Matthew Muehlnickel (10) and his Lincoln-Way East teammates would face rival Lincoln-Way West in a sectional semifinal should both teams advance in the Collinsville sectional. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Only one more week remains in the regular season before we get to that one-and-done portion of the program. Looking ahead to the IHSA tournament, we know Marist should have next to no difficulty advancing to the semifinals at Hoffman Estates. Their possible (probable? likely? inevitable?...
Homewood-Flossmoor goes overtime (and then some) to overcome Sandburg
Sandburg junior Jeremiah Aro (airborne left) had 11 kills to pace the Eagles, but it wasn't enough as Homewood-Flossmoor prevailed Tuesday in Orland Park, 25-22, 18-25, 31-29. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhen Homewood-Flossmoor opened the season by winning 18 of its first 20 matches, the Vikings looked like shoe-ins to topple the program’s season record for victories. However, after a down stretch, the record started to seem unattainable.But the Vikings dug deep and found a way to win a big Southwest S...
Share? Not this time as Lockport beats Lincoln-Way West for outright league title
Erik Gonzalez (3) had 7 kills in Lockport's 25-20, 25-22 victory Thursday over Lincoln-Way West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYou know the old adage … share and share alike?Well, Lockport ain’t gonna be sharin’ this one.The Porters defeated Lincoln-Way West, 25-20, 25-22, Thursday in Lockport to clinch the outright Southwest Suburban Conference championship for the first time in program history.Lockport earned a share of the conference title in 2021 when the Porters, Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way Wes...
Here are the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys H.S. Rankings
Loyola (far court) will look to avenge its only loss of the season Thursday when the Ramblers visit St. Francis. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorProm.Every player’s dream. Every coach’s nightmare. Every pundit’s quandary.I remember prom (which was shortly before Nixon’s re-election and long before the days of boys’ volleyball). Spending hours waxing dad's Grecian green '68 Bel Air. A foot race between two classmates – each with a broken leg, one right and the other left – across the underlit dance ...
York rallies late in third set, slips past Barrington for Northside Classic title
Junior middle hitter Matthew Swiatkowski (9) and the Benet Redwings competed in the tournament at Metea Valley on Saturday. On the home page, Geneva's Jack Malley (left) tries to get a kill past a crowd at the net at the Metea Valley tournament. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The heavily-bandaged right hand of York’s Jack Bute is testament to the power of Barrington’s 6-10 outside hitter Cole Hartke. Bute suffered an injury to his hand trying to block Hartke during club practice a few months ago.Hartke...
Beach volleyball explodes on college level, providing more opportunities for girls
Jessica Horwath, who led Barrington to consecutive IHSA Class 4A third-place finishes, is now playing beach volleyball at the University of Arizona where she posted a 20-11 record as a freshman. (Photo courtesy of the University of Arizona Athletic Department) Editor's note: The 2024 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Chamionship gets underway Friday at Gulf Place in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Beach volleyball, also known as sand volleyball, has been gaining popularity on the college level in recent years. With its fast-paced, exciting gam...
York’s top Duke Jack Bute is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
York's Jack Bute went from freshman 'B' team setter to one of the top outside hitters in Illinois. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorJack Bute began his high school career buried in the recesses of fieldhouses throughout the western suburbs as a setter on York’s freshman “B” team. But he developed one indispensable skill going into his sophomore year.“I brought Jack up as a sophomore due to his great serve receive, and he killed it in his sophomore year in that role,” said York coach Ken Dowdy. “Talk about an underclassman wh...
Plainfield East’s Tagtmeyer, Francis planning to go out with a bang
Thomas Tagtmeyer (10) crushes a kill between Plainfield South's Dominic Krejci (21) and Milan Gracanin (15) during the Bengals' 25-16, 25-19 victory Thursday. )Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAfter playing vital roles on a team that went 33-6, won the Southwest Prairie Conference at 10-0 and advanced to the sectional championship before falling to O’Fallon, 25-18, 25-21, Plainfield East seniors Thomas Tagtmeyer and Braxton Francis have their sights set on another long postseason run. “Thomas has been the guy for...
Mikrut twins put the fight in Brother Rice, which applies a knockout to St. Francis
Gavin Gonzalez (3) and St. Francis were handed their first Catholic League loss Tuesday at Brother Rice. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere is still a lot of fight in Brother Rice.Literally.Twin brothers John and Zach Mikrut warmed up for the Crusaders' big match against St. Francis by getting in a fight with each other at practice on Monday. That certainly fired up the pair as they took their frustrations out on the Spartans, combining for 21 kills and 4 blocks to lead Brother Rice to a 25-22, 25-...
1st Alliance 18 Gold, Adversity G18 Adidas fall just short in national title bids
1st Alliance 18 Gold reached the championship match of the 18 Open division at the 2024 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Baltimore, Maryland, before falling to TAV 18 Black out of Austin, Texas. (From left) Katie Scherer, Calli Kenny and Grace Nelson were named to the 18 Open all-tourament team. Baltimore, Maryland – After staging an improbable rally from a 14-11 deficit in the third set to defeat Munciana 18 Samurai, 14-25, 25-21, 16-14, in a challenge match Saturday, 1st Alliance 18 Gold seemed destined to claim a na...