Crystal Lake South's freshman outside hitter Bobbi Wire (16) goes up for a kill against a pair of Huntley defenders. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) y Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s hard to imagine any freshman class having the impact on their varsity teams the way the Class of 2026 had one year ago.That class of freshmen included St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf, Benet Academy’s Lynney Tarnow, Marist’s Elayna Davidson, Lincoln-Way East’s Maggie Simon, Geneseo’s Lizzie Rapps, St. Thomas More’s Cassidy Monahan, Normal U-High’s...
Downers South eyes another postseason run; key injury clouds Morton’s future
Morton sophomore Luisangel Cortes-Curiel (3) tries to slip a kill past the outstretched arms of Downers Grove South's Mason Kolar (5) and Nick Koch (15). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Our sectional,” said Downers Grove South coach Kurt Steuer. “Our sectional … ““It’s tough anywhere,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re seeded. But it is what it is. You got to go out and play.”Downers Grove South’s 25-12, 25-16 victory over Morton on Tuesday was almost inconsequential in the bigger picture, although So...
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com present 150 Players to Watch in the Class of ’24
Barrington setter/rightsde hitter and Iowa recruit Jenna Meitzler (11) will try to lead the Fillies to their third consecutive Class 4A semifinal appearance in November. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe start of practice for the 2023 Illinois girls high school season is just two weeks away. Today, Illprepvb.com takes a look ahead to some of the players we expect to make an impact during the upcoming season.So here they are, the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 150 Class of '24 Players to Watch:Class of 2024...
The ‘White’ stuff: SPVB 16 White wins national championship on final day of AAUs
SPVB 16 White dominated the field in the 16 Spirit division at the 50th annual AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, this week. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorORLANDO, Florida – Twelve teams from Illinois advanced to the championship brackets of their respective divisions Thursday at the at the 50th annual AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida.Six survived their first-round matches.But only one thrived. SPVB 16 White defeated Lake NONA 16 Willie (Orlando, Florida), 25-19, 25-16...
Ultimate-ly, teams from up north are the big cheeses at Windy City Round-Up
MOD B18 Blue's Connor Durst (Glenbrook North) slaps a kill past a pair of MVC 18-Greek defenders durng the north shore club's 18 Open semifinal loss Sunday at McCormick Place. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe aroma of cheddar, brats and Blatz permeated the air last weekend at McCormick Place.Thank goodness for a little breath of fresh air from SPVB B15 Elite.There was a simple reason clubs from north of the border dominated the 2023 AAU/JVA Windy City Round-Up, with Milwaukee-based clubs winning three of th...
1st Alliance 17 Black wins AAU 17 Club title; MOD Elite G17 Blue third in Premier
1st Alliance 17 Black rallied from down a set to defeat VCNebraska 17 Black and win the 17 Club division national championship Sunday in Orlando, Florida. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorORLANDO, Florida – Paint it black. As in 1st Alliance 17 Black.The Woodridge crew rallied after dropping the first set to defeat VCNebraska 17 Black (Lincoln, Nebraska), 18-25, 26-24, 15-7, to win the 17 Club division Sunday at the 50th annual AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida.After losing the first set, 1st Alliance...
There’s no stopping SPVB 18 Red, which wins its third straight AAU championship
Eastside Volleyball 18U Ninjas finished third in the 18 Club division at the 50th AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorORLANDO, Florida – “Someone stop me. Oh, someone please, just try and stop me.” – Katharine Hepburn in the 1938 movie classic, “Holiday,” with Cary Grant.There must be something to this red(head) mystique.Seeded fifth in the field of 58 teams, Sports Performance 18 Red won its third consecutive national championship, defeating Mill City 18s (Lowell, Massachusetts), 25-...
No turning back SPVB/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Chance Shampine
Chance Shampine overcame a serious back injury as a junior to lead Glenbrook South to its first IHSA quarterfinal berth since 2014 and become the first Player of the Year from the Glenview school since Sam Kim earned the honor from the Chicago Sun-Times in 2003. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comChance Shampine’s junior season didn’t go the way he expected.His senior season didn’t go the way anybody else expected.The Glenbrook South star missed more than half of the 2022 season with a serious back injury.“I...
Presenting the Sports Performance VBC Illprepvb.com Coaches Hall of Fame Class of ’23
Legendary coach Larry Sample guided Jacksonville to an IHSA Class AA championship, the first won by a downstate school in the big-school class, in 1988, then later coached (Chatham) Glenwood for three years before retiring following the 2008 season. (Photo courtesy of the Springfield State Journal-Register). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFive years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, at the time, nothing ever came of that phone call...
Timothy Christian dons pink, but could they be seeing red in less than a month?
Timothy Christian players and their fans were decked out in pink Wednesday to raise cancer awareness, after which they paused to celebrate another Trojans' victory. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorPlaying without 6-3 junior outside hitter and University of Texas recruit Abby VanderWal for the first 10 matches of the season – a stretch during which the Trojans went 7-3 and lost to rival and probable sectional foe IC Catholic Prep -- might not have been the worst thing to happen to Timothy Christian.“I think we were able to learn and bui...