2.2.12 - Five 1st Alliance Players Chosen for 2011 PrepVolleyball.com High School All-America’s List

PrepVolleyball.com has named five 1st Alliance players to its 2011 High School All-American list.
"To be a High School All-American," says PrepVolleyball.com, "you must have made a massive impact
on your high school team. 'Massive' is subjective, but at a minimum requires that you be the best
player on your team and one of the top 3-5 players in your state regardless of class, except for
volleyball hotbeds like California, Texas, Indiana and Illinois, where you must be among the 10 best
HIGH SCHOOL players regardless of class."

Here are the 1st Alliance players named and PrepVolleyball.com notes on each:
All-American:
  Alexis Viliunas, 6-1 Sr. S, Lyons Township (LaGrange, Illinois)
High Honorable Mention:
  Caroline Rose, 5-8 Sr. OH, York (Elmhurst, Illinois)
Special Mention:
  Ashley Holder, 5-8 Sr. S, Marist (Chicago, Illinois)
  Mallory Salis, 5-9 Jr. OH, Marist (Chicago, Illinois)
  Laura Williams, 5-10 Sr. OH/S/DS, Lyons Township (La Grange, Illinois)

1.30.12 - Champions are Crowned This Past Weekend

15 Blue defeated Circle City 15 Black to win the Central Zone
Invitational this weekend at Sky High. The team was 6-1 on the
weekend. Carleigh Barringer and Mia Herrod each notched
35 kills. Natalie Arredia led the team with 10 aces. Leah Lane
contributed with a team high 36 digs for the weekend.

Great Lakes 18 and under Power League:
1st Alliance 18 Silver 2nd place overall both Saturday and
Sunday. 1st Alliance 16 Silver 6-0, 12-0 on the weekend to move up 2 pools.

Windy City Power League:
Lions 14-1, Lions 14 Red, Lions 14 Navy and Lions 13-1 are all in the top RED division continuing
play on 2/4.

1.30.12 - More 1st Alliance players Make PrepVolleyball.com Lists

2011 PrepVolleyball.com National Player of the Year Finalists
  Alexis Viliunas, 6-1 S/OH, Lyons Township (LaGrange, Illinois) – One year after being the spark
  in the Lions’ run to the Illinois state title, Viliunas helped a much younger Lyons team get back to
  the elite eight, recording 644 assists, 320 kills, 300 digs, 54 aces and 43 blocks in 2011. The
  Illinois signee and top 100 Senior Ace was named Chicago’s Player of the Year by two major
  newspapers and was Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year.

2011 Andi Collins Award Finalists
  Alexis Viliunas, 6-1 S, Lyons Township (LaGrange, Illinois) – (See above)

  Ashley Holder, 5-8 S, Marist (Chicago, Illinois) – A coach on the floor, Holder, an Akron recruit,
  took Marist to the Illinois 4A Final Four in 2011. Seting the table for a young team, Holder amassed
  1,121 assists, the second-highest total in state history, while adding 454 digs and 33 aces for a
  34-8 team that was nationally-ranked all year long. Holder was a Second Team All-State selection
  by the Champaign News-Gazette.

1.28.12 - 1st Alliance | Lions Jrs. | 3C Club Social and Picture Night Raffle and Trivia Winners

Congratulations to our Trivia winners Hannah Miller (Lions 12-Blue) and Sam Pethokoukis (1st
Alliance 16 Silver) !!!

Contratulations also to raffle prize winners Jenn Graham (Lions 16-1), Tess Riordan (Lions
13Red), Maddie Dunterman (Lions 13-1) and Maria Gazzi (Lions 12-1)!!!

Click here for details and info on how receive your prize.

1.24.12 - Mike Konrad - December Coach of the Month

Mike Konrad is our Coach of the month for December. He is a
new coach to the 3rd Coast Elite Boys Program, but a returning
alum who played for Lions Juniors during his High School
years. Mike is eager to take his team to the top level, pushing
them each practice and having the goal to be the 1st team to
qualify since his team was the last to qualify when he played!
He steps into drills to demo to the players and shows them
exactly what he wants to see from them. He expects 100%
from his team at all times!! The team enjoys Mike and we are really excited to have him back
coaching our boys. In addition to the Boys program, Mike has stepped in as head coach for our
Girls Lions 16Blue team, where I’m sure he’ll have as much success. Congratulations to Mike!

1.19.11 - Volley Cubs and Kids Sessions to Start in February

Volley Cubs for boys and girls ages 4.5-6 years old.
  Wednesdays, 1:15pm-2pm at the Chalet Fitness Center in Willow
  Springs on 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21

  Sessions run $85 for the eight classes or $12 per class.

