St. Rita is in the midst of a brutal stretch of games that includes Sandburg, Glenbard West, Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way West and St. Francis. Zach Carroll came off the floor looking like he had just run an ultra marathon. “I'm very exhausted,” he said.He had reason to be.The 6-foot-3 outside hitter and his St. Rita teammates laid it all on the line through the first two sets of their non-conference match Thursday at Glenbard West, leading 25-20, 14-11, and seemingly on the verge of a huge win heading into the IHSA tournament in 11 da...
Two weeks later, Barrington (minus a starter or four) gets back on the court
Barrington was in quarantine for two weeks due to the pandemic, then played three times in 24 hours minus any practice, 6-7 junior Jack O'Riordan, two starting junior middle hitters and a freshman outside hitter in a squeaker Saturday against Schaumburg. https://youtu.be/hcbZ6LM3Lss It was a recipe for disaster.Two weeks without touching a ball while in quarantine. Arguably your best player in Las Vegas playing in a club tournament. Three conference games in less than 24 hours, including back-to-back matches on Saturday with one mat...
Friday, May 21 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Friday, May 21 resultsCarmel def. Antioch 25-17, 25-23Carmel (12-2 overall, 5-2 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Andersen Ptasienski (12 kills, 1 block), Timmy Harvey (4 kills), Dylan Franada (4 kills), Zach Marcheschi (3 kills), Tommy Sulfridge (2 kills), Mario Durnil (24 assists), Ryan Hogan (14 digs, 2 aces).Fremd def. Barrington 25-16, 19-25, 25-14Fremd (9-3 overall, 8-1 in the Mid-Suburban West): Aaron Sallade (10 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs), Greg Harmon (5 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks), Camden Seaver (9 kills, ...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Michio Chicago VBA 2021 'Team(s) of the Year'
Would Benet have won its fifth Class 4A title in 10 years had not the fall season been postponed and the spring season shortened by the pandemic? We'll never know, but after watching the Redwings defeat Mother McAuley, which was unbeaten at the time, and later Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament finals, you would have to like their chances. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The IHSA wouldn’t decide. There were no statewide polls to settle matters. Nobody drew straws or flipped a coin. Ask most fans and/or media, and you are u...
Thursday, May 20 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, May 20 results Bartlett def. Fenton 25-19, 25-10Bartlett (15-1 overall, 5-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference).Benet def. Marian Catholic 25-8, 25-13Benet (14-2 overall, 6-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference).Downers Grove North def. Proviso West 25-15, 25-21Downers Grove North (6-6 overall, 3-4 in the West Suburban Silver). Fremd def. Palatine 25-17, 25-21Palatine: Bobby Widlowski (6 kills, 1 ace, 7 digs), Jackson Wheat (1 block, 1 ace), Eli Sherman (18 assists), Borowiec (2 kills, 3 digs).Glenbard...
Monday, May 24 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Monday, May 24 resultsBartlett def. Huntley 25-13, 25-16Bartlett (16-1 overall, 5-0 in the DuKane Conference).Huntley (5-11 overall).Belleville Althoff def. Alton Marquette 25-20, 25-16Belleville Althoff (6-4 overall).Alton Marquette (8-5 overall).Carmel def. Grant 25-21, 25-23Carmel (13-2 overall, 5-2 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Matt Herron (7 kills), Andersen Ptasienski (6 kills, 1 ace, 6 digs), Will Niese (5 kills), Timmy Harvey (3 kills, 2 blocks), Mario Durnil (10 assists), Bobby Szamocki (10 assi...
Rosenow brothers leading Oswego on long road back from unscheduled break
Plainfield Central needed a few more balls to bounce its way Thursday at Oswego, said coach Robert Richardson. Oswego junior libero Alex Rosenow was kidded that he got short-changed in the height department, checking in at a good 6 inches shorter than his brother, Ben.But Alex countered that he does have bragging rights in at least one area.“I’m three minutes older,” Alex said.The Rosenows, two-thirds of a set of triplets (brother Sam opted to play golf rather than follow his brothers’ lead), both came up big this week for Oswego, leading...
St. Francis fights off match point, rallies to defeat Marist in clash of state's best
Despite 19 kills from Nyherowo Omene (far left), 2019 defending state champion Marist suffered its first loss of the season Monday at St. Francis, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17. https://youtu.be/pyvKiba5MLs By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSt. Francis middle hitter Aiden Benson and Marist outside hitter Nyherowo Omene had never played against each other in a high school match.The two have faced each other in club and this year are teammates on Sports Performance’s top-ranked 18 Elite team, a squad that also features St. Francis setter K...
Lockport defeats Homewood-Flossmoor, in position to make a little history
Lockport coach Nick Mraz has the Porters in position to win their first-ever conference title, but even if the Porters win out, they may need some help. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSince the Southwest Suburban Conference was formed in the fall of 2005, Lockport has never won or shared a league title in boys’ volleyball.But the Porters are in a position to do that now. Lockport defeated Homewood-Flossmoor, 25-14, 25-19, Thursday in Flossmoor to maintain a share of first place in the nine-team league.The Porters (10-2, 6-1), w...
Glenbrook North feels the energy late, hands Vernon Hills its first loss
Vernon Hills took a 9-0 record into its Central Suburban League crossover Friday at Glenbrook North, and left with its first loss of the young season, 25-23, 25-16. What makes Glenbrook North so good?“We’re high energy,” said the Spartans’ 5-foot-10 senior setter Louie Batang. “We thrive on energy. Any energy. When we get big bounces, big blocks, anything we can do, we use that. We use that momentum.”Vernon Hills pulled the plug on that energy throughout much of the first set and through the first half of the second, but once Glenbrook Nort...