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...

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...

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...

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...

Tamia Maddox and her 1st Alliance 18 Gold teammates won the 18 Open division at the 2025 Windy City Girls' 18s National Qualifier at the Schaumburg Convention Center for the second year in a row and will be heading to nationals in Salt Lake City in late April. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the third 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 throu...

Club Fusion 18-1 National's Elissa Furlan splits a pair of TPV 18-Paragon defenders as the defending 18 Liberty champions went 3-0 Saturday at the Schaumburg Convention Center. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTwo Illinois teams came away with bids from last year’s Windy City Girls’ 18s National Qualifier at the Schaumburg Convention Center – 1st Alliance 18 Gold in the Open division and Club Fusion 18-1 National in the Liberty division.The names and faces have changed in the past 12 months, but through first-ro...

1st Alliance 18 Gold won the Open division of the Windy City Girls' 18s National Qualifier for the second consecutive year thanks to the efforts of outside hitter Kiera O'Donnell (1) and friends. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllpprepvb.com EditorThe ladies from 1st Alliance VBC will have dozens of familiar faces with whom to share experiences and make memories at the 2025 USA Volleyball Girls’ 18s Junior National Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 25-27.Three teams from the Woodridge-based club punched their ti...

Former Marist star Kamryn Chaney (right) transferred from Princeton to Vanderbilt via the NCAA transfer portal. On the cover is former Sterling and Ohio State standout Grace Egan,, who transferred to Wisconsin. (File photos by Dave Ruggles) Good or bad – the face of college sports has been inexorably changed by the transfer portal, which has given athletes the power to move on to another school for any number of reasons – looking for a better fit academically, a coaching change, etc.The number of college students entering the transfe...

The Windy City Girls' 18s National Qualifier returns to the Schaumburg Convention Center this weekend as 124 teams vie for berths in the Open, USA, American and Liberty divisions at the 2025 USAV Girls' 18s Junior National Championship on April 23-25 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the second 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 ...