Glenbard East's 6-4 junior rightside Danny Overlin (18) sat out Wednesday's loss at St. Francis after suffering a severe ankle sprain in a recent match against Naperville Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat drives St. Francis?Intensity, said 6-2 junior libero JT McCormick.“Intensity has always driven us,” McCormick said. “Whenever we’re up, whenever we’re loud, we tend to score the points that are necessary to win. When our intensity is up, so is our play.”Togetherness, said 6-5 junior setter Kyle Zedi...
Monday, May 15 results
Loyola Academy won the Mike Hulett Spring Fling tournament last weekend. Monday, May 15 resultsCrete -Monee def. Shepard 25-23, 19-25, 25-16Shepard (12-17 overall, 6-2 in the South Suburban Conference).Loyola Academy def. Providence 25-12, 25-18Loyola Academy (28-5 overall, 9-0 in the Chicago Catholic League): Ben Trapp (4 kills, 3 aces), Jack Lopez (9 kills), Jake Balata (2 kills), Charlie Gervasio (4 kills), Liam Uruba (6 kills), Ryan Toomey (2 kills), Nathan Chi (18 assists, 3 aces), Stef Kins (10 digs).Note: Loyola Academy clinches at l...
Lake Park sneaks past South Elgin in postseason warm-up for the two league champs
Lake Park finished the regular season with a 29-27, 27-25 victory over South Elgin on Wednesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s never too late to learn a valuable volleyball lesson.Lesson No. 1? Don’t ever give up.“The momentum we've had coming out of the last few games of the regular season, we just need to bring that into regionals,” said Lake Park’s 6-5 sophomore middle hitter Carter Gibbons. “We need to come out fighting, especially on our home court.”Lesson No. 2? Finish what you start.“We were in control in both games, but...
Feeling the pain is Barrington’s gain; IHSA quarterfinal pairings flush with drama
Barrington's 6-11 junior Cole Hartke missed three weeks and 11 matches due to injury, but has returned to help lead the Broncos to Friday's IHSA quarterfinals. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFighting the pain.Barrington talks about it every day.Two years ago, No. 2-seeded Barrington lost its regional opener to No. 18 Addison Trail, 25-17, 25-21. Last year, Barrington, arguably the second-best team in the tournament field, fell to eventual IHSA champion Glenbard West, 22-25, 25-13, 25-18, in the finals of ...
Tuesday, May 16 results
Morton is working to overcome the loss of senior setter Oswaldo Guzman (back row, fourth from right) to an ankle injury last week. Tuesday, May 16 resultsBellleville Althoff def. Metro East Lutheran 25-12, 25-7Bellleville Althoff (26-6 overall): Nick Jansen (8 kills, 10 aces, 7 digs), Ethan Karban (14 assists).Brother Rice def. St. Rita 25-11, 25-22Brother Rice (27-7 overall, 8-1 in the Chicago Catholic League): Shauniel Nelson (7 kills, 1 ace, 1 block), Brendan McCarthy (6 kills, 1 block), Luke Dwyer (23 assists, 1 ace).Downers Grove Nort...
Thursday, May 18 results
Adan Cruz (1) and Morton are scheduled to close out the regular season at home Friday against St. Laurence. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Thursday, May 18 resultsBelleville Althoff def. Collinsville 25-21, 25-11Belleville Althoff (27-6 overall).Benet Academy def. Glenbard East 25-20, 25-21Benet (24-11 overall, 6-2 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference): Dominic Krzeczkowski (20 kills), Aris Maurukas (7 kills), Marty Radgowski (3 kills), Thomas Galbraith (1 kill), Jacob Olejnik (23 assists), Reed Hefley (10 assists), Ryan Mitra (10 digs).B...
Joliet Catholic’s big bounce back betters Glenbard South at Willowbrook invite
Glenbard South junior outside hitter Ben Zima (far right) had 11 kills in the championship match Saturday at Willowbrook, but it wasn't enuogh as Joliet Catholic prevailed, 25-19, 25-20. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorJoliet Catholic’s Zach Pekol waxed philosophic when asked about the inevitable end of the high school careers he and his twin brother, Luke, have enjoyed these past three years.“It's definitely bittersweet that everything is coming to an end, but I'm really excited that I have the opportunity to...
Reavis closes in on SSC Red title; OPRF rally leaves Downers North feeling sick
Downers Grove North's Theo Pawlik (6) had 16 kills, but Oak Park-River Forest rallied to defeat the Trojans in three sets Tuesday in Downers Grove. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) At ReavisFor Reavis, the prospect of winning the Red Division of the South Suburban Conference is, well … scary.‘Trying to win the conference is terrifying,” said Reavis sophomore outside hitter Joey Walus. “Every team wants to beat us, but we're not going to allow it.”True to his word, Walus smashed the match-winning kill as Reavis held off visiting Richards, 25-19...
Thursday, May 4 results
Chicago Christian finished second at last weekend's tournament at Ridgewood. SHOP OUTLET ITEMS FOR UP TO 40% OFF AT WILSON! HTTPS://WILSON.SJV.IO/C/2340877/1616671/9003 Thursday, May 4 resultsBarrington def. Schaumburg 25-17, 25-14Barrington (20-4 overall, 7-1 in the Mid-Suburban West): Eli Rodda (3 kills, 2 digs, 1 assist, 1 block), Quinn Kozak (8 kills, 5 digs, 1 block), Carsten Wegh (21 assists, 4 aces, 3 digs, 2 blocks, 2 kills), Marc Gryzlo (2 digs), Gavin Rohlwing (3 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs, 1 assist), Matt Louis (2 kills, 2 b...
Bellleville East looking for Chicago-area boys’ tournament
2023 Belleville East Lancers Belleville East is looking to get into a tournament in the Chicago area in the first couple weekends in April next season. Belleville East is 29-3-2 this season and features 6-1 junior outside hitter August Werner (295 kills hitting .282 this season), 6-3 sophomore Jackson Byers (109 kills hitting .433) and 5-7 junior libero Kamden Dejournett and projects as the top team on the Illinois side of the St. Louis metro area next season. Coaches/athletic directors/tournament directors can contact Joe Nesbit, Bell...