After leading IC Catholic Prep to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the IHSA Class 2A tournament and more than 20 years affiliated with the program, Nancy Kerrigan is stepping down to focus on family and other pursuits. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Nancy Kerrigan, who has been an integral part of the IC Catholic Prep girls volleyball program for more than two decades, announced Monday that she is stepping down. “IC volleyball has been an integral part of my life journey, affording me the privilege to collaborate with exceptional coaches,...
Eastside VBC doubles its fun in Orlando, but Belusa’s day is an absolute Classic
Belusa United 18 Cycloes, who wn the 18 Girls division at the 2024 ASICS Junior National Volleyball Championships at Navy PIer earlier this month, capped off a 68-10 season Thursday by winning the 18 Classic division at the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOrlando, Florida – Eastside Volleyball Club in East Peoria had a great day Thursday at the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.But Bel...
Presenting the 2024 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Team
Loyola Academy's Jack Lopez led the Ramblers to their first IHSA quarterfinal appearance in 30 years this season. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we are pleased to announce the 2024 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our sixth annu...
SPVB/Illprepvb Player of the Year Evan Dziadkowiec created unrivalled legacy
Lockport's Evan Dziadkowiec (far left), who graduated in the top 10 percent of his class while playing basketball and volleyball, finished among the top 15 assist leaders of all time in Illinois despite a COVID-shortened 2021 season and missing two games last year due to injury. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBasketball was Evan Dziadkowiec’s first love growing up in Lockport, but a little prodding from mom when he was in sixth grade steered him to a second sport.“I’ve been playing basketball since a ve...
USAV’s dance card is filled. Here are the Illinois girls’ teams heading to Las Vegas
Michio Chicago 15 National (above) will compete in the 15 USA division in Las Vegas while Sky High Adidas 17 Elite (on the home page) is headed to Mandalay Bay to compete in the 17 National division. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere have been a number of changes to the list of local qualifiers headed to the 2024 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship 14-17s at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 3-11.Teams have moved up a division or two. New faces have joined the list. And th...
Marist ends Glenbard West’s reign, takes down York to claim IHSA championship
Marist's outside hitter Luke Brannigan came up big for the RedHawks in Saturday's IHSA chamionship match against York. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMarist may have had the easiest path to Hoffman Estates and the IHSA semifinals, but once the RedHawks got there …“They (his players) really earned it,” said Marist coach Jordan Vidovic. “We played by far the two next best teams in the state today. Everybody agrees with that. We really had to earn it. We’re really pumped about that.”After defeating two-time d...
Loyola ends St. Francis’ Cinderella run; Marist, Glenbard West, York reach semis
York sophomore Ben Brown (12) had 9 kills as the Dukes defeated Lincoln-Way West, 25-17, 25-17, in Friday's final IHSA quarterfinal at Hoffman Estates. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLoyola Academy has had some “studs” come through its volleyball program through the years – players like 2014 Sun-Times Player of the Year and three-time Pepperdine All-American David Wieczorek and Quincy University standout Collin Merk.But somebody would always get in the Ramblers' way come IHSA tournament time.“We lost fi...
Can Glenbard West make history again? Marist, six others hope to say, ‘No way’
Glenbard West's 6-6 middle hitter Xzavion Willett hoists the sectional championship trophy following the Hilltoppers' straight-set win Tuesday over Downers Grove North. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTalk about a two-class boys volleyball system surfaced again over the weekend.While we’d much rather the IHSA focus their collective energy on securing a college venue for the boys’ finals or seeding the tournament without regard to geography (see football), the move to a two-class playoff system seems to be gain...
Willett, Glenbard West deny Downers North; York, Bute party like it’s 1999
Downers Grove North's 6-5 junior outside hitter Aiden Akkawi hits over the block of Glenbard West's Brayden Tejeda (11) and Casey Maas (1) Tuesday at Bolingbrook. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepbvb.com Over the past decade, many teams have tried to block Glenbard West's path to the IHSA finals. But with a block like the Hilltoppers had Tuesday night, that's a nearly impossible task.Glenbard West came up big at the net and defeated Downers Grove North, 25-19, 25-19, in Tuesday’s championship match of the ...
Belleville East’s Werner is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
Belleville East's August Werner, who has set a program record for most kills in a career, is this week's Ultimate VBC.Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTournament champions. Conference champions. Regional champions. Sectional finalists.Belleville East (33-4) is having a season for the record books, and the driving force behind the Lancers’ excellence this spring is 6-1 outside hitter August Werner.A three-year varsity starter, Werner recently surpassed 900 career kills, the first player in Bell...