But it never hurts to see how you stack up against some of the other top competitors in the country.
Last weekend, Sky High Adidas 15 Black ventured to Minnesota to participate in the Northern Lights Qualifier. Despite dropping a 25-29, 25-23 decision to Circle City 15 Purple in the second round of pool play, the girls from Crystal Lake finished 8-1 to win the qualifier.
By beating two teams ranked higher nationally by Prepvolleyb.com, including powerful NKYVC 115-1 Tsunami 25‑23, 25‑20 in the finals, Sky High Adidas 15 Black made a strong case for a higher seed at nationals.
“Sky High Adidas 15 Black 15 is a very strong offensive team,” said Erik Vogt, girls director at Sports Performance where the Crystal Lake club competes in the Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open.
“They don’t really have many weaknesses and they have a really good upside,” he added.
Sky High Adidas 15 Black coach Jill Rokosik won’t argue.
“We do have a solid group,” she said. “Our middles are big and strong, we have two phenomenal setters who both can run a 5-1, and Jenna (Splitt) on the right side has a super powerful, quick arm and a big topspin serve.”
Sky High Adidas 15 Black team members are Karina Simatos, a 5-6 libero/defensive specialist from Crystal Lake Central, Jenna Splitt, a 5-10 rightside/setter from Cary-Grove, and Margaret Wallenberger, a 5-11 outside/middle hitter from Jacobs.
Also, Jenna Brown, a 5-7 setter/opposite hitter from Dundee-Crown, Madeline McCormick, a 5-10 outside hitter from Crystal Lake Central, and Peyton O’Brien, a 6-foot outside hitter by way of Libertyville High School.
Rounding out the team are Madeline Timmerman, a 6-foot middle blocker from Crystal Lake Central, Antonette Bart, a 5-7 outside hitter from Carmel Catholic in Mundelein, and Emma Konie, a 5-10 outside hitter from Huntley.
Sky High Adidas 15 Black will be back in action Sunday, May 5, when it plays Illini Elite 16 Cardinal in the Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open at 9:00 a.m. on Court 4.
Here are this week’s rankings:
Illprepvb.com Week 16 Girls Club Rankings
(Week 15 rankings in parenthesis)
18s
1. SPVB 18 Elite (1)
Next: National Junior Classic May 26-28 at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Illinois.
2. Michio Chicago 18 National (2)
Next: USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
3. Uno Girls 18 Elite (3)
Next: National Junior Classic May 26-28 at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Illinois.
4. Illini Elite 18 Cardinal (4)
Next: Nothing scheduled.
5. (tie) Sky High Adidas 18 Black (5)
Next: USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
5. (tie) IL STLHP (Illinois St. Louis High Performance) 18 Elite (5)
Next: USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
5. (tie) Fusion 18 Black (5)
Next: Nothing scheduled.
5. (tie) 1st Alliance 18 Silver (5)
Next: USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, 2018, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
Other teams to watch: SPVB 18 Kahl, ESVBC (Eastside) Ninjas 18U, Ultimate G18 Gold, Wildcat Jrs. 18 Black, 1st Alliance 18 Black, SPVB 18 White, SPVB 18 Red, VC United 181 Elite, Club 1 18 Red, SPVB 18 Blue, 1st Alliance 18 White, Rolling Thunder 18 Blue, Chicago Elite 18 Elite.
17s
1. Fusion 17 Red (1)
Next: Nothing scheduled.
2. Illini Elite 17 Cardinal (2)
Next: Badger AAU Event May 5-6 in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
3. Uno Girls 17 Elite (3)
Next: National Junior Classic May 26-28 at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Illinois.
4. Michio Chicago 17 National (4)
Next: National Junior Classic May 26-28 at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Illinois.
5. IL STLHP 17 Elite (5)
Next: Nothing scheduled.
Other teams to watch: Sky High Adidas 17 Black, 1st Alliance 17 Silver, Rolling Thunder 17 Blue, Club 1 17 Red, Wildcat Jrs. 17 Black, New Wave 17 Tsunami, Sky High Adidas 17 White, Ascend 17 Purple, Northside Out Chicago 17U, Chicago Elite 17 Black.
16s
1. Sky High Adidas 16 Black (1)
Next: 1st Alliance Spring Classic April 28-29 at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois.
2. 1st Alliance 16 Silver (2)
Note: 1st Alliance 16 Silver finished ninth at the SCVA (Southern California Volleyball Association) 2018 Red Rock Rave Qualifier No. 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend, winning its first six matches before falling to A4 Volley 16-Purple 26-24, 25-23 and WAVE 16 Brent 25-22, 25-22.
Next: 1st Alliance Spring Classic April 28-29 at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois.
3. SPVB 16 Elite (3)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division vs. FarOut 15 Black on Sunday, May 6, at 8:00 a.m. on Court 1.
4. Michio Chicago 16 National (4)
Next: Northern Lights Qualifier April 27-29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
5. (tie) SPVB 16 C-Fed (5)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division vs. Illini Elite 16 Black on Sunday, May 6, at 8:00 a.m. on Court 4.
5. (tie) lllini Elite 16 Cardinal (5)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division vs. Sky High Adidas 15 Black on Sunday, May 6, at 9:00 a.m. on Court 4.
5. (tie) 1st Alliance 16 Black (5)
Next: 1st Alliance Spring Classic April 28-29 at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois.
Other teams to watch: Fusion 16 Red, Club 1 16 Red, Cyclones 16 Black Adidas, Illini Elite 16 Black, Fusion 16 Black, CI Elite 16 Red, Uno Girls 16 Elite, 1st Alliance 16 Red, SPVB 16 Red, New WAVE 16 Tsunami, SPVB 16 Blue, IPV (Illinois Performance Volleyball) 16HP, Rolling Thunder 16 Blue, Chicago Elite 16 Elite, D1 Elite G16 Black, D1 Elite 16 Green, Fusion 16 Silver.
15s
1. Lions 15-1 (1)
Next: 1st Alliance Spring Classic April 28-29 at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois.
2. SPVB 15 Elite (2)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division vs. Michio Chicago 16 National on Sunday, May 6, at 9:00 a.m. on Court 1.
3. SPVB 15 C-Fed (3)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division vs. WI Juniors 16-1 on Sunday, May 6, at 9:00 a.m. on Court 2.
4. Sky High Adidas 15 Black (4)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open vs. Illini Elite 16 Cardinal on Sunday, May 6, at 9:00 a.m. on Court 4.
5. Fusion 15 Red (5)
Next: Great Lakes Power League 16 Super Open division vs. 1st Alliance 16 Black on Sunday, May 6, at 8:00 a.m. on Court 3.
Other teams to watch: Wildcat Jrs. 15 Black, Uno Girls 15 Elite, Michio Chicago 15 National, Illini Elite 15 Cardinal, Ultimate G15 Gold, Pipeline 15 Nike, Illini Elite 15 Black, Lions 15 Red, Lions Woodridge 15-1, SPVB 15 Red, Club 1 15 Red, Chicago Elite 15 Elite, ESVBC Cougars 15U.