Hall of Fame

IVCA Boys Volleyball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductee:
Lionel Ebeling, Loyola Academy

Lionel Ebeling serves as the head boys volleyball coach at Loyola Academy, a role he has held since 2005, and took over the girls volleyball program in 2023. His coaching career began as a University of Illinois club player, where he also coached the women’s club team starting in 1997. At the same time, he coached club volleyball in the Great Lakes Region, building a lifelong commitment to developing student-athletes. Read more.

IVCA Boys Volleyball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductee:
Marci Maier, Glenbard East High School

Marci Maier served as the Glenbard East High School girls and boys head coach for 23 years and a total of 43 total seasons.  At Glenbard East, she advocated for and started our boys volleyball program in 1999. She took over our girls program in 2002 and continued to coach both programs for 20+ years. She is one of only three girls head volleyball coaches at the school since it opened in 1959. Read more.

IVCA Boys Volleyball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductee:
Paul Ickes, Brother Rice High School

A native of Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood, Paul first played volleyball for St. Agnes Grade School in boys’ and co-ed leagues at Burroughs Playground, McKinley Park, and Kelly Park. Paul graduated from St. Laurence High School in 1982 (10 years before high school boys’ volleyball was sanctioned) and holds degrees from Iona College (B.A.), the University of Notre Dame (M.A.), and the University of San Francisco (M.A.). Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE - FRAN STRUBLE

A pioneer in Illinois high school volleyball, Fran Struble led Carlinville High School for 38 seasons, compiling a 929-279 record and ranking 10th all-time in state victories. Under her guidance, the Cavaliers captured 22 regional and nine sectional titles, 24 conference championships, and a third-place Class 2A state finish in 2009. Struble never had a losing season, closing her career with 30 straight 20-win seasons. Her legacy includes a 104-match conference win streak and inspiring generations of athletes, earning her induction into the IVCA Hall of Fame. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE - MARK HABERKORN

Mark Haberkorn is one of Illinois’ most accomplished high school volleyball coaches, with more than 40 years leading programs at Lostant and LaSalle‑Peru. His career includes 1,092 wins, 25 regional titles, and three state tournament appearances, making him the third-winningest coach in Illinois girls’ volleyball history. A 2021–22 IHSA State Coach of the Year and member of multiple halls of fame, Haberkorn built a legacy of discipline, consistency, and player development that elevated LaSalle‑Peru to statewide prominence. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE - PATTY LANGANIS

Patty Langanis has shaped Illinois volleyball for more than 30 years as head coach at Cary-Grove High School. Since leading the Trojans to their first regional title in 1994, she has guided the program to over 730 wins, including the 2009 IHSA Class 4A State Championship—the school’s first state title in any sport. Her teams earned back-to-back runner-up finishes (2010, 2011) and a third-place finish in 2016. A former Iowa Hawkeye setter, Langanis has developed 63 collegiate athletes and inspired future coaches statewide. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE - SANDY GRIFFIN

Sandy Griffin guided Red Bud High School for 29 seasons, compiling a 602-294-5 record and shaping the sport during its formative years. Her teams claimed 17 regional and seven sectional titles, four super-sectionals, and four state appearances, including third-place finishes in 1974 and 2002. Griffin also led Red Bud Elementary to multiple SIJHSA podium finishes, building a pipeline of talent. Inducted into the Illinois Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991 and Red Bud Musketeer Boosters Association Inaugural Hall of Fame in 2025, her enduring impact is honored with Red Bud’s gym bearing her name. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEE - SUE ELLEN HAAK

Sue Ellen Haak has been a cornerstone of New Trier High School’s volleyball program since 1998, leading the boys’ team as head coach since 2001. A former setter at Niles North High School and Bethel College, she began her coaching journey at Plainfield High School before joining New Trier. Under her leadership, the team has made nine state tournament appearances, including six consecutive from 2013 to 2019, and earned five top-four finishes. With over 635 career wins, Coach Haak credits her success to the talented athletes, dedicated assistants like Dick Dreis and Evan Hsieh, and the strong support system at New Trier. Her faith, family—especially her husband David and children Will and Ellie—and the legacy of her parents have been central to her enduring coaching journey. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEE - HELEN DULLE

