Illprepvb.com presents 100 of the top high school players in the Class of '24

Edwardsville's Sydney Davis (14) and teammates will have some big shoes to fill with the graduation of Gabby Saye off last year's IHSA Class 4A fourth-place finisher. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2024 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Class of 2024 Gwen Adler, 5-9, Jr., S, BarringtonAvery Allen, 5-7, Jr., OH, Mahomet-SeymourMolly Amendt, 5-11, Jr., MB, Lena-WinslowAddison Beekman, ...

Late for graduation? 'No way,' says Tomaszewski. Lockport also advances

Logan Clarida (20) and his Lincoln-Way West teammates will meet Lockport for a regional title Thursday after they defeated Plainfield North in a semifinal Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't be late!Andrew Tomaszewski made sure the Lincoln-Way West seniors weren't to their graduation.Tomaszewski, a senior setter, served an ace on match point as the Warriors avenged a season-opening loss to Plainfield North by toppling the Tigers, 25-22, 25-23, Tuesday in the opening semifinal of the Lockport Regiona...

Illprepvb.com presents 150 of the top high school players in the Class of '23

Fresh off winning an AAU national championship, Plainfield North's Lauren Jansen (11) hopes to lead Plainfield North to a Southwest Prairie Conference crown this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues our look at some of the top high school players in Illinois with those members of the Class of 2023 expected to return and make an impact for their teams this fall. Later this week, we will be publishing a list of the top juniors and sophomores we anticipate/expect/hope to see this fall when the high school volleyball...

Leaving a legacy is foremost on the minds of Volling, Plainfield East's eight seniors

Jace Milka (4) is one of eight Plainfield East seniors who are trying to do something even the great 2018 team was not able to achieve. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 2022 Plainfield East Bengals are poised to do something even the great 2018 Plainfield East team could not accomplish.The 2018 Plainfield East team is the benchmark by which all the school’s boys volleyball teams are measured.That team opened the season with 19 consecutive wins before losing to Brother Rice, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23, at Brother Ric...

That's a wrap for the first AAU boys' tournament with 630, SPVB leading the way

MOD Elite B18 Blue joined Adversity B18 Adidas in the championship bracket of the 18 Open division at last week's AAU Boys National Championship in Orlando. Orlando, Florida – The results from the first AAU Boys National Championships at the Orange County Convention Center this week in Orlando were a mixed bag for the boys from Illinois.But one thing seems certain, the AAU boys’ championships are likely here to stay.“We’re pretty happy with AAUs,” said 630 Volleyball club director Nick Maruyama, whose team walked away with seven medals last...

Presenting the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Team

Lincoln-Way East's Jared Byas was named the Southwest Suburban Conference Player of the Year and led the Griffins to the IHSA championship game. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the 2022 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our fourth annual effort to honor the best boys high school volleyball players in Illinois.Coaches were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and as high school student-ath...

Plainfield East beats the Saturday blues, tunes out Hinsdale South at Richards

Plainfield East's Tyler Volling (21) was named the MVP at the Richards tournament. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSaturdays have not been kind to Plainfield East.“We dominate that narrative,” said Plainfield East’s 6-2 junior setter/rightside Nathan Grutza.Heading into the quarterfinals Saturday at Richards, Plainfield East was 20-1 on weekdays but a pedestrian 5-4 on Saturdays.The Bengals went 1-2 on Saturday at Marist (losing to Marist and Downers Grove South to finish fourth), 2-1 at Smack Attack (losing to...

Short-handed Glenbard East hangs tough, but falls short against Downers South

Wednesday's rematch between Glenbard East and Downers Grove South did not quite have the drama of their first meeting this season at the Springfest tournament earlier this month. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorGlenbard East tried to keep it close.But let's be Real. With their best attacker and six-rotation player seated on the bench nursing an injury he aggravated in practice Tuesday, the Rams didn’t quite have enough firepower Wednesday to overcome Downers Grove South in Downers Grove.Downers Grove South, whic...

Chicago Christian's Nolan Krygsheld brings the hot sauce, earns his wings

Metea Valley's Bartosz Chmielewski (6) drives a kill past a Loyola defender during the Tiger Class at Wheaton Warrenville South. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNolan Krygsheld earned his wings.The Chicago Christian rightside hitter had 13 kills and 5 blocks to help rally the Knights to an 18-25, 25-19, 25-18 victory over Riverside-Brookfield in a Metro Suburban Conference battle of unbeatens Tuesday in Palos Heights. Afterward, he was going to get 10 wings at Buffalo Wild Wings courtesy of Jeff Dryfh...

Glenbard West wins York summer league, but there's more to summer than that

Joliet West had a busy but productive summer, winning the summer league at UNO Volleyball Cub and a tournament hosted by Joliet Junior College. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSummertime, and the livin’ is easy … if you happen to be a spectator.Girls who only a few weeks ago turned in their club jerseys have been immersed in an endless series of high school summer camps, summer leagues, college camps, skill camps, college visits, family vacations, etc., etc. etc.Wednesday in Elmhurst, the schedule became slightly less frantic for the e...