Naperville North's Colleen Ward began her college career at Florida before transferring to Illinois where she led the Illini to the NCAA semifinals in 2011. Today, we continue our countdown of the 100 All-Times Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Players with Nos. 31-40. Volleyball has come a long way since the IHSA began sponsoring a state tournament series in 1974. You might be hard-pressed to recognize the game. Not only have the rules changed, but so has the caliber of the athletes who compete.The growth of club volleyball, improved tr...
From eighth grade to center stage, Egan helps Sterling escape Belvidere North
Brooklyn Borum (10) and her Sterling teammates needed a lot of help Friday from Grace Egan, who was in eighth grade in 2018, to earn a shot at defending their IHSA Class 3A title. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith its season on the line defending IHSA Class 3A champion Sterling turned to a player who wasn’t on the team last year. Because she wasn’t even in high school.Grace Egan put down the match-winning kill on a tip as Sterling survived upstart Belvidere North, 23-25, 25-15, 28-26, in the championship match of a Cla...
Wolfpack's Eastman excited to help pioneer new program at Illinois Wesleyan
St. Ignatius' Michael Eastman is the first player to commit to joining the new men's volleyball program at Illinois Wesleyan University. (Photo by Tim O'Brien) Michael Eastman By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMichael Eastman is holding out hope that his final high school season will be played. Either way, the St. Ignatius senior will not only start anew next year, he will also help establish a new collegiate program.“I hope so,” Eastman said about the possibility that part of this season could still be played if the coron...
Mid-Suburban League announces all-conference, player of the year selections
Hersey's all-tine kill leader and Boston College recruit Katie Kaburov was named the Mid-Suburban East Player of the Year. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) The Mid-Suburban League has announced its all-conference and Player of the Year selections. The selections are: Mid-Suburban EastPlayer of the Year: Katie Kaburov, senior, HerseyShannon Coglianese, junior, Buffalo GroveMegan Mitsunaga, junior, Buffalo GroveMegan Murray, senior, Elk GroveKaiya Eshoo, senior, HerseyJuliette VanDenHerik, senior, HerseyJanine Boyan, senior, HerseyMaddie Mullin...
Abbreviated NCAA fall volleyball season concludes for handful of Illinois girls
Belvidere North's Class of 2019 outside hitter BrookLyn Messenger and her Air Force Academy teammates are expected to begin their COVID-19 delayed season in February. Notre Dame junior and Mother McAuley graduate Charley Niego While Illinois high school teams sit idly until February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several NCAA Division I college teams featuring Illinois Class of 2020 graduates are wrapping up the fall portion their schedules.The NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a plan in late September to conduct 2020 fall cham...
VC United 181 Elite falls to TAV 18 Blue in 18 USA division finale in Dallas
Bailey Nelson of Oregon High School (No. 15, shown here during Great Lakes Power League play earlier this season) and her VC United 181 Elite teammates reached the finals of the 18 USA division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships Sunday in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Katie Erdmann of VC United. Oh, so close.VC United 181 Elite didn’t exactly get off to a blazing start at the USA Girls Junior Volleyball National Championships this weekend in Dallas, Texas, dropping its first match in the 18 USA division to...
Michio Chicago's bid for national title ends with loss to club only 20 miles away
Michio Chicago 17 National advanced to the championship match of the 17 National division at the USAV championships in Las Vegas, but fell in three sets to Epic United/Diamond Elite from nearby Hammond, Indiana. Las Vegas, Nevada -- Michio Chicago 17 National took a circuitous route to the 17 National division finals of the 2021 USAV Girls Junior National Championships Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.And after travelling 1,800 miles and weathering two must-win matches Saturday, who was waiting for south siders in the championship...
Assist king Burchett continues to give back to the game he once dominated
Former Wheaton Warrenville South and Illinois men's club volleyball setter Doug Burchett recently shared some of his knowledge with middle school and high school players at 630 Volleyball Club in Darien. Doug Burchett led Wheaton Warrenville South to two of its record seven state boys' volleyball titles. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.comDoug Burchett believes someone will break his Illinois’ high school all-time assist record. But it likely won't happen anytime soon.“There's a lot of really solid setters out there,” said Burchett, whos...
Lincoln-Way East Invitational provides more than a few surprises
Glenbard West's Gavin Swartz (shown here playing for Ultimate B18 Gold at the Winter Volleyball Championships), had 9 kills in the championship match of the Lincoln-Way East Invitational. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). Glenbard West outside hitter Ryan Swartz. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhere there's a Wil, there's a way.Led by outstanding efforts from Trevor Lewis and tournament MVP Wil McPhillips, Lincoln-Way East rallied to defeat No. 2 Glenbard West, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10, to win the title of its own invi...
UNO, JCA teammates express optimism about club and high school seasons
Volleyball clubs around the state were among the victims of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's latest executive order related to the pandemic, but many girls remain optimistic that they will be able to play sometime in the new year, if not sooner. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith the COVID-19 pandemic setting record numbers in recent days, all of them in the wrong direction, there remains uncertainty over the upcoming club and high school seasons.That uncertainty was further amplified when Illinois Gov. J.B....