is it Glenbard West and everybody else?
York's 6-7 sophomore Luke Shorter (22) tries to drive the ball past Hinsdale Central defenders Matthew Hughes (25) and Emmanuel Jurineack (14) during Saturday's tournament in Elmhurst. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Takeaways from last week?After last weekend's showing at Lincoln-Way East, it's becoming more apparent that the IHSA championship is Glenbard West’s to lose.The field of bonafide challengers continues to dwindle.There is growing sentiment for a return to in-person sectional seeding.Not all sectionals are created equal.Some sectio...
Gwen Adler proves that you don't have to specialize to be a special student-athlete
Gwen Adler (far left) and her Barrington teammates finished third this fall in the IHSA Class 4A volleyball tournament at Redbird Arena. (Photos courtesy of the Daily Herald) Gwen Adler (15, lower left corner) watches as teammate Campbell Paris puts a kill away in an IHSA Class 4A semifinal. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comBoredom will never be a problem for Barrington sophomore Gwen Adler. Exhaustion may eventually trip her up, but not boredom.Adler is an outlier even by the energetic standards of teenager...