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...
Friday, May 7 results
Friday, May 7 results Glenbrook North def. Vernon Hills 25-23, 25-16Vernon Hills (9-1 overall, 4-0 in the Central Suburban North): Kevin Schumacher (8 assists), Jax Goldufsky (6 digs, 1 ace), Jack McDonald (7 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs), Tony Mischiara (3 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs), Anthony Viviano (1 kill, 1 block), Josh Ludolph (4 kills, 2 blocks), Ryan Ellis (1 kill, 2 blocks), Noah Ellis (5 assists). Glenbrook North (7-0 overall, 4-0 in the Central Suburban South): Paul Wyszynski (8 digs), Ryan Trout (1 kill), Louie Batang (20 assists, 2 ki...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Sandburg makes Lincoln-Way East work overtime for share of conference title
(Photos of Wednesday's South Suburban Conference match between Bremen and Shepard by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comFor Lincoln-Way East, boys volleyball conference titles are old hat.But this one is extra special.Wednesday in Frankfort, the Griffins rallied past Sandburg, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, to clinch at least a share of the Southwest Suburban Conference championship. It's the 12th conference championship for Lincoln-Way East since the league formed in the fall of 2005. But it's also the Griffins’ first since wi...
Thursday, May 27 results
(Photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, May 27 results Bartlett def. Glenbard East 19-25, 25-20, 25-17 Belleville East def Edwardsville 25-23, 25-19Edwardsville (9-1 overall, 7-1 in the Southwestern Conference): Preston Weaver (3 service points, 18 assists, 10 digs), Evan Reid (2 service points, 5 kills), Jacob Geisen (3 service points, 1 ace, 5 kills, 9 digs), Tyler Chrenka (14 digs), Kaden Chiapelli (1 service point, 7 kills, 6 digs), Miles Bell (4 kills, 0.800 hitting percentage), John Kreke (4 service points, 1 ace, 4 kills, 0.800 hitti...
Hinsdale Central's game speed just a little too quick for Timothy Christian
Timothy Christian, which is only in its second full year of fielding a varsity team, features seniors (from left) Ben Tameling, Josh Loerop, Andrew Sheehan, Jason Westra and Kyle Teune. Timothy Christian’s schedule hasn’t exactly prepared the Trojans for what they’ll see on the other side of the net when the IHSA tournament begins in two weeks.“Adequate competition,” is what Timothy Christian coach David Barker calls his team’s slate of conference opponents.So while Wednesday’s 25-18, 25-15 loss at Hinsdale Central – the first time Timoth...
Thursday, May 6 results
Thursday, May 6 results Barrington def. Schaumburg 25-23, 25-12Barrington (7-1 overall, 5-0 in the Mid-Suburban West).Bartlett def. West Chicago 25-11, 25-10West Chicago (2-2 overall, 2-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference): Matt Stavenger (5 kills, 1 block), Ethan Martins (6 assists).Benet def. Notre Dame 25-18, 25-23Benet (7-1 overall).Carmel def. Nazareth 25-12, 25-10Carmel (6-1 overall, 3-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Matt Herron (15 kills, 6 aces), Andersen Ptasienski (7 kills), Bobby Szamocki (15 assists, 2 aces), Mario Du...