Geneva lost for just the third time in DuKane Conference play, falling at Wheaton North, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21, in front of a large senior night crowd Tuesday. There was something different about this game.The playing court was the same size. The height of the net was unchanged. There were six players on each side. Two officials – one up, one down. The ball was regulation. Rally scoring was used.So what was it that made this match different?People.“This is the first volleyball game all season that we’ve actually had a crowd,” said Geneva co...
Dakota moves on without Toelke; T.F. South moves on without an identity
Dakota's Tabytha Toelke (left) likely would have broken into the top 10 among Illinois all-time kill leaders had it not been for last year's shortened season and a brief personal absence while in quarantine due to COVID contact tracing. She is now a freshman at the University of Memphis. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford Register Star). Monday, Monday. The first day of practice for the 2021 Illinois girls’ high school volleyball season is just hours away.One of the more intriguing storylines of the 2021 season is the plight of Thornton Fract...
Fueled by example of her older brothers, Zayna Meyer is driven to succeed
After leading Wheaton Warrenville South to an IHSA Class 4A runner-up finish in 2019, Zayna Meyer (left) has big goals for her SPVB 18 Elite team this spring. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) SPVB 18 Elite's BYU-bound setter Zayna Meyer. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By PJ BrozynskiIllprepb.com Writer/Editor If you can’t live at home while you’re going to college, you can always do the next best thing.Take home with you.“We’re going to see a lot of each other, for sure,” said Sports Performance 18 Elite setter Zayna Meyer. “It’s like bringing home ...
Lenny eyes another run at USA title; Ultimate, VC United, CVC making strides
SPVB B18 Lenny features five players who return from last year's team that finished third in the 18 USA division at the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships in Dallas, Texas. https://youtu.be/uD9zQD2XUUY There’s something about Lenny.Whether it’s chemistry, continuity or just top-to-bottom talent, Sports Performance’s “No. 2” team is hardly what most observers would consider a “second team.”SPVB 18 Lenny has been a fixture in the top brackets in the B18-Palos Points Series at Palos Courts this season. Saturday, after losi...
Peterson, Clark take very different paths, yet arrive at same destination
Former Glenbard East and Ohio State star Amanda Peterson played in Austria for four years before the COVID-19 pandemic put her professional career in jeopardy. (Peterson photo courtesy of the University of Kentucky, Clark cover photo courtesy of the University of Wisconsin) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAmanda Peterson is coming home. Tiffany Clark is staying home.The former Illinois high school stars are among 40 players who have signed with Athletes Unlimited, which is launching a new women’s professional volleyball league. When ...
Young SPVB 18 Elite's unbeaten run ends at Presidents' Day Challenge
SPVB 18 Elite saw its 15-match winning streak to open the 2020 season come to an end against Alabama Performance 18 Red in the 18/17 Power division championship match of the Presidents' Day Challenge Monday at the Schaumburg Convention Center. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Something about the “SPVB” lettering on the front of the jersey brings out the best in the opposition.Alabama Performance 18 Red’s best Monday was pretty darn good.Led by its trio of Division I recruits – 6-foot-3 outside hitter Merritt Beason (Florida), 6-3 middle hitter Gabr...
2020 AVCA Phenom List features 100 student-athletes from Illinois
The 2020 AVCA Phenom List features 100 student-athletes from Illinois, including St. Teresa's Valerie Nutakor (cover photo) and Newark's Megan Williams (pictured above). (Photos by Dave Ruggles) One-hundred student-athletes from Illinois have been named to the 2020 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Phenom List. The student-athlete named to the list must be an underclassmen who has been recognized in some form for her outstanding volleyball abilities.Student-athletes on the list are invited to attend the AVCA Phenom College Prep...
Illprepvb.com presents 200 reasons we can't wait for volleyball in the fall: Setters
Breese Mater Dei's Jessie Timmeman set a school record for single-season assists in 2019. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, Illprepvb.com continues its look at 200 reasons why we’re looking forward to girls high school volleyball resuming in the fall.Of course, there is no guarantee that Illinois schools will re-open by mid-to-late August, and the IHSA will most likely follow the lead of state government before it OKs high school sports in the fall. But if schools do re-open, and the IHSA gives the go-ahead to fall sports, not only will...
Sterling connection has Fusion 17 Red thinking big during the 2020 club season
The addition of four players from Sterling's Class 3A championship team, including Brooklyn Borum and Lexi Rodriguez, has Fusion 17 Red poised to make a run at a national championship in 2020. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) They’re getting the band back together in Batavia.Freshman Grace Egan, libero Lexi Rodriguez and twin sisters Brooklyn and Breelyn Borum teamed up to lead Sterling to its second consecutive IHSA Class 3A championship at Redbird Arena last fall.Now they’re getting together to try to go one better.The Sterling quartet, Belvider...
No. 7 seed Windsor (Coop) runs out of magic, falls to top-seeded Altamont
Altamont defeated Windsor (Coop) to advance to the Class 1A supersectional at (Bridgeport), Red Hill on Friday. By Zachary RaineySpecial to Illprepvb.comThe run had to end sometime. The Lady Hatchets of Windsor-Stewardson-Strasburg fell to the Lady Indians of Altamont, 25-16, 25-12, in a Class 1A sectional championship match Wednesday at Windsor.The Lady Indians jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the opening set with strong, confident hitting as well as great serving, recording 8 aces as a team on the night. “We didn't play our best, and we ha...