West Chicago improved to 1-1 on the season by defeating Elmwood Park on Tuesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor West Chicago did not exactly roll out the welcome mat Tuesday for Elmwood Park.Next year, Elmwood Park, one of four remaining members of the Metro Suburban Conference, will join the Upstate Eight Conference. Two of the other three remaining members of the Metro Suburban – Ridgewood and Riverside-Brookfield – will also join the Upstate Eight.So Tuesday’s trip to West Chicago was an introduction of sorts to their new c...
Who’s ‘kaboom-ing’ who at the Windy City Power League, GLC Challenge Series?
St. Ignatius setter Audrey Schabes and her Adversity G16 Adidas teammates were looking to move up the ladder during 2024 Windy City Power League 15/16 Open play this weekend at Connect 44 in Lombard. On the home page is Schabes' high school and club teammate Marin Thaxton. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/xHgK1Q4jCKU 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.c...
Who balled out at the WCPL seeding event, GLC pre-season scrimmage?
SPVB 18 Elite's Ava Grevengoed goes to her knees to dig a ball under the watchful eyes of teammate Addison Torain during the Great Lakes Center Pre-season Scrimmage Sunday in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/4pBGHa2HsIw 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 a look at some...
An official’s impact: Rachel Kirk helps others to learn the game that she loves
There is an overwhelming need for officials on the local, state and national levels. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) As a young child, Rachel Kirk watched her mom play in adult volleyball leagues at the YMCA and begged her to sign her up for a team. They would pepper together on the sidelines before the games began.During middle school, Kirk started playing volleyball for a parochial team and then joined a club when she was 13.She remembers officiating matches during club season and getting on the stand for club tournaments as an R1. Her coach was...
Volleyball community joins UNO as it mourns the tragic loss of Alonnah Nance
Alonnah Nance, a student at Joliet West and member of UNO's 16 Elite volleyball team, died in a mass shooting at her home in Joliet earlier this week. (Photo courtesy of UNO VBC). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDeath, any death, is always tragic. But the senseless loss of a young life is particularly difficult to understand.Alonnah Nance, a student at Joliet West and member of the UNO Volleyball Club family, was only 16 years old when her life was cut tragically last weekend in a senseless mass shooting that also claimed the lives of ...
College Recruiting Solutions: Tournament Season Checklist for Upperclassmen
Now that the high school season is over, uncommitted junior and senior student-athletes who want to play in college need to make communicating with college coaches a priority. (Photo by Jenny Butler/Fighting Illini Athletics) (Cover photo by Craig Pessman/Fighting Illini Athletics) Note: This article was provided by the Junior Volleyball Association.The high school season is over and it’s finally about time for in-person recruiting to get back into full swing. If you’re an uncommitted junior or senior and want to play in college, this arti...
Illprepvb.com presents a first look at Illinois’ top 2024 club teams … the 16s
Breese Mater Dei's Addison Nenninger (above), who led the Knights to the IHSA Class 2A championship in the fall, will guide the fortunes of Blue Steel U16 Black during the 2023-2024 club season. On the home page is Adversity's Audrey Schabes. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) (Updated 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 27)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 Ph...
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...
Slow start, Normal West can’t stop McAuley; Willowbrook’s long wait is over
Willowbrook's Hannah Kenny (6) puts down a kill over the utstretched arms of Joliet West's Peyton Darguzis (18) and Brooke Schwall (12). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Falling behind 10-4 to open the Class 4A supersectional Friday at Normal Community might have rattled many teams beyond repair, but not Mother McAuley.The reigning state champion Mighty Macs mounted a 12-2 comeback that catapulted them to a 25-19, 25-21 victory over upset-minded Normal West in front of a capacity crowd.“It was shaky...
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 ...