A few Illinois girls volleyball teams still have some work to do ahead of the AAU Girls’ Junior Volleyball Nationals in Orlando, Florida, on June 16-28.SPVB 16 Elite, which went 23-1 to win the Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division including a 26-24, 27-25 victory in its only meeting with SPVB 16 C-Fed, stumbled in its 18 GLC Pre-Nationals 16 Open finale Sunday against its sister team, losing 25-21, 23-25, 15-11.It marked the second straight tournament that Sports Performance’s top 16s team failed to deliver on the final day. ...
Getting ready to make magic in Orlando
The 18 GLC Pre-Nationals Tournament in Aurora this weekend is one final opportunity for local teams to face live competition ahead of the AAU Girls’ Junior Volleyball Nationals in Orlando, Florida June 16-28.But not everyone competing at the Great Lakes Center this weekend is doing so with the AAU tournament in mind. “We’re not going to AAUs,” said Cyclones 16 Black Adidas coach Michael Schwerdtfeger, whose team will compete in the 2018 Asics National Jr. Volleyball Championships next weekend at Navy Pier before packing it up for ano...
Glenbard West – four-peat would be no mean feat
St. Charles North's (from left) Max DeDobbelaere, Tommy Koppang and Brendan Dal Degan. Illprepvb.com's look at the upcoming boys' season continues today with previews of Glenbard West, St. Charles North, Glenbrook South, Niles West, Naperville Central, Oak Park-River Forest and St. Viator. Glenbard West JT Ardell was cut from his junior high school team. Now the 6-foot-10 Pepperdine recruit will be counted on to lead Glenbard West to its fourth consecutive state title. Ardell (SPVB 18 Elite) is one of only two returning starters for...
Joliet Catholic crosses Mother McAuley off its calendar
By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com The Joliet Catholic Academy girls volleyball team had this one circled on the calendar.The Angels didn’t disappoint.In a powerhouse season opener for both squads, Joliet Catholic was dominant in a 25-19, 25-13 victory over Mother McAuley before a large contingent of fans Tuesday in Joliet. The teams have combined for 15 state trophies and each has won three state titles since 2003.The combo of 6-foot-2 hitters Bella Ray and Emily Wilson put down 5 kills apiece to pace Joliet Catholic. The Mighty Macs...
1st Alliance 17 White earns bid to USA Junior Nationals
1st Alliance 17 White 1st Alliance 17 White defeated OT (Orlando/Tampa Bay) 17 W. Britt 23-25, 25-21, 16-14 on Sunday to win the 17 American division at the 18 Nike Mideast Qualifier (16-18s) at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ninety-one teams were entered in the 17 American division, and 1st Alliance White secured the only bid available to the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships June 25-July 4 in Detroit, Michigan. 1st Alliance 17 White went 10-0 on the weekend, winning 20 sets against only 1 loss...
Lincoln-Way East rallies to beat Glenbard West
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Ultra Ankle unkind to some of Illinois’ top teams
The much-anticipated showdown between SPVB 18 Elite and top-seeded Munciana 18 Samurai at the Ultra Ankle Bluegrass Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, last weekend never happened. The Ultra Ankle Bluegrass Tournament in Lousiville, Kentucky, last weekend left a few bruises on the local entries, but Michio Chicago 18 National and Sky High Adidas 18 Black were both unbeaten at the Great Lakes Region Bid Qualifier hosted by Sky High Volleyball Club in Crystal Lake on Sunday. (Week 9 ranking in parenthesis) 18s1. SPVB 18 Elite (1)No...
Boys’ volleyball is growing in Southern Illinois
Coach Joe Nesbit and Belleville East are starting over after graduating five starters from 2017 and losing another starter to a knee injury. Stephanie KaegebeinBoys volleyball in Southern Illinois is growing. 2018 marks the 10th season of play for Belleville East, Belleville West, East St. Louis and Edwardsville, the latter reaching the state quarterfinals in 2011 and 2014. Programs at Belleville Althoff, O'Fallon and Granite City made their debut a few years earlier. Since then, Alton and Metro-East Lutheran have started pr...
Who is this week’s Illprepvb.com ‘Player of the Week?’
Each week during the season, Illprepvb.com will name a "Player of the Week" selected from nominations provided by Illinois volleyball coaches. Coaches can nominate their players by providing a 100-150 word summary of their achievement and a large quality headshot and sending it to illprepvb@gmail.com by noon on Sunday of the week for which they wish to nominate a player. Dakota’s 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter Tabytha Toelke is this week’s "Player of the Week." Toelke had 18 kills as Dakota (12-9 overall, 7-2 in the Northwest Upstate...
How many top seeds will survive sectional play?
No. 1 seed: Glenbard West (31-3)Favorite: Glenbard West (31-3)Darkhorse: Wheaton North (23-12)Led by 6-2 junior Ryan Swartz, 6-3 sophomore Ben Harrington and 6-6 Stone Metz, Glenbard West has rebounded from each of its three losses to go on a lengthy win streak. How long will its recent win streak last? Nick Martinski and Lake Park (28-5) are capable of ending the Hilltoppers’ season short of a fourth straight state championship, but the Lancers are vulnerable as evidenced by their recent loss to Neuqua Valley. Addison Trail (25-10) looked...