Helen Dulle was a pioneer for girls’ sports in the State of Illinois.  Helen coached for Sacred Heart-Griffin (originally Sacred Heart which merged with Griffin in 1988-1989) and accumulated 933 wins, 27 city titles, 21 regional championships, 19 sectional championships and 5 fourth-place finishes in 12 state appearances. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEE - CHRISTINE GUINTA-MAYER

Achieving more than 550 career wins and coaching five state title teams, Christine Giunta-Mayer has developed a boys volleyball dynasty in Illinois. Under her leadership as head coach, the Hilltoppers won five State Championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023). Coach Giunta-Mayer was named Volleyball Magazine National Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2023; awarded the MaxPreps National High School Boys Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2022; and recognized as the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2023. In 2020, she was inducted into the Micho Illinois Volleyball Hall of Fame. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024 INDUCTEE - KRIS FIORE

Kris Fiore has been the Head Boys Volleyball Coach at Lincoln-Way East H.S. since 2009 and was the Head Girls coach from 2016-2022. Kris’s coaching career began at South Hamilton High School in Iowa after playing multiple years for the Iowa State University Men’s Club team.

Coach Fiore has won more than 600 matches as a head coach, including state titles in 2014 and 2018, and he was named National Boys Volleyball Coach of the Year by Volleyballmag.com in 2018. His Lincoln-Way East rosters have sent over 50 student athletes on to play college volleyball, including 13 at the Division 1 level. Read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE –ABBY MCDONALD

Abby McDonald has been a part of the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball program for the last eighteen years. Since taking over the head coaching position in 2008, she has recorded 417 wins and 95 losses.

With her at the helm, SJO has 9 IHSA Regional titles, and 2 IHSA Sectional and Super-Sectional titles. The program has 2 IHSA State Final finishes: 2nd place in 2016 and 3rd place in 2019. Her program has an overall win percentage of .815 and consistently finds success in a very competitive region in Central Illinois.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE – Fred Rakers

Fred Rakers is the father of Mater Dei Volleyball. Coach Rakers served as the head coach of the program from its inception in 1977 through the 2010 season.

Fred and his wife, Rosie, were the lifeblood of the Mater Dei program. He handed the program over to his son and current coach, Chad Rakers, to keep the program thriving.

During Fred’s 34 years as the head coach for Mater Dei he compiled a record of 1046-200, while claiming 6 State Titles, 14 State Trophies, and another 20 state appearances.

Fred bled blue for Mater Dei and lived everyday with a smile on his face and passion in his heart for his family, his friends, and above all his players.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE – JIM COOK

Jim Cook started his coaching career in 1995 after replacing Diane Marsh. In 1996, Coach Cook took the Lady Cougars to the State Tournament in his second season in which they won the State Title and finished with a 36-3 record. After making it to the Elite Eight the following year, the Lady Cougars and Cook brought home a 3rd Place State Trophy in 1999 with a 35-8 record. Cook and the Cougars made another state trip in 2003 to the Elite Eight with a 29-12 record.

The Lady Cougars had their best run between the 2005, 2006, & 2007 seasons when they won two State Titles and a Runner Up in the ‘06 campaign. They finished 103-24 those three seasons. Central went back to the State Tournament in 2010 with a 2nd Place finish and the following year with a 3rd Place Trophy.

Cook's final state run came in 2013 when his program finished 36-6 and took home another 3rd Place trophy. During Coach Cook's 21 seasons, the Lady Cougars won over 30 matches 11 times and at least 20 matches in 19 of those seasons.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE – JULIA HUDSON

There have been only three head coaches at Lockport since the school began playing girls volleyball in 1980. Julia Hudson was the first, and her impact continues to be felt even today. "I would be nowhere near the woman I am today without Ms. Hudson," said former Lockport and Loyola star Mary Sarna. "The life lessons she taught me and my teammates... we talk about to this day."

Hudson's career included more than 600 wins and eight IHSA quarter final appearances. Her 1993 team finished 40-3 and defeated Downers Grove South, 15-9, 15-4, to win the Class A state championship. Her teams also finished second, third (twice) and fourth. Hudson won 23 regional titles and finished with a career record of 857-371-3 during her 32-year career.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE – KATIE McCULLEY

Katie McCulley has been the Head Coach at Springfield Lutheran High School for 17 years. Coach McCulley has a long history of winning in the sport of volleyball. She took over the reins of a winning Lutheran High program in 2007 after being the assistant coach at SIU-Edwardsville for 2 years. She has amassed 20+ win seasons in 15 of her 17 seasons. She took her team to back-to-back IHSA State 3rd Place finishes in 2010 and 2011. She was honored as the IHSA Coach of the year after their 2011 state appearance. She was the first coach in the central Illinois area to garner such an award.

