Alayna Pierce (16) had 18 kills to lead Genoa-Kingston past IC Catholic Prep in the Class 2A championship match Saturday at Redbird Arena. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor NORMAL -- Genoa-Kingston’s Alayna Pierce didn’t have the kind of performance she had hoped for in the Cogs’ semifinal victory Friday over Chillicothe IVC. The 5-foot-11 junior had 8 kills, but those came at the expense of 38 attempts and 9 errors for a -.025 hitting percentage.So, Pierce went back to the drawing board.“At practice this mor...
Illprepvb.com presents a first look at Illinois' top 2023 club teams … the 18s
(On the home page) SPVB 18 Elite and SPVB 18 Kahl tangle at the Great Lakes Volleybal Center in 2022. (Above) Marist's Kamryn Chaney (far court) returns for 1st Alliance 18 Gold along with six other players who won a national USAV championship as 17s. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFirst, congratulations to former Mother McAuley great Kayla Caffey, who played in her second NCAA Division I national championship in two years when Texas defeated Louisville on December 17.A 2016 graduate of McAuley, Caffey was gr...
Crimson Classic moving to Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora in Fall 2022
The Crimson Classic Volleyball Invite hosted by Plainfield North and sponsored by Illprepvb.com will be played this coming August at the Great Lakes Volleybal Center in Aurora, which features 12 air-conditioned courts and can accomodate the entire tournament under one roof. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) We’re moving (but not too far).The 2022 Illprepvb.com Crimson Classic Varsity Volleyball Invite will be held at the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora on Friday-Saturday, August 26-27.Plainfield North is still running the tournament, but...
Recruiting 102: What You Can Do To Help College Coaches Find You
Illprepvb.com 2022 Player of the Year Lucy Arndt of tiny Aquin Catholic in Freeport, who plays club for VC United VBC, will attend Southeast Missouri State in the fall. VC United formed a recruiting support team headed by Courtney Slinko and Lauren Hansen to work directly with their athletes throughout their recruiting journey. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Editor's note: This is a reprint of an article that first appeared on Illprepvb.com in June 2021. We tried to verify/update the information provided by Peter Gustin, My Recruiting Assistan...
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...
Watkins remembers, rallies Lyons Township past Lockport at Argo Invite
Led by Joe Watkins (18, back row, third from left), Lyons defeated Lockport to win the Argo Invite Saturday in Summit. https://youtu.be/Ra4abzYr-SU By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorJoe Watkins’ memory might be a little hazy, but there’s nothing wrong with his game.With Lyons trailing Lockport 15-13 midway through the third set of the Argo Invite championship match, Watkins strung together three successive kills to ignite a 12-8 closing run that gave the boys in royal blue and gold a 25-23, 15-25, 25-23 victory and the tournament ti...
Thunderbolts extinguish the Cardinals' candles with an explosion of aces
Plainfield North (far court) travels to Homewood-Flossmoor Tuesday while Glenbard West (near court) entertains Oak Park-River Forest. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith Southwest Suburban Conference play opening next week, the Andrew boys’ volleyball team knows it has to bring its A game.Well, to tune up, the Thunderbolts brought their A game -- as in aces – Monday against Eisenhower. Defensive specialist Drew Schissler served six of them and Andrew had 11 aces overall during its 25-8, 25-11 victory over the...
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 is best at East; Red Devils have fun, drop Dukes at York
Hinsdale Central's Carter Lyons delivers one of his 10 kills against York Saturday in Elmhurst. (Phiotos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGlenbard West is ready for all challengers.The top-ranked Hilltoppers showed that by handing Indiana's top-ranked team, Roncalli (Indianapolis, Indiana) its first loss of the season, 25-23, 25-23, Saturday in the title match of the 30th Annual Lincoln-Way East Invitational.It was the 22nd straight victory for Glenbard West (23-1). Roncalli (26-1), which was the Indiana state runner-...