Ultimate B15 Gold, coached by Lincoln-Way East boys coach Kris Fiore (far right) and which features his son, Braeden (fourth from right), is one oif the top 15s team in Illinois and is the top seed in the 15 Club division at this weekend's 2023-2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park. Lincoln-Way East boys coach Kris Fiore and his son, Braeden, a freshman setter at Lincoln-Way Central. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere will come a time when father and son will go head-to-head.That’...
How to improve hand-eye coordination to become a better volleyball player
Hand-eye coordination is a skill that can be improved through drills, practice and dedication. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Hand-eye coordination is a crucial skill that is often overlooked. It is the ability to use our eyes to guide our hands in performing a specific task accurately and efficiently. From playing sports to everyday tasks like driving and typing, hand-eye coordination plays a significant role in our daily activities.Hand-eye coordination is a critical skill for volleyball players. It allows them to react quickly to the ball, accu...
Illprepvb.com dusts off the crystal ball to peer into the ’24 girls’ high school season
Norris City-Omaha-Enfield's Hayden Knight (13) and the Cardinals were ambushed in an IHSA Class 1A supersectional by Effingham St. Anthony, but Jaclyn Melton's crew should be back in the championship hunt in 2024. (File photo by SDave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBefore the girls’ club season begins in earnest, it’s time to peer into the crystal ball and foretell which girls’ high school volleyball teams could make a run at the former Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena in the fall of ‘24.But first, some thoughts to ponder:Now that ...
Nine boys, five girls from Great Lakes Region named to national development team
Benet Academy sophomore Lynney Tarnow was one of five girls from the Great Lakes Region recently named to the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program roster. On the home page, New Trier's David Wolff was one of nine boys from the Great Lakes Region selected for the program. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) In 2021, USA Volleyball launched the National Team Development Program (NTDP). Under NTDP, young volleyball athletes who aspire to take the next step on their path to the podium have the opportunity to be identified, developed a...
Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb First, Second and Third All-State Teams
One of the best liberos in the country, Benet Academy's Aniya Warren was named the MVP of every tournament in which the Redwings competed this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls First, Second and Third All-State Volleyball Teams. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future pote...
Presenting the Michio Chicago/Illprepvb Girls Special Mention All-State Team
Rock Falls' libero Carlie Kobbeman set a new single-season school record with 385 digs for the IHSA Class 2A third-place Rockets. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls Special Mention All-State Volleyball Team. Coaches across Illinois were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and in the classroom as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or current recruitment ...
Fast-growing Hybrid Advantage taps into rich talent pool on the southwest side
Hybrid Advantage 161 finished 33rd in the 16 Open division at the 50th AAU Boys National Volleyball Championship last summer in Orlando, Florida, the first year of the club's existence. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLate last summer, the Nebraska women’s volleyball team drew more than 92,000 fans to Memorial Stadium to watch the Huskers play the University of Nebraska-Omaha.But the concept of playing a volleyball match outdoors at a football stadium may not have originated with Nebraska.At least that’s Brandon McGinnis’ stor...
Mastery of the moment makes McAuley’s Ellie White choice for Player of the Year
Elllie White and Mother McAuley finished second at Autumnfest at Glenbard East, where they defeated Barrington, 25-18, 25-23, in the semifinals before losing to Benet Academy in the championship match, 25-22, 25-22. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe power Mother McAuley’s Ellie White often unleashes with her right arm is a sight to behold.But that’s not the skill that sets the 5-foot-11 outside hitter apart from every other player in the state.No, it’s her consistency. White was like a human metro...
Sterling’s Lexi Rodriguez, St. Thomas More’s Caroline Kerr named AVCA All-Americans
Former St. Thomas More star Colleen Kerr (right) was named a second-team Division I All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Two Illinois products were among the 42 players named to the 42nd annual All-America teams for NCAA Division I women’s volleyball announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.The 2023 class, which features 14 players on the first, second and third teams, represents 23 schools. Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Texas each had two players on the first tea...
McAuley’s White joins a list of ‘Player of the Year’ honorees that dates back to 1982
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2022 Player of the Year Lucy Ardnt of Aquin Catholic (left) currently leads Southeast Missouri State University (20-8 overall) in kills with 392. (Photo courtesy of Southeast Missouri State University Athletics) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDid you know that girls were not permitted to participate in interscholastic volleyball contests until 1973?Then during the 1974-75 school year, the IHSA sponsored its first volleyball tournament at Lantz Gymnasium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University....