Barrington has produced some of the best middle hitters in Illinois history, among them Tommy Leonard (USC), Charlie Spicer (Lindenwood), Josh Babicz (North Dakota State, football) and TJ Murray (pictured above, Lewis University). On the home page is Wheaton Warrenville South's Thomas Jaeschke. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Today, as we count down to the 2025 IHSA boys high school volleyball season, we revisit the 50 best Illinois boys volleyball players of all time.The list, now updated after originally published i...
Thunder-struck. Eastside puts its best foot forward at Presidents Day Challenge
Eastside Volleyball Club 16U Thunder National (East Peoria) defeated Madtown 151 National (Stoughton, Wisconsin) to win the 16/15 Open division at the 2025 Mizuno SPVB Presidents Day Challenge Monday at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEastside Volleyball Club 16U Thunder National was not going to let a little thing like being short-handed slow it down at the 2025 Mizuno SPVB Presidents Day Challenge over the weekend.“Coming into the weekend, we wanted to put our best foot forward,” said...
No day off for Spadoni & Co., who beat Adversity at Presidents Day Challenge
SPVB B18 Elite won the 18/17 Boys division of the 2025 Mizuno SPVB Presidents Day Challenge on Sunday, defeating Adversity 18 Adidas, 25-21, 25-17. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNo days off.Sports Performance’s B18 Elite team wrapped up the pre-high school season portion of its schedule Sunday by defeating 630 Volleyball 18-1 and Adversity 18 Adidas to win the 18/17 Boys division of the 2025 Mizuno SPVB Presidents Day Challenge at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora.The first day of practice for the IHSA boys high school season is Monda...
SPVB B18 Elite’s Vince Spadoni is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week
SPVB B18 Elite's 6-6 outside hitter Vince Spadoni from West Chicago led his team past 630 Volleyball 18-1 and Adversity 18 Adidas and the championship of the 2025 Mizuno SPVB Presidents Day Challenge. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the most recent 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 a...
Whitaker, Ninjas won’t be sneaking up on anyone; SPVB 18 Red eyes new title streak
Kalyn Brookbank (10) and SPVB 16 C-Fed went 2-1 on day one of the 2025 Mizuno SPVB Presidents Day Challenge at the Great Lakes Volleyball Centerin Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTwo years ago, Carly Whitaker fought her way back from an ACL tear to lead Morton to the semifinals of the IHSA Class 3A tournament and her Eastside Volleyball Club 17U Yeti team to a ninth-place finish in Orlando.Saturday, Whitaker & Co. made the trip east on I-74 and north on 1-55 from East Peoria to compete in the 20...
Kansas City, St. Louis, Crystal Lake – local clubs are hitting the road this weekend
Faith Jordan (53) and her SPVB 18 Elite teammates are among the players who will be competing at the Triple Crown NIT tournament this weekend in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor550 club teams. 7,000 players. 550 college coaches.The Triple Crown NIT, arguably the Midwest’s premier Presidents Day weekend volleyball tournament, draws teams from across the United States – from California to the Carolinas, from the Gulf Coast to the plains of the Dakotas and everything in between.Sche...
Sky High’s Maizy Agnello is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
Sky High Adidas G16 Elite's Maizy Agnello set a school record with 483 kills this fall while leading {rairie Ridge to a third-place finish in the IHSA Class 3A tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the latest 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 ...
Poof! Blue Smoke is up in a huff; the Sky (High) is falling; Gold strikes Adversity
Sky High Adidas 16 Elite was seeded No. 1 in Bracket A when the Windy City Power League 16/15 Open division resumed play Saturday at Unity Juniot High in Cicero, but Sky High lost to 1st Alliance 16 Gold in the semifinals and settled for third place. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAh, the fickle nature of power league.Or, in the oft-quoted words of 1960’s rock-and-roll philosophers Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala and Mike Esposito, “One day you’re up, and the next day you’re down.”Michio Chicago 16 Blue Smoke became fate’s latest vi...
National Federation OKs rule that could reduce disputes between coaches, officials
The rule change regarding second contact will take effect beginning with the 2025-2026 high school seasons. By the National Federation of State High School AssociationsMultiple contacts by one player attempting to play the ball will now be allowed on second contact if the next contact is by a teammate on the same side of the net. This elimination of a judgment call by officials highlights the 2025-26 high school volleyball rules changes.In all, six rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations V...
Pipeline’s do-it-all Carter Gibbons is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week
Pipeline 18-1 middle hitter Carter Gibbons was recruited to set for his club team over the weekend due to an injury to the team's regular setter and led his team to a fifth-place finish at the 2025 2nd City Showdown. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we announce the fifth 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...