The Latest 1st Alliance Volleyball Club/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Rankings

Eric Epenesa and Edwardsville will host Southwestern Conference rival O'Fallon Tuesday. (photos by Dave Ruggles) Marty Jepsen and Marist repeated as Smack Attack champions, beating Glenbard West in the finals for the second time in two years. Meanwhile, Oak Park defeated Barrington to win the Richard Griesheim Invitational at Downers Grove South, and Palatine only dropped one set while winning its own invite. Next up: the Lincoln-Way East tournament. Here are the top 25 teams heading into Week Six. (previous ranking in parentheses...

Richard Griesheim Invitational at Downers Grove South

Thursday, April 18 Results At Downers Grove South No. 10 Loyola def. No. 21 Glenbard East 25-13, 25-15Loyola (17-4 overall): Jack Howard (12 kills), Henry Clmons (8 kills), Gavin Elliott (3 kills, 2 blocks), John Hitt (24 assists), Ryan Merk (16 digs, 3 aces). No. 10 Loyola def. Evanston 25-21, 25-12Loyola (18-4 overall): Jack Howard (13 kills), Henry Clemons (10 kills), Gavin Elliott (4 kills), John Hitt (21 assists), Ryan Merk (14 digs, 2 aces). No. 17 Barrington def. Naperville North 25-17, 25-19No. 17 Barrington def. Gle...

Vasquez setting up winners for Barrington; Downers Grove South stuns Rockford Boylan

Gabe Hartke led Barrington with 17 kills Thursday at Downers Grove South. (photo by Dave Ruggles) Barrington’s Kyle Vasquez has not set a ball in anger since his freshman year. He is better known as one of the top liberos in the Class of 2019 and has committed to play volleyball at Benedictine University, ranked No. 5 in the nation in Division III. But after the Broncos struggled through the first half of the season despite returning four starters from last year’s 34-6 IHSA quarterfinalist, Vasquez was pressed into duty at the reins of the ...

Thursday, April 18 Results

Thursday, April 18 Results Bolingbrook def. Homewood-Flossmoor 25-17, 25-11Homewood-Flossmoor (5-12): Chin Okpukpara-Hanson (3 kills), Kenyon Haynes (7 assists), Avery Cole-Danner (3 digs). Grayslake North def. North Chicago 25-17, 25-15Grayslake North (10-7 overall, 3-2 in the Northern Lake County): Nathan Atwell (5 kills, 3 digs, 1 block), Nicholas LeBaron (2 kills, 8 digs, 1 ace), Ein Atwater (2 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks), Teddy Gedville (10 assists, 3 kills, 7 digs, 1 block), Sam Inmon (13 digs), Rowdy Kram (3 digs). Lemont def. Ar...

Wednesday, April 17 Results

Wednesday, April 17 Results Cristo Rey Jesuit def. Holy Trinity 25-9, 25-6 Downers Grove North def. Benet 25-16, 20-25, 25-15Downers Gove North (9-4 overall): Fred Halper (18 digs), Griffen Liszka (12 kills, 9 digs), Dan Eckmann (8 kills), Ben Thompson (25 assists), Dan Testin (2 aces). No. 21 Glenbard East def. Downers Grove South 25-17, 25-22Glenbard East (12-5 overall, 3-0 in the Upstate Eight): Jack Wozniak (4 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks), Cal Iwinski (3 kills, 4 blocks), Nick Obrien (6 digs, 1 ace), Brenden Cardott (8 assists), Patri...

Where are the Illinois high school top boys’ volleyball recruits headed? (updated 4/28)

Loyola's Jack Howard is headed to Penn State next fall. (photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top boys players in Illinois who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. If you are a coach, club director or parent and know of a player who should be on this list, please contact us at Illprepvb@gmail.com. Class of 2019 Ryne Anders, 5-7, L, Oswego/Club 1, Loras CollegeMarc Arsenault, 6-5, OH, Plainfield Central/Club 1 Volleyball Club, Siena Heights UniversityHunter Bailey, 6-7, MH, ...

Papes powers ‘underrated’ Providence past Andrew in potential Smack Attack preview

Michael "Ike" Papes of Providence (No. 99 shown here playing for UNO Boys 18 Elite during the Winter Volleyball Championships at McCormick Place in January) had 10 kills in the Celtics' win over Andrew. (photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't sleep on the Celtics.Ike Papes pounded a match-high 10 kills and added 10 digs and 2 aces as Providence pulled away down the stretch in both sets to defeat Andrew, 25-22, 25-22, in a southside clash between up-and-coming programs Tuesday in New Lenox.With the victory, the...

Tuesday, April 16 Results

Tuesday, April 16 Results Addison Trail def. Proviso East 25-13, 25-11Addison Trail (6-12, overall, 2-1 n the West Suburban Gold): Giany Patano (8 kills), Filippo Cacucciolo (4 kills, 3 aces), Joe Mosny (4 kills), Enzo Ciaccia (3 kills, 2 aces), JT Daniels (3 kills), Nico Nasti (23 assists, 1 ace). No. 17 Barrington def. Conant 25-21, 25-19Barrington (11-6 overall, 4-1 in the Mid-Suburban West): Gabe Hartke (11 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks, 4 digs), Ben Ridgway (7 kills, 1 block), Ricky Gibson (4 kills), Luke Hartke (3 kills), Ved Anand (3 k...