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 ...

Fremd's Rian Baker (17) set the Vikings to the Mid-Suburban League championship Wednesday. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Et ludos incipere. (That’s Latin for “Let the games begin.” Fr. Puchalski would be proud). 13675...

Junior Camryn Sheehan (3) and the O'Fallon Panthers figure to be one of Illinois' top teams in 2023. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Who knew when Barrington took a one set to love lead over Glenbard West in the sectional championship match at Schaumburg, that would be as close as anyone would come to the Hilltoppers during their fourth tournament title run?Perhaps those pundits who picked rookie coach Charlie Spry’s guys No. 1 in the preseason were not so far off after all?Otherwise, it was business as usual for Christine Giunta-Mayer’s minio...

1st Alliance 17 Silver finished seventh in the 17 Open division at last weekend's Northern Lights Qualifier in Omaha, Nebraska. When they were good, they were exceptionally good. When they were not as good, you had to take it with a grain of salt.Illinois’ 17s proved to be a mixed bag last weekend at the Northern Lights Qualifier in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nevertheless, given that it was the first time out of the house for many Illinois clubs, the results were promising.Making the bi...

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. ...

That's what friends are for. Adversity G18 Adidas not won the 21 Nike Mideast Qualifier to snag an Open bid to nationals, their victory paved the way for Fusion 18 Red, which finished fifth at both the qualifier and the Great Lakes Regional, to receive a "trickle down" bid in the American division. 319 miles. That’s the distance Kayla Daros’ family drove Saturday afternoon moments after final volley of Club Fusion 18 Red's match at the 21 Nike Mideast Qualifier in Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Charles East’s opening tip at St. Franc...

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,...

Plainfield North's Ella Wrobel (17, far right) is widely considered the best player in the state and will join Big Ten power Wisconsin after graduating this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) You know the season is thisclose when somebody starts asking about rankings. So here we go. Maybe not the answer they’re looking for, but by all calculations, our best guess.Marist, Illprepvb.com’s No. 1 Class 4A team in the preseason in 2018 and again in 2019, is the preseason favorite in 4A again this fall. Marist went on to win it all in 2018, b...

Grayson Juel (58) and his UNO Boys 18 Elite teammates battled their way to the 18 Open division Gold bracket quarterfinals at last weekend's Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The 2020 Boys Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place last weekend was a boon for some and a nightmare for others. Despite earning several bids, Illinois teams came away with only two championships in the 15-and-over divisions – SPVB B18 Lenny in 18 USA and SPVB B16 Alpha in 16 USA. Ultimate B14 Gold did win t...

Barrington's Jessica Horwath (2) and the Fillies handed Class 3A No. 1 Belvidere North its first loss of the season Saturday at the Huntley tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). (Editor's note: There will be no rankings Monday, October 18. The final regular-season rankings will run Monday, October 25.)The “rolling of the peas” took place Monday morning at the IHSA offices in Bloomington to determine the semifinals pairings for all four classes November 12-13 at Redbird Arena.No one should expect all the top seeds to survive their sectio...