Belleville East defeated Benet Academy, Glenbard West and Mother McAuley on Saturday to win Autumnfest at Glenbard East. https://youtu.be/CBD8LnGqo00 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The first time Belleville East visited the suburbs of Chicago back in early September, the Lancers made quick work of the field at Hoffman Estates. But that was a walk among the daisies compared to the challenge presented this weekend by Autumnfest at Glenbard East. Belleville East met it anyway.The Lancers beat second-seeded Benet in their...
Massac County takes its show on the road some 360 miles to Blocktober Fest
Massac County, a Class 2A school from Metropolis, Illinos, is competing this weekend in Blocktober Fest at Plainfield Central. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Massac County is about 360 miles from home this weekend, and that’s the point. The Class 2A Patriots, from Metropolis in the far southern tip of the state, are playing in the Blocktober Fest tournament at Plainfield Central. That’s well north of anywhere the program has traveled before. Until now, its farthest trip north had been the Crossroads Classic in Effingham. Coa...
Brynne Burkhart shakes off illness, helps Downers North ace Downers South test
Downers Grove North's Ellery Cabaj (14) recorded her 1,000th career assist in the Trojan's 25-12, 25-15 victory over crosstown rival Downers Grove South on Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comDowners Grove North outside hitter Brynne Burkhart has been feeling a bit under the weather lately. She even missed school on Wednesday. But the illness perhaps was a blessing in disguise. “Yesterday I was a bit sick, so today I wanted to make sure I was calm and not overworking myself,” Burkhart said. “So,...
Naperville Central turns back DeKalb, looks ahead to postseason possibilities
Naperville Central avenged an earlier loss to DeKalb Tuesday, but with the conference race all but out of reach, the RedHawks are looking forward to the postseason. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Naperville Central didn’t let a few runs by DeKalb shake it Tuesday. The Redhawks beat the Barbs, 25-20, 25-23, in a DuPage Valley Conference match Tuesday in Naperville, steadying themselves after a couple of momentum swings by leaning on what coach Eric Kaisling calls trusting their training. “Sometimes that happens, but this is ...
Ultimate Player of the Week Dani Hopp has Richmond-Burton rocketing to the top
Richmond-Burton's outside hitter Dani Hopp recently recorded her 1,000th career kill. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorPairing elite offensive production with rare efficiency and impact in all six rotations, Richmond-Burton outside hitter Dani Hopp is putting together one of the most impressive statistical seasons in Illinois high school volleyball, Hopp is third in Illinois and second in Class 2A in hitting percentage, and first in Class 2A in kills per set. Through 26 matches and 59 sets, Hopp has 312 kills, averaging 5.57 per ...
No. 1 Mascoutah avenges earlier loss to No. 4 Morton, wins Saints Fall Classic
Mascoutah freshman Ellie Love (right) battled to victory over Morton in the championship match of the Saints Fall Classic at Bloomington on Saturday. On the home page, Illinois-Springfield recruit Isabelle Mueller (12) paced Morton to a runner-up showing in the Saints Fall Classic in Bloomington on Saturday. (Photos by Randy Sharer) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comBLOOMINGTON — A showdown between two of Illinois’ top Class 3A programs lived up to its billing Saturday as Mascoutah, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by Illprepvb.com, defeated N...
Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb present 60 super sophomores killing it this season
Wheaton North's 5-8 libero Sasha Benson will be anchoring Justin Hineman's defense for the rest of 2026 and for the following two seasons. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor You don't have to be a three or four-year starter to make a significant impact on your team's success. No greater example of that is the list we have created featuring sixty of the top players in the Class of 2029. Take LaSalle Peru’s 5-8 setter/outside hitter Aubrey Urbanski. She not only leads the 21-3 Cavaliers with nearly 40...
Oops, they did it again. Keira McQuillan, Mother McAuley rally late to defeat Marist
Marist's Maggie Kurpeikis (10) had 11 kills, but the RedHawks fell to Mother McAuley on Tuesday for the second time in four days. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Mother McAuley is going to get some time off. “We deserve it,” said Mother McAuley junior outside hitter Keira McQuillan said. Yes, the Mighty Macs do. McQuillan smashed 12 kills, including a pair down the stretch, as the Mighty Macs capped a grueling week-long schedule with a 19-25, 25-21, 25-22 victory over Marist in a Girls...
It takes more than unhappy feet to slow down this Ultimate Player of the Week
Alexis Neumann, a Marshall University basketball recruit, also excels on the volleyball court for (Chatham) Glenwood. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorA foot injury was not going to slow down Alexis Neumann.Neumann, a 6-1 outside hitter and Marshall University basketball recruit, was limited due to a foot issue last week and played six rotations sparingly, but still led (Chatham) Glenwood to the championship of the (Troy) Triad tournament on Saturday.“Alexis played reduced rotations last week due to a foot issue, but continued to le...
Changes at the top in latest Michio Chicago/Illprepvb Girls H.S. Rankings
Marist and Mother McAuley meet for the second time in a little more than 72 hours when the South Side rivals collide Tuesday at Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Reciprocity. Sometimes teams have to wait weeks to avenge a loss to a bitter rival. Sometimes they have to wait until the following season. And sometimes, they only have to wait a little more than 72 hours. Mother McAuley and Marist, who collided in a Gold bracket semifinal won by the Mighty Macs, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, at...