Sidney Hamaker (17) and SPVB 18 Elite will compete in the Triple Crown NIT this weekend in Kansas City. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTaking a peek at the pools and pairings for the 2024 Triple Crown NIT at the Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, this weekend, we’re certain they must be determined by some kind of well-established mathematic formula.We’re just not sure even J. Robert Oppenheimer could figure them out.Nevertheless, the Triple Crown NIT, arguably the Midwest’s premi...
The winning will go on at Lincoln-Way West despite two key losses from ’23
Connor Studer (9), who had 468 kills for Lincoln-Way West last spring, has moved on. But the Warriors are still a good bet to repeat as 30-game winners and conference and regional champions. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor2024 should be another memorable season for Lincoln-Way West.All but two players return from a team that reached 30 wins, won a regional championship, finished 8-0 in the rugged Southwest Suburban Conference, won the Joliet West invite, and finished in the top eight at Wheaton Warrenville ...
Glenbard West eyes another three-peat behind Graham, Maas and company
Afre winning its second consecutive title last June, Glenbard West will chase its second IHSA championship three-peat in nine years this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Hilltoppers are at it again.After winning three IHSA championships between 2015 and 2017, then falling short from 2018-2021 – twice losing in the semifinals – Glenbard West has won the last two titles and is positioned to complete another three-peat this spring.Sure, Parker Moorhead has moved on. Last year’s leading hitter is now...
New season, new coach and new faces enter the picture at Brother Rice
Dan Dwyer ended his 31-year tenure as an assistant and head coach at Brother Rice at the end of last season. Former Crusader player Brandon McGinnis is the school's new boys' volleyball coach. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Brother Rice coach Brandon McGinnis By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe first day of practice for the spring 2024 boys high school volleyball season is just a week away, and nowhere is the upcoming season more eagerly anticipated than at Brother Rice.The Crusaders are coming off the program’s winningest season since...
These girls are making a difference through their work ethic and their play
Benet Academy's Ellie Stiernagle is a threat as a setter and an attacker for SPVB 16 Elite. On the homepage is one of Stiernagle's club teammates, St. Charles North's Haley Burgdorf. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we continue our look at the players who are crushing on the court for their respective clubs:Tori Brents5-10, 8th grade, Setter/rightsideBalance 15 WhiteBrents is a homegrown Balance player who can do it all, said Balance VBC director Patty Langanis. “Tori runs a 6-2 and leads this team, e...
Top Notch notches top St. Louis finish; stars come out in Kansas City, Aurora
Competing in the Open division for the first time at last weekend's President's Day in St. Louis, Springfield-based Top Notch 15U Elite finished in third place. (Photo courtesy of Top Notch VBC) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Presidents’ Day weekend produced a number of medal-winning team efforts and outstanding individual performances – from VC United 181 Elite’s perfect 10 in the 18 Open division at the Presidents Day Classic in St. Lous to 1st Alliance 17 Gold’s runner-up run at the 2024 Triple Crown NIT in Kansas City.But per...
It was a MOD-earn family kind of weekend at the Brew City Battle in Milwaukee
Adversity South 17 Adidas won three consecutive three-set matches to win the 17 Open division at the Brew City Battle last weekend in Milwaukee. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMOD ruled last weekend in Milwaukee.MOD Elite Volleyball Club out of Evanston won three age divisions – 18 Open, 18 Classic and 16 Classic – at the boys’ 2024 AAU/JVA Brew City Battle held at the Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center) In Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Overall, it was a successful weekend with a lot of great volleyball being played,” said ...
We wanted to know why girls play volleyball, so we asked them. Here’s what they said
New WAVE 16 Tornado's Megan Boertlein, opposite twin sister, Sarah (31) and flanking teammates Taryn Bazon (10) and Gabriella Flores (73), said she was drawn to volleyball by watching her two older sisters play. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere are a number of benefits volleyball provides young girls that can positively impact a young girl’s life – physical-fitness, learning teamwork and how to communicate with others, self-confidence, mental toughness and body image.But if you ask girls why they play volleyball, the reason they ...
Taking a look at more players getting it done as the girls’ club season heats up
1st Alliance 17 Gold's Abby Vander Wal (6) and Gabby Stasys (59) go up to block 1st Alliance 18 Silver's Shay McMillen (26) during Windy City Power League play Sunday in Woodridge. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/CsdKVeeKDTc 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’re taking another look at...
Weekend roundup: Illini Elite grabs two seconds; SPVB 16 Elite surprises; VC United rolls
SPVB 16 C-Fed's Greta Malinauskas (86) slips a kill past Illini Elite 16 Black's Isabelle Axelson (1) and Lyla Tate (2) during semifinal action of the 16/15 Open division Monday at the 24 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge hosted by the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThey came from as far away as Rochester, Minnesota; Brighton, Michigan; Waukesha, Wisconsin; and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, to compete in the 24 SPVB Presidents Day Challenge this weekend in Aurora.“This is o...