Kehoe is key to Oswego's comeback; Downers North rides Schuller past Neuqua

Oswego's Anthony Ramirez (6) had 4 kills in the Panthers' regional semifinal win over Naperville North in a Downers Grove North regional semifinal Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSometimes it takes more than a powerful outside hitter or a strong blocking middle making play after play to turn a match around.Sometimes it takes a 5-foot-6 defensive specialist.After his team dropped an error-plagued first set to Naperville North, Oswego 5-6 junior Connor Kehoe toed the service line to begin the second.B...

Late for graduation? 'No way,' says Tomaszewski. Lockport also advances

Logan Clarida (20) and his Lincoln-Way West teammates will meet Lockport for a regional title Thursday after they defeated Plainfield North in a semifinal Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDon't be late!Andrew Tomaszewski made sure the Lincoln-Way West seniors weren't to their graduation.Tomaszewski, a senior setter, served an ace on match point as the Warriors avenged a season-opening loss to Plainfield North by toppling the Tigers, 25-22, 25-23, Tuesday in the opening semifinal of the Lockport Regiona...

Tuesday, May 24 results

The high school careers of these Wheaton Warrenville South seniors ended Tuesday in a 25-13, 25-17 loss to Hinsdale Central. IHSA Boys High School Volleyball TournamentTuesday, May 24 results (in bracket order)At De La Salle SectionalAt St. Rita RegionalMonday, May 23 Dunbar def. Kenwood 25-18, 25-22Hancock def. Phillips 25-8, 25-20Lindblom def. Noble/UIC 27-25, 20-25, 25-20Tuesday, May 24St. Rita def. Dunbar 25-6, 25-7Hancock def. Lindblom 25-23, 25-18Thursday, May 26St. Rita vs. Hancock, 6:00 p.m.At Cristo Rey Jesuit RegionalMonday, Ma...

Monday, May 23 tournament results

Morton (20-10), seeded No. 4 in the DeLaSalle sectional, will play the winner of the Noble/Mansueto vs. Catalyst/Maria game Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Catalyst/Maria. IHSA Boys High School Volleyball TournamentMonday, May 23 results (in bracket order)At De La Salle Sectional At St. Rita RegionalDunbar def. Kenwood 25-18, 25-22Hancock def. Phillips 25-8, 25-20Lindblom def. Noble/UIC 27-25, 20-25, 25-20 At Cristo Rey Jesuit RegionalJuarez def. Tilden 25-23, 25-7Jones def. Horizon/Southwest 25-7, 25-13Cristo Rey Jesuit def. Hyde Park 25-1...

Marist is right back where they (almost) started from in Michio/Illprepvb rankings

Can Sandburg spring some upsets in the IHSA tournament like it did by beating Lyons for fifth place at Richards? (Photo by Dave Ruggles) In the immortal words of The Great One, “And away we go.” The IHSA tournament kicks off Monday at 32 regional sites across Illinois. Leading the hopefuls is Marist, which returns to the No. 1 ranking after a three-week absence following its victory over Glenbard West on May 12.Unlike most regular-season tournaments that afford the better teams a greater opportunity to meet further down the bracket t...

Friday, May 20 results

Friday, May 20 resultsMundelein def. Grayslake Central 25-22, 25-16Mundelein (24-8 overall, 6-1 in the North Suburban Conference): Tyler Vrska (9 digs, 1 assist), Pablo Escobar (1 ace, 1 dig), Matthew Kawa (1 ace, 9 assists), Quentin Wright (2 kills, 1 dig), Samay Prajapati (1 kill, 1 block, 3 digs, 1 assist), Ryan McElligott (8 kills, 2 blocks, 5 aces, 2 digs, 11 assists), Martin Sahagun (2 kills, 1 dig), Jordan Schneckloth (7 kills, 1 ace, 2 digs), August Holsman (2 kills, 2 digs). Sandburg def. Providence 25-27, 25-20, 25-15Sandburg (18-17 ...

Staying in touch with sport he loves, lifelong friendships keep Febonio in the game

Mark Febonio (right), seen here conversing with fellow official Dave Harlan, has been officiating Illinois high school volleyball for 24 years. He says he will continue to officiate volleyball after his job takes him to California this summer. Editor's note: The IHSA tournament gets underway Monday, so we thought we'd begin by taking a look at one of the people who make the tournament possible. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMark Febonio didn’t get the chance to play high school volleyball while he was growing up in Massachusett...

'Don't make Jack mad,' said Wegh. So Barrington tops Buffalo Grove for MSL title

West winner Barrington repeated as Mid-Suburban League champion Thursday, outlasting East winner Buffalo Grove in Barrington. https://youtu.be/rZEqqiYHHdI By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s junior setter Carsten Wegh only had one thing on his mind late in the third set of the Mid-Suburban League championship game Thursday.Maybe two things.“I was just trying not to mess up,” Wegh said. “I was trying to get a good ball. Jack (O’Riordan) was pretty fiery, so I was trying to not make him mad.”Trailing 22-20, West division ch...

Thursday, May 19 results

Plainfield East's Jace Milka (4) slips a kill past a pair of Hinsdale South defenders Saturday at the Richards tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, May 19 results Lincoln-Way East def. Chicago Christian 25-18, 25-19Lincoln-Way East (29-6 overall, 8-0 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Jerry Moylan (26 assists), Jared Byas (8 kills, 10 digs), Tyler Walenga (8 kills), Jon Guch (7 kills), Jordan Hicks (6 kills).Lockport def. Homewood-Flossmoor 25-11, 25-20Lockport (27-8 overall, 5-3 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Evan D...

Tuesday, May 17 results

Lyons' Sam Levinson (8) slaps a kill past a pair of Sandburg defenders Saturday at the Richards tournament. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Tuesday, May 17 results Benet def. Marian Catholic 25-17, 25-15Benet (25-9 overall, 7-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Owen Oei (6 kills), Drew Rogers (5 kills, 10 digs), Peter Shanley (6 kills), James Buffardi (4 kills, 9 digs), Kovas Neverauskas 6 kills), Ryan Treacy (2 aces, 2 kills), Jimmy Karnick (4 digs, 1 kill).Chicago Christian def. St. Edward 25-14, 25-21Chicago Christian (25-4 overall, ...