The Lutheran High Crusaders were back at the state tournament in 2021 claiming 4th place. The amazing part about that squad was that the entire roster was returning for the 2022 season! That year’s version of Lutheran Crusader Volleyball was primed for success after a final four finish. This meant that the expectations followed in the same way. Every game they played that season, meant that the other team was playing to knock off one of the top teams in the state. This also meant the pressure on these young ladies was at an all-time high. CLICK HERE to read more.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE – NAN AIROLA

Nan Airola started coaching the Providence Catholic High School girls volleyball program in 1973 until her retirement from the school in 2010.

As Head coach for 37 years, her overall coaching record was 918-319. In her career, Providence Catholic won 15 Conference titles, 22 Regional Championships, and 5 Sectional Championships. Coach Airola and Providence Volleyball also made 3 State appearances; 2 Elite Eight finishes (‘78,’95) and 1-Third Place Finish (1988). Under her leadership of the program, 30 of 37 seasons finished with 20+ wins and 9 seasons finished with 30+ wins.

Nan received several Coach of the Year awards and has been inducted into four different High School Volleyball Hall of Fames.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE – TONYA GRAYSON

Tonya Grayson served as the Head Volleyball Coach at Newark High School for 21 seasons (2001 - 2021) and has coached girls volleyball for 28 years. During her tenure as Head Coach at Newark, Tonya put together an overall record of 555 wins and 169 losses, including an overall Little 10 Conference record of 163-8. Her teams won 18 Conference Championships and 18 Conference Tournament Championships in 21 seasons.

Coach Grayson and the Lady Norsemen made three back-to-back trips to the State Finals, finishing in 4th place in 2017, and winning back-to-back State Championships in 2018 and 2019. She was honored as the IHSA Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2019, was inducted into the Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Illinois Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame and will be inducted into the Newark High School Hall of Fame in January 2024.

Tonya joined up with other coaches in 2021 to revive the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association and currently serves as President for the IVCA. She has loved volleyball from the 5th grade, playing through Jr. High, High School, College, and then becoming a coach. One of the great privileges of her life is coaching and giving back to the volleyball program at Newark High School where she attended and played volleyball herself. She started and ran the Champion Volleyball Camps program for numerous years.

Tonya continues to teach at Newark High School and also owns and runs her own home bakery business. Volleyball and baking are her lifelong passions that bring a great deal of joy to her. Volleyball will continue to be a passion that she pursues in the years ahead. Tonya and her husband have been married for 11 years and reside in Millington, IL.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 INDUCTEE –CHRIS COOPER

2023 marks 21 seasons as the Boys Head Coach at Glenbrook North for Chris, with an overall record of 562 wins and 151 losses. In his career, Glenbrook North has 18 CSL Conference Titles; 16 IHSA Regionals; 4 IHSA Sectionals; and 4 IHSA State Final Finishes: 2nd place – 2004 and 2012, Elite Eight – 2008, and State Champions – 2021.

Chris is also in his 14th season as the Girls Head Coach at Glenbrook South with an overall record of 252 wins and 135 losses. They have earned 10 CSL Conference Titles and 5 IHSA Regionals.

IVCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 INDUCTEE - ANGIE WINTER

Angie Winter coached at Scales Mound from the mid-90s until she retired in 2011. Angie bravely battled breast cancer for nearly 25 years while she continued to coach for the first 15 years of that battle. She retired because her health no longer permitted her to give the time and energy needed to coach. She was a dedicated coach always working to get the most out of her athletic teams. With only 60-75 kids in the high school, Angie made no excuses and found a way to consistently make Scales Mound athletics competitive year after year. In 2010, Angie led her team of nine players to the IHSA 1A State Final game. Angie is an incredible example of what it means to coach with love and compassion while also instilling a competitive spirit in her players. She coached because she loved volleyball, loved her players, and loved her town. Angie lost her battle this past spring and is greatly missed by the Scales Mound volleyball community but her impact and legacy continue to be felt.