Ermuun Batchuluun had 15 assists, 3 kills and a block in Naperville North's 25-17, 25-16 loss Tuesday to Downers Grove North in a regional semifinal in Downers Grove. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Plainfield South and Lincoln-Way West met earlier this season at the Wheaton Warrenville South tournament, the Warriors won the battle, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20.That victory helped Lincoln-Way West earn the No. 7 seed in the Hinsdale South sectional, ahead of No. 10 seed Plainfield South.The Cougars remembered, a...
Here are the final 2025 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys H.S. Rankings
Mohamed Abdelradi helped Lane Tech become the first team from the Chicago Public League to win a quarterfinal match at Hoffman Estates in the tournament's 33-year history. The Champions defeated O'Fallon to place third. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHey, nobody’s perfect.Looking back at our preseason rankings, we had five teams in the top 25 that finished out of the money by season’s end. In addition, we had 10 teams that were not ranked in the top 25 who broke into the rankings by the time the dust sett...
Barrington puts the band back together, defeats Prospect for MSL championship
West division winner Barrington won its fourth Mid-Suburban League championship in the past five years Thursday, defeating East winner Prospect, 25-17, 25-17, in Mt. Prospect. By Phi BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s boys volleyball team has had more players miss time with injuries and illness this season than the Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff.Six-foot-1 outside hitter Eli Rodda, the team’s lone four-year varsity player and projected as a six-rotation starter, suffered a knee injury April 9, and, prior to Thursday, made only one...
Here are the final 2025 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls Club Rankings
Cassidy Cage (87) and her SPVB 17 Elite teammates finished third in the 17 Open division at the 2025 AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, re-use, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorCongratulations to 1st Alliance...
Marist looking to go back-to-back, but the rest of the field has other weekend plans
Junior setter Andrew Fanella (3) and his Glenbard West teammates will be looking to bring home the school's sixth IHSA boys championship from Hoffman Estates this weekend. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere will be some new faces taking the floor when the 2025 IHSA boys volleyball quarterfinals get underway Friday at Hoffman Estates.Defending champion Marist and last year’s third-place finisher Glenbard West are the only teams among the eight quarterfinalists returning from year ago, and there is some though...
Downers North staggers Glenbard West; Willowbrook holds off Timothy Christian
Aidan Akkawi led Downers Grove North with 11 kills in the Trojans' 25-19, 25-12 rout of Glenbard West Tuesday in Downers Grove. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPractice made perfect for Downers Grove North on Tuesday.Or at least as close to perfect as a volleyball team can get against an elite opponent.The Trojans, ranked No. 3 in the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys H.S. Rankings, made only five hitting errors and got dominant performances across the board in sweeping second-ranked Glenbard W...
Sandburg ends Reavis’ special season; New Trier, Libertyville win at Barrington
Setter Easton Donausky (8) and Sandburg advanced to Tuesday's sectional championship match at Hinsdale Central with its win Saturday over Reavis. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe Sandburg boys' volleyball team underwent a change before this season with former assistant Madisen Babich taking over as head coach.How did that change the Eagles? “We have a new coaching staff and an entirely new culture,” said Sandburg outside hitter Jeremiah Aro said. “They held us accountable. We just shut up and worked.”Th...
St. Charles North bucks the 8 vs. 9 trend, defeats rival Geneva at St. Charles East
St. Charles North's Diego Torres (8) had 5 kills during the North Stars' 25-18, 25-23 victory over Geneva in Saturday's quarterfinal match at the regional hosted by St. Charles East . )File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNobody has done a study of the IHSA boys volleyball tournament, but…Since the NCAA Division I men’s basketball field expanded to 65 teams in 1985, the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seeds have the closest head-to-head record with the No. 9 seed owning an 83-77 advantage, a 51.88 winning percentage.Somebody fo...
From No. 2 to No. 1, Matt Louis is the Ultimate/Illprepvb Player of the Week
Barrington's Matt Louis was a latecomer to the sport and was barely a twos team player when he began. Last week, he was named the Mid-Suburban West Player of the Year. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEach week during the volleyball season, we announce an Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. Coaches throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a player for their outstanding performance on and off the court.This week, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week is Barrington’s 6-6 middle hitter Matt Louis.Louis w...
The best ever? Marist defeats Glenbard West to win its second straight IHSA title
Glenbard West's 6-4 junior middle hitter Otis Yahn (19) had 6 kills in the Hilltoppers' 25-20, 25-20 loss to Marist in Saturday's IHSA championship match at Hoffman Estates. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLet the debate begin. “This is the best team to ever do it, right here, the best team in Illinois history, hands down,” said Marist coach Jordan Vidovic, moments after his team defeated Glenbard West, 25-20, 25-20, Saturday at Hoffman Estates to earn its second consecutive IHSA championship.“I can say tha...