Casey Maas (1) and Glenbard West defeated St. Francis, 25-21, 25-13, to win Springfest at Glenbard East on Saturday. On the home page is Glenbard West's Xavion Willett. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNight and day.“That’s volleyball,” said New Trier coach Sue Ellen Haak.After using a 12-2 run in the first set to break open what had been a two-point game in the championship match Saturday against Wheaton North at the Warren invite, New Trier found itself down a set point and tied five times in the second set at...

Tyler Vasquez is a big reason that Bolingbrook is off to an 11-2 start this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe hair is unmistakable. His quirky personality inimitable. His determination unyielding. His importance inescapable.Bolingbrook libero Tyler Vasquez is a big reason that the Raiders are off to an 11-2 start this season. He keeps balls alive in transition and handles serve receive nearly flawlessly. He also sets an example in the gym for his teammates to follow.“Tyler is incredibly focused,” s...

(From left) Luke Bonacci, Dylan Brinkley, Dylan Roszak and Carter Gibbons return from the 25-win Lake Park team that advanced to a regional final last spring before losing to Conant. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat do you get when you when add 6-7 and 6-9 middle hitters to a team with four returning starters from a 25-win regional finalist and pit them against another team that graduated 13 of its 14 varsity players from a year ago and has a roster featuring five juniors, four sophomores and a freshman?You get Lake Park defeating ...

York features six seniors who have been on varsity since their sophomore year, (from left), Zach Brown, Owen Reifenrath, Luke Shorter, Jack Bute, Logan Rice and Jack Zitek. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDisappointing.That’s the word York’s 6-5 outside hitter and three-year veteran Jack Bute used to describe the season-ending losses the Dukes have suffered since he and five other seniors were elevated to the varsity as sophomores.Last year, York was the No. 3 seed in the Oswego sectional, but was upset by regional host and No. 14 ...

  By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe 2024 adidas Windy City National Qualifier wrapped up Sunday at McCormick Place with at least a few local teams walking away with bids.Among them was 1st Alliance 17 Gold, which was seeking to upgrade the National bid it earned through the Windy City Power League.Mission accomplished.1st Alliance 17 Gold defeated Circle City 17 Purple (Plainfield, Indiana) in the championship match of the 17 Open division, 25-6, 25-20, to finish 10-0 and earn an Open bid to the USA Volleyball G...

Providence Catholic improved to 6-4 overall with a 25-11, 25-22 victory Tuesday at Andrew. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorProvidence Catholic coach Lee Rucinski loves him some middles.“I love our middles,” Rucinski said. “It's a little bit of old-school volleyball. Everything runs through the middle first. But they're so good and so athletic that even though you know it's coming, they have all the shots to see the block and move the ball around.“We try to run them as often as possible, and everybody in the gym knows it,” he added.Prov...

West Aurora graduate Lauren Carlini was named the 2012-2013 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year and was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit by PrepVolleyball.com before moving on to the University of Wisconsin, where she became the school’s first four-time AVCA All-American and a three-time First Team selection. She has since played professionally overseas and for the US Women's National Team. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorVolleyball has come a long way since the IHSA began sponsoring a state tournament se...

Junior outside hitter Trevor Wardlow had 14 kills, but it was not enough as Bolingbrook fell to Joliet West in the championship match of the West Aurora invite Saturday. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAfter a grueling three-set semifinal match against Oswego East, even Joliet West outside hitter Thomas Fellows wasn’t sure if the Tigers had anything left in the tank heading into the championship match against Bolingbrook at the West Aurora tournament on Saturday.“I don’t even know, to be honest, he said.Bu...

West Chicago improved to 1-1 on the season by defeating Elmwood Park on Tuesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor West Chicago did not exactly roll out the welcome mat Tuesday for Elmwood Park.Next year, Elmwood Park, one of four remaining members of the Metro Suburban Conference, will join the Upstate Eight Conference. Two of the other three remaining members of the Metro Suburban – Ridgewood and Riverside-Brookfield – will also join the Upstate Eight.So Tuesday’s trip to West Chicago was an introduction of sorts to their new c...