Jimmie Chrusfield (6) and Argo sectional No.1 seed Oak Park-River Forest defeated No. 17 seed Hinsdale Central Tuesday in a regional semifinal at Hinsdale Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor What is a trap game? That’s when a heavily favored, superior team gets unexpectedly upset by a supposedly weaker opponent. This happens because the better team unknowingly “looks ahead,” leaving them unfocused and vulnerable.Oak Park-River Forest, the No. 1 seed in the Argo sectional, could have succumbed to su...

Barrington, playing with its full starting lineup for only the second time since April 30, defeated Palatine, 25-14, 25-16, in a regional quarterfinal Saturday in Barrington. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The gang is finally back together at Barrington.Six-foot-8 junior outside Matt Kravstov, who missed 11 matches while playing for the U.S. Men’s U19 National Team, and 6-9 junior middle Garrett Rohlwing, who missed three matches during the same 11-game stretch nursing a nagging injury, rejoined their teammates for a regional quar...

Plainfield Central players celebrate their 26-24, 25-22 victory over Lemont in a regional quarterfinal game Friday at Plainfield Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Hunger. That’s what drives Plainfield Central in 2026, according to 6-5 senior outside hitter Milo Nelson. “I've been playing varsity since my freshman year, and this is by far the most exciting season we've ever had,” said Nelson, who was a member of teams that went 11-25, 8-28 and 5-29 prior to this year. “Everyone on the court wants...

After ignoring a little nudging from mom and once calling volleyball a "girls' sport," Logan Novak has set school records for career assists and single-game assists at Joliet Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com When he steps onto the volleyball court, Logan Novak isn't intimidated by anyone. After all, when you just set a number of school records, why should you be? Novak, Joliet Central’s senior setter, set Steelmen school records for most assists in a career and in a match this season. But pe...

Shepard improved to 30-3 overall and won its 24th consecutive match, defeating Oak Lawn, 26-24, 25-17, Tuesday in Palos Heights. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 2024 season must seem like a distant memory for Shepard’s 5-10 setter Conor Harkala, who was a sophomore setter on a team that finished 6-24.What a difference a few years can make.Tuesday, Harkala had 24 assists and twin brother Dylan added 10 kills as Shepard won its 24th consecutive match, improving to a program-best 30-3 overall and 10-0 in the South Suburban Conference ...

As a junior tight end/defensive end, Hunter Stepanich (87) helped lead the Dukes to the IHSA championship game. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Outlier. Unicorn. Throwback. These are the some of the adjectives that can be used to describe York’s Hunter Stepanich. But even they might not be sufficient to describe what the 6-foot-8, 230-pound senior has accomplished during his remarkable high school career. Stepanich, who has committed to play football and volleyball at Princeton, has led the Dukes’ football, basketball an...

Willowbrook's Matt Ciesinski (42) had 10 kills, but Belleville East won the teams' meeting at the Willowbrook invite, 15-25, 25-21, 15-12. (Photo courtesy of PiehouseSix.com/Sports) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Some teams can get off the bus ready to rock. That wasn’t the case for Belleville East on Friday. For the second time this season, the Lancers made the trip up Interstate 55 to play in the Chicago area, this time to make their debut at the Willowbrook Invite. “It’s a four-and-a-half hour drive,” said Belleville Ea...