Click here for a VolleyCubs Brochure with info on how to
enroll.

VolleyKids for boys and girls ages 5-7 years old.
  Mondays, 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm at the Chalet Fitness Center in
   Willow Springs 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19 Cost:
  $70 for the seven dates or $12 per date.

Click here for a VolleyKids Brochure with info on how to enroll.

1.16.12 - 1st Alliance Well Represented in Pre-Season Rankings

1st Alliance teams were well represented in the 2012
Prepvolleyball.com National Pre-Season Club Rankings. While
these ranking are for fun and for discussion, it is always nice
to have our program recognized. Here are the 1st Alliance
teams listed in the rankings and what PrepVolleyball.com had
to say about our teams:


18 and under:
Ranked 11th - 1st Alliance 18Silver
1st Alliance “and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!” (Illinois)
The Facts: 1st Alliance 18 Silver will begin the year with three of its standouts, libero Bridget Powell
(knee), MB Lauren Zielinski (shoulder) and MB Gabby Pethokoukis (back) sidelined, from a team that
took 10th in 17 Open at USAV Nationals in 2011. But there is talent aplenty to make up for their
absence, none greater than at setter, where Illinois Gatorade POY Alexis Viliunas, who played 18s
a year ago, is joined by 5-9 Pittsburgh signee Jenna Jacobson. Laura Williams, Caroline Rose,
Brittany Brown, Megan Miller, Jessie Tulacka and Melissa Nava are others to watch on this veteran
squad.

The Pun: Powell’s not playing means more time for the books.

17 and under:
Ranked 13th - 1st Alliance 17Silver
“I Held Her” 1st Alliance (Illinois)
The Facts: This was the feel-good team of AAUs last year after stunning TAV in the 16 Open finals.
With their upgrades, this squad could challenge for a medal at Junior Nationals. The team has a
fabulous setter in AAU MVP Sophia Dodd, who will also hit on the right when Sharon Anderson
sets, and several terrific options on the left: Mallory Salis, Melissa Deatsch, Kelly Marcinek and
Danielle Schroeder. In the middle, Hanna Lee and Ana Vrhel, both D-1 commits, are joined by 6-3
Jasmine King, who touches 10-1. The defense, already fabulous with steady Emily Milligan, got
better with the addition of Sheila Doyle.

The Pun: Schroeder’s play isn’t Peanuts.

16 and under:
Ranked 23rd - 1st Alliance 16Silver
“Quench Your” 1st Alliance (Illinois) Beth Keck’s team will be stunning on the pins with Sammie
Brown and Amber Clay on the left and Katherine Mahlke on the right. Joyce Balash and Mariah
Rouse in the middle are two other targets for 5-11 setter Jenna Lodewyk.

15 and under:
Ranked 11th - Lions 15-1

1.16.12 - Second Weekend of Play and the Good Results Keep Rolling In

Great Lakes 16 and under Power League:
  Lions 15Red 6-0 - 8th overall
  Lions 15-1 - 16th overall

Windy City Power League:
  Lions 14-1 7-0 - 2nd overall

  12s did well and 6 teams (Lions 12-1, 12 Blue, 12 Red, 12 Navy, 12 Sky Blue and Fearless 12 Red) 
  from all 9 Lions  teams made it to the  top (Red) Division of the League. They are among best 16
  teams from almost 40 club teams that were playing at the League.

  12 Sky Blue team originally seeded 27th in the league won 5 out of 6 matches and are in the top
  Division!

Energy College Showcase:
  1st Alliance 18 White - 3rd place

11.14.11 - Club Social and Picture Night set for January 20

The 2012 1st Alliance | Lions Jrs. | 3C Club Social and Picture Night is set for January 20th. Click here
for a flyer.

When: Friday 1/20/12 6 pm-9:30 pm

Where: Lyons Township South Campus

What: Team and Individual Pictures, Games, Raffles, Contests, Trivia, Food, Drinks, Socializing

Who: The teams above are required to attend plus parents, siblings and other family members are welcome!

1.11.12 - Good Results for First Weekend of Power Leagues

Great Lakes Power League:
  1st Alliance 18 Silver, 6-0 in matches and 12-0 in games (3rd overall)
  1st Alliance 17 Silver, 6-0 in matches and 12-2 in games (10th overall)
  1st Alliance 18 Black, 6-0 in matches and 12-1 in games (11th overall)

Windy City Power League:
  Lions 16 Red, 6-0 in matches and 12-0 in games (4th overall)

Congratulations to the teams for great starts.