Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com present the Best of the Girls’ H.S. Class of 2025

Graduation took a toll on Lincoln's 2023 Class 3A runner-up, but top attacker Payton Sasse (9) is among those who return from a year ago. On the homepage is Willowbrook's Hannah Kenny, who will be headed to Louisville next fall to play libero. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorContinuing with our series presenting the top girls high school players throughout Illinois, today we present the best of the Class of 2025.The list includes Marist’s 6-2 outside hitter and Northwestern recruit Bella Bullington, who...

How can you ace that club and/or high school volleyball tryout? Here’s some tips

Athletes must be prepared physically and mentally prior to tryouts at their favorite ckub and their local high school. Tryouts at many clubs throughout Illinois have already begun, while the first day of high school tryouts/practice is less than a month away.Trying out for a club or high school volleyball team can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether you’re aiming to make the team for the first time, seeking to secure a spot on the varsity or land a spot on a higher-level club team, preparation is key.Before stepping onto the court ...

Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com present the Top 150 Girls H.S. Players in 2024

Benet Academy libero Aniya Warren (front row, third from left) helped the U.S. Girls U19 National Team win the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on July 19. (On the home page is St. Francis' Addy Horner (22) (Cover photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAugust 12.Circle it on your calendar.The first day of practice for girls volleyball teams across Illinois.So today, we begin our look at the best of the best players in Illinois with the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Top 150 Girls...

Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com present the Best of the Girls’ H.S. Class of 2026

Carmi-White County's 5-6 outside hitter Caroline Simmons (7) had more than 500 kills for the Bulldogs in 2023. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorContinuing with our series presenting the top girls high school players throughout Illinois, today we present the best of the Class of 2026.The list includes Carmi-White County’s 5-6 outside hitter Caroline Simmons, who had a staggering 514 kills last season for the Class 2A fourth-place Lady Bulldogs, and Rockford Christian’s Maddie Anspaugh, whose 386 kills led ...

Bolingbrook makes history at Joliet West; Mally & Loberg lay down law at Geneva

Geneva surprised Wheaton Warrenville South Thursday to win ithe boys volleyball program's first-ever regional championship. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere's no place like home.The Bolingbrook boys' volleyball team is going there. Knowing a victory would send them back to their home floor for the sectional, the Raiders rallied down the stretch and emerged with the first regional championship in the history of the boys' volleyball program.The Raiders toppled the hosts, 17-25, 25-19, 25-17, in ...

SPVB B18 Lenny is electric in Orlando, wins club’s 109th national championship

SPVB B18 Lenny defeated Mamba 18 Black (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 25-20, 23-25, 15-6, to win the 18 Premier division at the AAU Boys Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Orlando, Florida – No. 2 is No. 1. SPVB B18 Lenny defeated Mamba 18 Black (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 25-20, 23-25, 15-6, to win the 18 Premier division at the AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.The national championship was the 109th in the club’s storied...

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...

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...

Brother Rice, St. Laurence advance to regional championship match at Stagg

St. Laurence's Tim Hyland and the Vikings defeated host Stagg on Tuesday and will meet Brother Rice for the regional championship at 4:45 p.m. Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat drives the Vikings’ Busse?Energy.“It’s always the energy,” said St. Laurence’s rightside hitter Alex Antikiewicz. “Sometimes we get into our heads a little bit, but we always bring it back. We find a way to keep it going. No matter what we do, it’s high energy. High energy equals victory.”Antikiewicz provided the energy Tue...

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...