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...

Head referee Marek Franc explains a call to Lake Park's Nolan Cocat (16) and Carter Gibbons (14) during the Lancers' 17-2,5 25-14, 25-21 loss to Marist in an IHSA quarterfinal Friday at Hoffman Estates. (Photo by Mike Cocat) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com O’Fallon finding itself in a close match? That's no problem for the Panthers.After nearly seeing its season end earlier in the week in a 23-25, 31-29, 25-21 sectional final victory over Lincon-Way East, O'Fallon found itself in another tight match Friday in the second IHSA q...

West Chicago earned a piece of the Upstate Eight Conference East division title with its 25-23, 25-23 victory Thursday over Ridgewood. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarist star Christian Teresi put his own spin on the basic law of gravity on Thursday.Everything that goes up must come down, of course. But when Teresi puts the ball down, it sometimes goes back up, occasionally almost to the rafters.The Ohio State recruit did that at a key moment in the second set against host Glenbard West, smashing back-to-back sets from Jacob F...

Wheaton Warrenville South, the top seed at the South Elgin sectional, will open IHSA tournament play against Bartlett at the St. Charles East regional Saturday at 8:00 a.m. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhenever Wheaton Warrenville South’s Mark Gheorghita attends a volleyball camp, he is reminded of the 12 core attributes of a good setter. “One of core attributes is knowing who's got the hot hand,” Gheorghita said.“Most of time, that would be Simon,” he said.Simon Bratt, Wheaton Warrenville South’s 6-3 junior outside hitter, had ...

Owen Bare (far left) watches Otis Yahn convert one of his sets into a kill during Glenbard West's run to the championship of Springfest at Glenbard East earlier this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) 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 Glenbard West’s 6-0 s...

Vince Spadoni had les West Chicago to a share of the Upstate Eight East division title this spring. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Each 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 West Chicago’s 6-6 outside hitter Vince Spadoni. West Chicago's Vince Spadoni Spadoni has 300 kills, 48 a...

Mason Lupima (2) and Joliet Central defeated Southwest Prairie Conference rival Romeoville, 25-12, 25-19, on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorReavis’ Pawel Greczek is no stranger to Argo. When he was a member of the Reavis JV team as a freshman, his team defeated Argo to win the conference championship.Tuesday in Summit, Greczek and the Rams added another notch to their belt, defeating Argo, 25-18, 25-18, in a battle of South Suburban Conference unbeatens, clinching no worse than a share of the league...

Glenbard West celebrated its victory over Oak Oak-River Forest by lying down in a circle on the Glenbrook North court with their feet facing toward each other. https://youtu.be/ovDweBeWGaM By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat’s the old adage? Familiarity breeds contempt?But in this case, familiarity bred respect.“We talked before the game,” said Glenbard West’s 6-0 setter Owen Bare. “We knew them. We knew the last time we played them, they came back super strong in the second set. So, we were ready for that.“We came together a...