Same old song: another year and nothing has been done to address disparities

Downers Grove South and New Trier locked horns in an IHSA quarterfinal at Hoffman Estates in 2022. The road to Hoffman in 2023 is laden with pitfall for both teams, while it's just an easy pass away for others whose main qualification is geography. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHey, boys’ volleyball fans, once again it’s time to play, “Pick the Winner.”Can you pick the winner of the Jones College Prep sectional?Acero/Garcia, Acero/Soto, Chicago Military Academy-Bronzeville, Hope Academy, Cristo Rey J...

Tagtmeyer stands tall as Plainfield East makes short work of Bolingbrook

Bolingbrook junior middle hitter Jacqson LeSure (13) had 3 kills, but the Raiders fell to Plainfield East in a nonconference match Wednesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Plainfield East's Thomas Tagtmeyer By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPlainfield East setter Thomas Tagtmeyer isn’t going to intimidate anyone with his height.The junior is listed at 5-foot-8, though he noted that he stands “5-9 in shoes.”That height might be merely average, but there was nothing average about his play Wednesday.Tagtmeyer did a masterful...

Saturday, April 15 results

Lincoln-Way East middle hitter Joey Glennon (14) was named to the all-tournament team Saturday at the Wheaton Wasrrenville South Tiger Classic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Saturday, April 15 results At Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic Barrington def. Lincoln-Way East 25-18, 25-19 (championship)Barrington (13-2 overall, 4-0 in the Mid-Suburban West): Carsten Wegh (10 assists, 4 digs, 1 ace), John Sun (2 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace), Adrian Wu (6 assists, 1 dig), Quinn Kozak (3 kills), Gavin Rohlwing (1 kill, ...

The Connors are a hit for Lincoln-Way West; Brother Rice rides the middle road

Stevenson's Ramiz Izzatov (14) slaps a kill past Lincoln-Way West's Connor Studer (9) and Will Pluskota (10) during the championship match of the Joliet West invite. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comComing off of its first loss of the season, Lincoln-Way West was looking to play more consistently. Connor squared made sure the Warriors did just that.Outside hitters Connor Studer and Connor Jaral combined for 26 kills and both earned all-tournament honors as Lincoln-Way West outlasted Stevenson, 25-16, 2...

Feeling 'free and easy,' 1st Alliance 18 Silver rules first weekend of power league

Now that's how you celebrate a point! Mission 17 Elite libero Delaney Molloy (8) tests her vertical, much to the delight of her teammates. Mission 17 Elite went 3-0 on Saturday to move up to Bracket B and finished the weekend 4-2 during Windy City Power League 18/17 Open division play at the Energy Sports Complex in Niles. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAt this still-way-too-early stage of the girls’ club season, many teams remain in a “Getting to know you” stage.1st Alliance 18 Silver is no different. Only five players return from...

Pipeline throws a wrench into Adversity 16 Adidas-South works at 2nd City Showdown

Adversity 16 Adidas-South rebounded from an early loss to Pipeline 16-1 to go 2-1 in Power Pool 1 at the 2nd City Showdown on Saturday. https://youtu.be/CjZLTQ90xMQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor It was a mixed bag for the locals Saturday in the 16 Open division at the 2nd City Showdown played at the CSO Sports Multiplex on East 43rd Street on Chicago’s south side.Top-seeded Adversity 16 Adidas-South, which came into play 38-3, finished 2-1 in Power Pool 1, losing its opener to Pipeline 16-1. Second-seeded 630 Volleyball 16-...

Thursday, March 30 results

SHOP OUTLET ITEMS FOR UP TO 40% OFF AT WILSON! HTTPS://WILSON.SJV.IO/C/2340877/1616671/9003 Thursday, March 30 resultsAndrew def. Providence 25-12, 25-22Andrew (4-3 overall, 0-0 in the Southwest Suburban Conference): Luke Spratt (6 kills, 5 blocks), TJ Dziekan (16 assists, 3 aces), Tyler Sempek (9 digs).Brother Rice def. Riverside Brookfield 25-9, 25-18 Brother Rice (6-1 overall, 0-0 in the Chicago Catholic League): Nathan Kramer (7 kills, 1 ace), Michael Bos (4 kills, 3 blocks), Jack Osborne (4 kills, 3 blocks), Danny Boss (5 digs...

Who’s who among the best in Illinois boys’ volleyball? We try to sort it all out

Despite some graduation losses, Lincoln-Way East (far court) again figures to be among the best boys volleyball teams in Illinois this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHere are the 2023 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Preseason Rankings (with last season’s record):1. Glenbard West 39-3Trevor Powell, Danny Dorsey and Gavin Swartz are gone, so who will step up this year? Next up: Thursday vs. Lincoln-Way East.2. Marist 36-3Six-foot-5 Marty Canavan and sophomores Nathan Toth,...

Bella Bullington admits her Japanese is a little rusty ahead of her trip ‘home’

Six-foot sophomore outside hitter Bella Bullington from Marist is one of 21 Sports Perfromance players who are going to Japan to train with college and high school players from Tokyo and Nagano March 23-April 1. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSpending a week in Japan may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some high school student-athletes, but for Bella Bullington, it’s like going home.Or, in her case, it is going home.“I’ve actually lived in Japan,” said Bullington, one of 21 Sports Performance vo...

Up, down and out … just another Sunday at Windy City Power League 16/15 Open

Fusion 16 Dawgs' Elissa Furlan (Richmond-Burton) passes a ball from the back row during the Marengo club's match with MOD Elite G16 Blue Sunday at the 1`st Alliance Training Facility in Woodridge. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“One day you're up and the next day you're down …” Maybe the Blues Magoos were on to something back in 1967, because the lyrics to their one-hit rock wonder, “We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet,” off the album “Psychedelic Lollipop” and popularized in the movie “Easy Rider,” describe perfectly S...