IC Catholic Prep libero Alyssa lLawton (2) chases down a deep volley during the Knights' 2022 IHSA Class 2A championship match against Genoa-Kingston. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinios girls high school volleyball season begins in earnest in a little more than a week, and today Illprepvb.com continues its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.So, here are some fac...
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 ...
Who was ballin’ out during WCPL 17/18 Club South play in Woodridge?
1st Alliance 18 Red's Caitlin Bochantin (5) tries to go over the block of Belusa United 18 Cyclones' Addison Ciesielski (23) and Ava Valentin (10) during both team's finale in the 17/18 Club South Red division Sunday in Woodridge. (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’re takin...
1st Alliance good as Gold in 18 Open; Club Fusion 18-1 National wins Liberty division
Alex Bardouniotis (19) and her Club Fusion 18-1 National teammates won the 18 Liberty division to earn a bid to the 2024 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Baltimore, Maryland, April 26-28. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) 1st Aklliance 18 Gold defeated City 18 Gold to win the 18 Open division at the 2024 Windy City National Qualifier Sunday at the Schaumburg Convention Center. https://youtu.be/aN88sAaoFPs 1st Alliance 18 Gold's winning point against Team Pineapple 18 Black. (Video courtesy of Trish Samolinski) By Phil Bro...
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 ...
Kansas City here we come – 1st Alliance, SPVB and others bound for Triple Crown
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...
McAuley’s White named 2023-24 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year
Ellie White, who led Mother McAuley to back-to-back IHSA Class 4A championships, was named the Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Ellie White of Mother McAuley is the 2023-24 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year, Gatorade announced today. The award celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community.White, who was named the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2023 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year ...
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...
The game’s afoot. The IHSA girls volleyball season comes to a head this weekend
Willowbrook coach Irene Mason said that having fun is one of the keys to her team's postseason success. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – So what do you do when you’re making your first trip to the IHSA girls volleyball semifinals?“Rest is a part of it,” said coach Irene Mason, who is taking Willowbrook to a place no team from Villa Park has gone before. “I want to make sure their bodies are rested. There's a lot of sickness out there. I want to make sure their bodies and minds are healthy and relaxed and...
Spoken nearly 60 years ago, Jack Weinberg’s words still reverberate today
Lemont, which had perhaps its best chance to make its first-ever appearance in the IHSA finals since the program was established, was sidelined not by another team, but by the failure and vindictiveness of adults. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOK, I admit it. I was part of the “Don't trust anyone over 30” generation.Jack Weinberg, a student activist at the University of California-Berkeley during the turbulent 1960s who is credited with authoring the phrase, made a few more converts this week.Tuesday, the Illinois High Schoo...