Kansas City, St. Louis, Crystal Lake – local clubs are hitting the road this weekend

Faith Jordan (53) and her SPVB 18 Elite teammates are among the players who will be competing at the Triple Crown NIT tournament this weekend in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor550 club teams. 7,000 players. 550 college coaches.The Triple Crown NIT, arguably the Midwest’s premier Presidents Day weekend volleyball tournament, draws teams from across the United States – from California to the Carolinas, from the Gulf Coast to the plains of the Dakotas and everything in between.Sche...

Sky High’s Maizy Agnello is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week

Sky High Adidas G16 Elite's Maizy Agnello set a school record with 483 kills this fall while leading {rairie Ridge to a third-place finish in the IHSA Class 3A tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the latest Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week for the 2025 Boys/Girls Club season.Each week during the club season,we will be naming a “Player of the Week.” Coaches/club directors throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a boys’ or girls’ player in the 15-18s age groups ...

Poof! Blue Smoke is up in a huff; the Sky (High) is falling; Gold strikes Adversity

Sky High Adidas 16 Elite was seeded No. 1 in Bracket A when the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division resumed play Saturday at Unity Juniot High in Cicero, but Sky High lost to 1st Alliance 16 Gold in the semifinals and settled for third place. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAh, the fickle nature of power league.Or, in the oft-quoted words of 1960’s rock-and-roll philosophers Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala and Mike Esposito, “One day you’re up, and the next day you’re down.”Michio Chicago 16 Blue Smoke became fate’s latest vi...

National Federation OKs rule that could reduce disputes between coaches, officials

The rule change regarding second contact will take effect beginning with the 2025-2026 high school seasons. By the National Federation of State High School AssociationsMultiple contacts by one player attempting to play the ball will now be allowed on second contact if the next contact is by a teammate on the same side of the net. This elimination of a judgment call by officials highlights the 2025-26 high school volleyball rules changes.In all, six rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations V...

Pipeline’s do-it-all Carter Gibbons is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week

Pipeline 18-1 middle hitter Carter Gibbons was recruited to set for his club team over the weekend due to an injury to the team's regular setter and led his team to a fifth-place finish at the 2025 2nd City Showdown. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the fifth Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week for the 2025 Boys/Girls Club season.Each week during the club season,we will be naming a “Player of the Week.” Coaches/club directors throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a...

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Local clubs can’t crash Brew Crew party in 2025 2nd City Showdown quarterfinals

630 Volleyball 18-1 was one of four Illinois teams to falter in the quarterfinals of the 2nd City Showdown at the Wintrust Sports Complex on Sunday, losing to MVC 18-Jake, 25-17, 25-22. On the home page is Pipeline 18-1, which fell to MVC 18-Matt, 25-20, 25-21. https://youtu.be/Us5EUhO8xts By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorPipeline 18-1. Valhalla 18 Odin. 630 Volleyball 18-1. Future 17-1.You had to figure with four local teams in the 18 Open quarterfinals of the 2025 2nd City Showdown Sunday at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Be...

Get better, play clean, move up … that’s the goal at the Windy City Power League

Sky High Adidas 17 Elite went 2-1 Saturday in the Windy City Power League 17/18 Open division and will join Bracket D when play resumes Sunday. On the home page is UNO Girls 17 Elite, which went 3-0 in Pool F. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEveryone has to start somewhere in the Windy City Power League. That’s what the seeding event is designed to do.The goal for teams that start at the bottom, however, is to not stay there.Among the teams on the move is UNO Girls 17 Elite, which won all three of its matches in Pool F of the 17/1...

Richards, Ciesielski and Bullington share Ultimate/Illprepvb weekly player honors

Bella Bullington led SPVB 18 Elite to the 18 Open championship of the 25 Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Today, we announce the fourth Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week for the 2025 Boys/Girls Club season. Each week during the club season,we will be naming a “Player of the Week.” Coaches/club directors throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a boys’ or girls’ player in the 15-18s age groups for their outstanding performance on th...

The focus is on learning, improving for Windy City Power League 18 Club entries

Belusa United 18 Cyclones has a tough act to follow after last year's edition won a national championship in the 18 Classic division of the AAU Girls Junior National Championships. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorBelusa United 18 Cyclones enjoyed a spectacular season in 2024, finishing 68-10 and defeating TPV 18 Renegade (Franklin, Tennessee), 25-18, 25-22, to win the 18 Classic division at the AAU Girls Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida.  The Romeoville-based club graduated three key players off that team -- Ava Val...