Michio Chicago 18 National won the Girls 18 USA division at last weekend's Winter Volleyball Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis is in the books. And after traveling to compete in nearby states like Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana, where COVID-19 restrictions were not as severe, Illinois clubs now have the go-ahead to begin scheduling competition in-state.Meanwhile, the qualifier season continues this weekend with the Northern Lights Qualifier Friday through Sunday at the CHI-Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The qualifier o...

Pipeline 18-1 advanced to the championship match of the 18 USA division at the USAV Boys Junior National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. The party is over … for at least a few weeks.A chaotic boys’ club volleyball season – which began last fall with tryouts, took a brief hiatus during an abbreviated boys’ high school season, and resumed with practice ahead of the USAV Boys Junior National Championships, all with the specter of COVID hanging over participants and spectators alike – is finally over.    Time to res...

ESVBC Elite 15U Ice (Eastside Volleyball Club, East Peoria) joins the rankings after winning the Midwest Challenge at Academy Volleyball Club in Indianapolis on January 30-31. This is the last installment of Illprepvb.com’s latest look at some of the top clubs in Illinois in their respective age groups.Like we said back in December, the 15s are always the most difficult to predict for a number of reasons. This season, that uncertainty was magnified partly because many 14s experienced a shortened competitive season in 2020, and in some...

Lions 15-1 showed a lot of determination Sunday to defeat Adversity G15 Adidas at UNO Volleyball Club and win the 15 Girls division of the GLR Girls Regional Qualifier. Lions 15-1 outside hitter Elizabeth Sessa tips the ball between Adversity G15 Adidas defenders Morgan Jones (20) and Josilyn Wadas (6). Photo by Dave Ruggles. The GLR Girls Regional Qualifier is in the books. There were a few surprises. There were also some predictable finishes.  What's next?The girls' high school season kicks off Saturday, interrupted briefly ...

Adversity G18 Adidas poses with their silver medals Sunday at the 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Adversity nearly overcame.Nearly.After dropping the first set, 25-19, to Premier Nebraska 18 Gold (Omaha, Nebraska), in the championship match of the 18 Open division at the 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, Adversity rallied to take the second set, 25-19.The girls from Vernon Hills then eased to leads of 8-6 and 10-8 in the third set. But Premier went on a ...

Three years ago, St. Francis coach Mike Lynch won his 500th career game. Is this the year he wins his first IHSA championship? Game on. Last week, the IHSA board OK’d a state tournament series for boys’ volleyball in anticipation of the relaxing of Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines on June 11. Sectional assignments have already been announced, and seeding is scheduled for Wednesday, May 19. The state finals will take place Friday-Saturday, June 18-19, at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.“We are excited to be able to of...

The talents of Fusion 16 Red's Grace Egan (Sterling) and Illini Elite 16 Cardinal's Lily Barry (Normal U-High) were on display during the 2019 IHSA volleyball championships at Redbird Arena. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Many volleyball clubs throughout Illinois are proceeding with plans to resume after the first of the year. The Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora recently released its schedule for the new year, which includes its Challenge Cup series and Presidents’ Day tournament (see the "Wanted" section).The dates to begin the Wind...

The AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships are still scheduled for July 14-22, in Orlando, Florida. But because of the lack of local competitors, the tournament will have no bearing on our rankings. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) It is hard to believe that, for all intents and purposes, the 2020 girls club season ended nearly four months ago. Five Illinois clubs, including 1st Alliance, Top Flight and Sky High, have entered teams in the AAU Girls Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida, on July 14-22, which has banned ...

There was some movement in this week's girls club rankings with Sky High Adidas 18 Black taking over the top spot among the 18s and Michio Chicago 16 National moving to the top of the 16s field. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The Windy City Power League seeding is over and the league season is underway. Surprises? There were a few. Meanwhile, with a few exceptions, the schedule is a little light prior to Presidents’ Day tournaments hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora and Sky High Volleyball Center in Crystal Lake. ...

SPVB G18 Elite's Audrey Rome (Sandwich, on the home page) and Adversity G18 Adidas' middle hitter Gigi Barr (York, pictured inside) are two of reasons their teams rank in the top three of the 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Preseason Girls Club Rankings. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) When will they start? How will they finish?Like the boys, the girls club season is on hold while Illinois continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor’s recent restriction on youth indoor sports has forced Illinois clubs to break for the time being,...