Illini Elite recently moved into its new 34,000-square-foot facility in downstate Bloomington. When lllini Elite Volleyball Club in downstate Bloomington opened its doors in 1998, 13 girls showed up for tryouts. Today, the club’s programs have grown to include more than 60 teams with more than 650 players and coaches. It is now one of the largest volleyball clubs in Illinois by membership and is widely regarded as the premier volleyball club in central Illinois. Reflecting that success and to accommodate its growth, last month the club...
Mission accomplished: Sterling beats Belleville Althoff to win Class 3A crown
Sterling defeated Belleville Althoff to win the Class 3A championship in its first appearance in the state finals. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com Early in the season, Sterling sophomore Bree Borum was asked what the team's goal was this season. “To win state,” Borum said. Mission accomplished. The Golden Warriors held off a charge from defending Class 3A champion Belleville Althoff and emerged with a 25-21, 25-22 victory to capture the Class 3A state championship Saturday at Redbird Arena. “...
Neuqua Valley gets in the groove behind Grove, outlasts Marist 28-30, 25-20, 25-14
Poised and aggressive New Trier rolls past Stevenson
VC United begins its second year with great expectations, opportunities
VC United, led by former Club Fusion coach Eric Schulze (far right), is providing an opportunity for Rockford-area volleyball players to get to the next level. VC United executive director/owner Eric Schulze isn’t looking to build VC United in to a “mega-club,” just an “elite” one. “We want be among the nation’s elite clubs,” said Schulze, a fixture in the Illinois club and high school scene for two decades. “I believe that were capable of doing it out here with the athletes who are in Rockford and to the south and the west of us. ...
Pleasant Plains rains mainly on Galena’s parade in Class 2A title match
Pleasant Plains' Anna Kanilakan splits the Galena block during Saturday's Class 2A championship. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy Whalen Special to Illprepvb.com Before this season, the Pleasant Plains girl’s volleyball team hadn't won a sectional. Now the Cardinals are Class 2A state champions. Using a balanced attack, Pleasant Plains (34-6) put together some key spurts and went onto a 25-18, 25-20 victory over Galena in the IHSA Class 2A state championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena. It was the first state championship i...
Sports Performance 18 Elite preparing for run at another national title
Six-foot-6 Taylor Landfair (back row, middle) and SPVB 18 Elite are seeking the club's sixth AAU championship in seven years in the 18 Open division. Dynasties.Michael Jordan’s Bulls. Magic Johnson’s L.A. Lakers. The 1957-66 Boston Celtics. Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. The New York Yankees (pick your favorite decade). The UCLA Bruins under John Wooden. The NHL’s Montreal Canadiens (1953-1979). Somewhere in there, you can add Sports Performance’s 18 Elite volleyball team.The Aurora-based club’s 18 Elite team won eight USAV 18 O...
Gregus easing into Benet lineup, helps stop Downers Grove North
Benet pin hitters Sophie Gregus, Kyla Kenney, Valentina Tabares, Caitlin McKee and Caitlin Wepfer. Sophie Gregus was expected to be a big part of No. 4-ranked Benet’s offense this season. But a back injury suffered during the latter stages of the club season sidelined her for nearly three months.The 6-foot junior outside hitter made a cameo appearance Wednesday in a win at St. Charles East, getting credit for 1 kill. She got a little more playing time Friday against visiting Downers Grove North and made the most of it. Gregus had 2 ki...
Revisiting past girls’ volleyball “Players of the Year”
West Aurora's Lauren Carlini (back row, far right) was a Player of the Year in 2012. Did you know that girls were not permitted to participate in interscholastic volleyball contests until 1973? Then during the 1974-75 school year, the IHSA sponsored its first volleyball tournament at Lantz Gymnasium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. New Trier East won that affair, defeating Rich East 15-10, 6-15, 15-3. Eight years later, the Chicago Sun-Tines named its first “Player of the Year” when it recognized Mother McAuley’s Eva Murra...
Peering into the crystal ball at some teams to watch in 2019
Marist lost only once to an Illinois team and three times all season while repeating as state champion. Which are the teams to be seen in 2019?Can Marist three-peat? Or will Benet, Belleville Althoff or a more seasoned Edwardsville team derail the RedHawks in their bid to make history?Can Class 3A champion Sterling weather the loss of Josilyn Borum and Gretchen Gould and defend its state title, or will Joliet Catholic or Nazareth supplant the Warriors?Will St. Thomas More be factored up to 3A, or will 6-foot-1 Allie Trame and the Sabers ge...