Barrington's Kalyn Brookbank, who led the state in kills last fall, is committed to the University of Minnesota. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the Classes of 2026, 2027 and 2028 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 as of February 26, 2026.If you ...
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb present 200 Girls H.S. Players to Watch in 2026
Cayleigh Hungate (12) is expected to return for (Port Byron) Riverdale, which reached the IHSA Class 2A semifinals in 2025. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor August 10. Circle it on your calendar. The first day of practice for girls volleyball teams across Illinois. So to...
Remembering legendary Breese Central girls volleyball coach Jim Cook, dead at 75
Jim Cook's 2007 team defeated Hampshire in the IHSA Class A championship game to claim the Cougars' third title under his watch. (Photo courtesy of the IHSA) Former Breese Central coach Jim Cook. By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBREESE – The Breese Central volleyball community today is mourning the passing of one of the true Illinois high school coaching legends.James K. “Jim” Cook, who built Breese Central into one of Illinois' premier volleyball programs and guided the Cougars to three state championships, died July 24. He was 7...
Presenting the Sports Performance VBC/ Illprepvb Coaches Hall of Fame Class of ’26
Chris Zogata retired this spring after coaching the boys and girls programs at Lemont for a combined 37 years. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Eight years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, at the time, nothing ever came of that phone call. But we felt that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue. In July 2020, with input from current and former coaches, players and officials, I...
Hybrid Advantage 15 Red has no equal; MOD & Pipeline 17s, SPVB 15 Alpha 3rd
SPVB B15 Alpha finished third in the 15 Select division at the 2026 AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Ten teams enter, one team leaves. That is, one team leaves with the Gold. Ten Illinois teams qualified for the Gold bracket in their respective divisions at Wave 2 of the 2026 AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, which featured five 15s and f...
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SPVB B18 Bravo claims club’s 113th nat’l title; MOD B16 Gold wins Premier division
UNO Boys 18 Elite reached the championship match of the 18 Premier division of the 2026 AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor ORLANDO, FLORIDA – 113, and counting. SPVB B18 Bravo rallied from a 24-22 deficit in set one Monday to defeat PSA Power 18 (El Paso, Texas), 26-24, 25-19, and win the national championship in the 18 Select division of the 2026 AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in...
Purple & Black are USAV bruise crews; Ultimate 16 Gold, Blue medal at AAUs
The view from behind their side of the court as the members of Blue Steel 16 Black prepare to face Paramount VBC 16 Maureen in the national championship match of the 16 National division at the 2026 USAV Volleyball Girls National Championship 14-17 Friday in Indianapolis. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – They play some pretty darn good volleyball in southern Illinois. Behind Mascoutah teammates Kinze Reese and Harper Whitworth, Blue Steel 16 Black (O’Fallon) rallied to defeat Paramount VBC 16 Maureen (Ma...
Sky High 17 Onyx ‘Aspires’ to Gold title; ESVBC 17 Yeti ices Silver medal at AAUs
Sky High Adidas 17 Onyx won the 17 Asoire division national championship last weekend at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Ella … enchanted.Last Saturday at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, Sky High Adidas 17 Onyx defeated Xcel 17 Elite Blue (Fletcher, North Carolina), 25-17, 23-25, 15-7, to win the national championship in the 17 Aspire division.For many of the players, simply walking onto championship court was an unforgettable ...
Area boys clubs prep for nationals at last weekend’s AAU/JVA Windy City Round-Up
SPVB B18 Elite lost to eventual 18 Open champion Tribe 18B Elite Cardinal in the quarterfinals, 22-25, 25-17, 15-12, at the 2026 AAU/JVA Windy City Round-Up on Sunday at McCormick Place. Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The verdict? There’s still plenty of work to be done. Last weekend’s 2026 AAU/JVA Windy City Round-Up at McCormick Place gave local boys clubs an opportunity to get together after the boys’ high school season and compete one last time ahead of the AU Boys National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, Ju...