Adversity Volleyball Club has hired former Olympian and Pepperdine Hall of Famer Tom Sorensen to coach its boys and girls teams. (Photo by Dave Ruggles of Adversity 18 Adidas at last year's Winter Volleyball Championships) Tom Sorensen during his playing days at Pepperdine University. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFew youth volleyball clubs can say they have a former Olympian on staff.Adversity is one of them.The Vernon Hills-based club recently hired Pepperdine Hall of Famer Tom Sorensen to coach both boys’ and girls’ teams. ...
Hinsdale Central meets the Dukes' challenge – and has a little fun in the process
Hinsdale Central's (from left) Matthew Schwab, Cullen Bradley, Jakobi Lange, Nicholas Kujalowicz, Ethan Du, Sam Snyder and AJ Hood. Winning easy is OK, but winning hard is fun.“This was really fun,” said Hinsdale Central’s 6-4 sophomore Jakobi Lange.Lange had 15 kills and 6-3 senior outside hitter AJ Hood added 6 kills and a pair of blocks as Hinsdale Central broke a 13-13 tie with a 7-2 run midway through Game 2 and never looked back, defeating York, 20-25, 25-17, 25-18, Tuesday in Elmhurst.“This is the first game where we had real good ...
Kahl's original five plan to go out the same way they came in – together, and winning
SPVB 18 Kahl's Katie Kaburov (26) rips a kill between two Rolling Thunder 18 Blue defenders Sunday during the Presidents' Day Challenge at the Schaumburg Convention Center. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Greek philosopher Heraclitus coined the phrase “change is the only constant in life.”Although Heraclitus lived more than 2,500 years ago, he could have just as easily been talking about Sports Performance’s No. 2 18s team.After a successful run as 13s, Kayla Closset (Naperville Central), Gretchen Ketelhut (Plainfield North), Maddie Bourque (York...
Lake Park, Schellinger stop Barrington in battle of unbeaten powerhouses
If some of these faces look familiar, they should. Lake Park features a senior-dominated lineup that has been together since this photo was taken in 2019, when the Lancers lost in the sectional semifinals to Glenbard West. Sometimes it’s not how many errors you make, but when you make them.Barrington and Lake Park met in Roselle Saturday in a battle of two unbeatens. Both finished the match with the same number of errors – 21. But Barrington’s errors proved more costly, particularly its 12 service errors, one very untimely rotation miscue a...
Naperville North's perfect, albeit short season ends with perfect sendoff for eight seniors
Naperville North bid farewell to eight seniors Thursday while wrapping up a 10-0 season with a 25-16, 25-9 victory over visiting Waubonsie Valley. Naperville North has enjoyed some great success during head coach Jen Urban’s tenure.There was the 2004 team that went 34-6 and reached the Class AA supersectional before losing to Downers Grove South, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23. There was the 31-7 team in 2006 led by future University of Illinois All-American Colleen Ward.And there was last year’s team, which overcame the loss of 6-foot-2 outside hitt...
Illprepvb.com presents the 20 All-Time Best Illinois Girls Volleyball Teams, Nos. 16-20
Payson-Seymour's 2017 team was one of the most dominant Class 1A champions in IHSA history, going three sets in only one of its 41 victories. There have been many great teams throughout the history of IHSA girls’ high school volleyball – undefeated champions, once-beaten champions, and some teams that did not win a state championship despite their pedigree.Today, Illprepvb.com begins its countdown of the 20 All-Time Best Illinois Girls' High School Volleyball Teams.The task was monumental, to be sure. There have been 84 championship tea...
Metea Valley has it their way at Kaneland with MacDonald (sort of) out of the picture
Metea Valley defeated host Kaneland to win the Knight Invite on Saturday. https://youtu.be/P-PnPYAbFDA By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAgustin “Gus” Colima was on the hot seat Saturday in Kaneland.It’s a good thing he had Kira Hutson watching his back.Hutson, a 6-4 junior outside hitter who is committed to Florida, had 21 kills, 3 blocks and an assist to lead Metea Valley (24-2) to a 25-18, 15-25, 25-14 victory over host Kaneland Saturday in the championship match of the Knight Invite.Junior outside hitter Annabelle Troy added 8 ...
Taking a look back at the 2019 Tiger Classic, Joliet West invitational
Look back at some of the action from the 2019 Tiger Classic at Wheaton Warrenville South and the Joliet West invite through the photos of Dave Ruggles. https://youtu.be/uFtJJsU6qVM 2019 Tiger Classic, Joliet West highlight video (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Track: Quiet Storm — Metro Vice [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: https://youtu.be/M2dbXtJmP2UFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/quiet-storm ...
USA Volleyball cancels Mid-East, Windy City qualifiers due to COVID-19
Teams that were planning to participate in the Mid-East Qualifier March 20-22 in Indianapolis or the W9ndy City Qualifier April 20-22 will have to find other opportunities to qualify for nationals. USA Volleyball has cancelled the events due to health concerns. Here is the link to the USA Volleyball website:https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/features/usa-volleyball-response-on-coronavirus ...
Torres setting a torrid pace for Oswego East despite Tuesday’s loss at Plainfield North
Oswego East, shown here earlier in the year during the Joliet West invitational, is rebuilding around some young players after last year's senior-fueled run to a regional title game. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Thirteen kills and a block.A great match for most players, but almost pedestrian-like numbers for Oswego East’s 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter Anthony Torres. Oswego East's record-setting junior Anthony Torres. Torres has emerged from the shadows of Cade and Collin Harrison and Jahari Winkfield, three 2018 graduates who led the Wo...