Six-foot-4 outside hitter Kris Blumberg, who accounted for 224 kills as a junior, is one of several seniors back to boost Glenbrook South's bid to return to Hoffman Estates this spring. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo what are Glenbrook South’s chances of repeating last year’s near-flawless run to the IHSA quarterfinals?That depends on whether the Titans can compensate for the loss of Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Chance Shampine.Shampine led Glenbrook South (33-2) on its return to...

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 ...

Breese Mater Dei's 6-foot-5 Alyssa Koerkenmeier (24) battled Normal University High's Rachel Ogunleye (9) and Isabella McKinney (2) at the net in Normal on Saturday. U-High went on to win, 25-19, 25-22. (Photo by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Given the chance for a “do-over,” Breese Mater Dei coach Chad Rakers would have transported his team – which lost to Normal University High, 25-19, 25-22, on Saturday – back in time at least 18 hours.“I’d have driven up here last night and stayed in a hotel,” said Ra...

Ultimate VBC's Tyler Tharpe (Whitney Young) has only been playing volleyball for three years, but has been so impressive that he will be continuing his athletic and academic ccareer at Ohio State. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe top club teams from Illinois and throughout the United States will soon fly south to compete in the 2023 AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orange County, Florida, Saturday-Tuesday, July 1-4.We have compiled a list of th...

Michio Chicago 15 National 's (from left) Malley Green, Luca Bombacino, Kyla Mitchell and Mikayla Marshall. https://youtu.be/VYIKGqz9szQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBid, lose or draw, they came with a purpose.The 15s and 16s age divisions took center stage this weekend to compete in the 2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park and Southland Complex in Lynwood.1st Alliance 16 Gold and 1st Alliance 15 Gold, the top cats in the 15/16 Open division of the Windy City Power Leagu...

Two days after Normal U-High lost to Metamora in the finals of the Bloomington Central Catholic Saints Fall Classic, the Pioneers (far court) turned the tables with a 15-25, 25-10, 25-10 victory Monday. (Files photo by Dave Ruggles). By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comRockford Christian sophomore Maddie Anspaugh was getting mad.No matter how many times she and her teammates swung, they could not break down Aurora Central Catholic’s stubborn defense.“At the beginning, I felt like I was struggling,” Anspaugh said. “I was in my own head,...

Seeded eighth to begin the 2023 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge, a late Suinday loss to the eventual tournament runner-up dropped SPVB B18 Elite into the Silver bracket on Monday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe question you had to ask yourself while running from one end of McCormick Place’s South Hall to the other Monday was, “What did we do before they put wheels on luggage?”Monday was getaway day at the 2023 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge, and if you did manage to avoid tripping over a stray piece of luggage, chances are you w...

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...

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 ...

Naperville North's Liz Rossi (15) equalled her jersey number in kills for the Huskies against rival Naperville Central on Wednesday, but the Redhawks prevailed on the scoreboard, 25-22, 25-23. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMaybe the worm is starting to turn.“I think it was four years since we’ve beaten them,” said Naperville Central coach Brie Isaacson. “They're so good all the time and we have to play multiple times in a season. They're still good today, and it's always a good, exciting match, but certainly ...