(Week 1 ranking in parenthesis)
18s
1. Sports Performance 18 Elite (1)
Note: Does it get any better than this? Pool B of the Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open division features SPVB 18 Elite, SPVB 18 Kahl (the home club’s No. 2 team), 1st Alliance 18 Silver and Michio Chicago 18 National.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. 1st Alliance 18 Silver at 9:15 a.m. on Court 1 on Saturday, January 27.
2. Michio Chicago 18 National (2)
Note: Michio Chicago 18 National looks to get back on track after falling out of contention for a USAV bid when it lost to Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold twice on Sunday at the 2018 Winter Volleyball Championship.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. SPVB 18 Kahl at 9:15 a.m. on Court 2 on Saturday, January 27.
3. Uno Girls 18 Elite (3)
Note: Despite losing to Michio Chicago 18 National on Sunday at the 2018 Winter Volleyball Championship, Uno battled its way back to the Gold semifinals before losing to eventual champion Circle City 18 Purple.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Sky High Adidas 18 Black at 7:45 a.m. on Court 1 on Saturday, January 27.
4. IL STLHP (Illinois St. Louis High Performance) 18 Elite (4)
Next: Gateway League 18 Open vs. H2 STL 18 Under Armour Cyclones at 8:00 a.m. on Court 2 on Saturday, January 20 at Lafayette High School.
5. Sky High Adidas 18 Black (5)
Note: Sisters Megan and Emily Meyer of Crystal Lake Central will likely go their separate ways this fall. Megan wants to study engineering in college and is waiting to hear from Purdue. Emily wants to study pre-med. Their college choices are likely to determine whether they continue to play volleyball, their father said. Sky High Adidas 18 Black advanced to the final four of the 18 Girls USA division at the 2018 Winter Volleyball Championship before losing to OT 18 S. Tom out of Florida 19-25, 25-19, 15-7 in a semifinal Monday.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Uno Girls 18 Elite at 7:45 a.m. on Court 1 on Saturday, January 27.
Other teams to watch: ESVBC (Eastside) Ninjas 18U, 1st Alliance 18 Silver, Sports Performance 18 Kahl, Illini Elite 18 Cardinal, Michio Chicago 18 Premier, Rolling Thunder 18 Blue, Adversity G18 Purple.
17s
1. Michio Chicago 17 National (1)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Fusion 17 Red at 7:45 a.m. on Court 2 on Saturday, January 27.
2. Club Fusion 17 Red (2)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Michio Chicago 17 National at 7:45 a.m. on Court 2 on Saturday, January 27.
3. 1st Alliance 17 Silver (3)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Epic United Elite ROX at 9:15 a.m. on Court 8 on Saturday, January 27.
4. Illini Elite 17 Cardinal (4)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Michio Chicago 18 Premier at 7:45 a.m. on Court 3 on Saturday, January 27.
5. 1st Alliance 17 Black (5)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18s vs. SPVB 18 Navy at 4:00 a.m. on Court 3 on Saturday, January 27.
Other teams to watch: IL STLHP 17 Elite, Illini Elite 17 Black, Uno Girls 17 Elite, Rolling Thunder 17 Blue, Northside Out Chicago 17U, Big Dog 17 Black, Sky High Adidas 17 Black.
16s
1. Sports Performance 16 Elite (1)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. Sky High Adidas 15 Black at 8:00 a.m. on Court 1 on Saturday, January 20.
2. Michio Chicago 16 National (2)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. Uno Girls 15 Elite at 8:00 a.m. on Court 3 on Saturday, January 20.
3. 1st Alliance 16 Silver (3)
Note: 1st Alliance 16 Silver went 6-0 in the 16 Open division at the 2018 Winter Classic hosted by WI Juniors in Milwaukee last weekend, dropping only one set all weekend.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Cyclones 18 Black Adidas at 9:15 a.m. on Court 8 on Saturday, January 27.
4. Sky High Adidas 16 Black (4)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 18 Super Open vs. Wildcat Jrs. 18 Black at 7:45 a.m. on Court 6 on Saturday, January 27.
5. Uno Girls 16 Elite (5)
Note: Uno Girls 16 Elite went 0-7 competing in the 18 USA division at the Winter Volleyball Championship at McCormick Place over the weekend. However, all seven loses were to 18s teams.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. Motion Volleyball 16 Blue at 8:00 a.m. on Court 6 on Saturday, January 20.
Other teams to watch: Ultimate G16 Gold, Illini Elite 16 Cardinal, Fusion 16 Red, New WAVE 16 Tsunami, Rolling Thunder 16 Blue.
15s
1. Sports Performance 15 Elite (1)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. WVA (Wisconsin Volleyball Academy) 15 Black on Court 10 at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 20.
2. Lions 15-1 (2)
Note: Lions 15-1 went 6-0 in the 15 Open division at the 2018 Winter Classic hosted by WI Juniors in Milwaukee last weekend.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. Midwest Penguins 16 Black at 9:00 a.m. on Court 11 on Saturday, January 20.
3. Illini Elite 15 Cardinal (3)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. FC Elite 16 Navy at 9:00 a.m. on Court 5 on Saturday, January 20.
4. Fusion 15 Red (NR)
Note: Fusion 15 Red went 4-2, including a loss to Lions 15-1, in the 15 Open division at the 2018 Winter Classic hosted by WI Juniors in Milwaukee last weekend.
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. CI Elite 16 Red at 9:00 a.m. on Court 2 on Saturday, January 20.
5. Uno Girls 15 Elite (NR)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. Michio Chicago 16 National at 8:00 a.m. on Court 3 on Saturday, January 20.
Other teams to watch: Chicago Elite 15 Elite, Lions 15 Red.
Ultimate G16 Gold
Six-foot-3 middle blocker Emily Kleffman and setter Addy Sopko of Class 3A supersectional qualifier Tinley Park head up coach Marco Quintana’s Ultimate G16 Gold squad. “This team is very dynamic, energetic and has great potential to have big accomplishments in 2018,” Quintana said. “The team is filled with athleticism and skill, height strength and power.” In addition to Kleffman and Sopko, team members include 5-9 defensive specialist Allison Faoro of Homewood-Flossmoor, 5-5 defensive specialist Shedda Sulieman and 5-9 outside hitter Ella Pelen of Lemont, 5-11 outside hitter Isabella Biesterfield of Illinois Lutheran, 5-9 outside hitter Brianna Haggerty of Andrew, 5-10 sophomore outside hitter Amia Owolabi of Mother McAuley, 5-9 middle blocker Troy Johnson of Chicago U-High, 5-11 outside hitter Kayla Schroeder of Lincoln-Way East and 5-11 middle blocker Layne Stevens of Lincoln-Way Central. “Haggerty is displaying some key leadership and great volleyball IQ, and is someone who will be a big scorer for us,” Quintana said. “Owolabi, a strong opposite lefty, is a force putting the ball away.” Quintana, who has been at Ultimate for nine years, is a former player at Lewis University who was an assistant coach when Chicago Christian won the IHSA Class 2A state championship in 2010 and former head coach at Mt. Carmel. “The team is learning and has executed on overcoming deficits and winning in the face of adversity,” he said. “We expect to do well in regional and national qualifiers, putting these players in great position to continue their careers beyond high school.” Ultimate G16 Gold will compete at the Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division and opens league play in Pool J against WVA (Wisconsin Volleyball Academy) 15 Black at 9:00 a.m. on Court 10 on Saturday, January 20.