Joliet West junior Lexie Grevengoed (2) will be joined by lots of new faces when she takes the floor this season afer graduation claimed most ofthe team's starters from a year ago. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinois girls high school volleyball season has begun in earnest with practice underway throughout the state, and with it Illprepvb.com continues its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois Stat...
Benet faces experience crunch; Mules hitch their wagon to Robbins; and more
Benet Academy's 6-1 setter/middle hitter Sophia Youssef (far court) is one of only two returning starters for the Redwings this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinois girls high school volleyball season has begun in earnest with practice underway throughout the state, and with it Illprepvb.com begins its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.Here is nearly everyt...
Durand, Morton, York in the spotlight as we begin our look at the 2026 H.S. season
Durand's Lola Robertson (back row, fourth from the left) was a member of select team of nine U17 players representing various LOVB clubs who competed against international youth national and club teams in Pula, Croatia, this summer., By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinois girls high school volleyball season has begun with practice/tryouts today, and with it Illprepvb.com begins its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois...
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...
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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...
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...