Geneva surprised Wheaton Warrenville South Thursday to win ithe boys volleyball program's first-ever regional championship. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere's no place like home.The Bolingbrook boys' volleyball team is going there. Knowing a victory would send them back to their home floor for the sectional, the Raiders rallied down the stretch and emerged with the first regional championship in the history of the boys' volleyball program.The Raiders toppled the hosts, 17-25, 25-19, 25-17, in ...
Presenting the final 2024 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys H.S. Rankings
Marist defeated two-time defending champion Glenbard West and West Suburban Silver powerhouse York to win its first IHSA championship since 2019. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFour years in a row and counting … After the IHSA tournament last year, we argued that the IHSA boys’ tournament should be seeded so that the two best teams could potentially meet in the championship game. Clearly, that is not the IHSA’s intention.Two years ago, the two best teams in Illinois -- Barrington and Glenbard West – met in a sectional final. L...
SPVB B18 Lenny is electric in Orlando, wins club’s 109th national championship
SPVB B18 Lenny defeated Mamba 18 Black (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 25-20, 23-25, 15-6, to win the 18 Premier division at the AAU Boys Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Orlando, Florida – No. 2 is No. 1. SPVB B18 Lenny defeated Mamba 18 Black (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 25-20, 23-25, 15-6, to win the 18 Premier division at the AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.The national championship was the 109th in the club’s storied...
Can Glenbard West make history again? Marist, six others hope to say, ‘No way’
Glenbard West's 6-6 middle hitter Xzavion Willett hoists the sectional championship trophy following the Hilltoppers' straight-set win Tuesday over Downers Grove North. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTalk about a two-class boys volleyball system surfaced again over the weekend.While we’d much rather the IHSA focus their collective energy on securing a college venue for the boys’ finals or seeding the tournament without regard to geography (see football), the move to a two-class playoff system seems to be gain...
Presenting the 2024 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Team
Loyola Academy's Jack Lopez led the Ramblers to their first IHSA quarterfinal appearance in 30 years this season. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, 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 EditorToday, we are pleased to announce the 2024 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our sixth annu...
Presenting the Michio Chicago VBA Illprepvb Girls Pre-nationals Rankings
G Normal West's Olivia Ziemer (36) and Illini Elite 16 Cardinal will be competing in the 51st AAU Girls Junior National Championships beginning next week in Orlando. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBefore we look ahead, let’s look back briefly and recognize three teams for their efforts at last weekend’s 2024 Navy Pier ASICS National Volleyball Championships.Winning the Girls 18 division was club director/head coach Nicole Diamond’s Belusa United 18 Cyclones, who went 10-0 and defeated Wisconsin Elite...
Brother Rice, St. Laurence advance to regional championship match at Stagg
St. Laurence's Tim Hyland and the Vikings defeated host Stagg on Tuesday and will meet Brother Rice for the regional championship at 4:45 p.m. Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat drives the Vikings’ Busse?Energy.“It’s always the energy,” said St. Laurence’s rightside hitter Alex Antikiewicz. “Sometimes we get into our heads a little bit, but we always bring it back. We find a way to keep it going. No matter what we do, it’s high energy. High energy equals victory.”Antikiewicz provided the energy Tue...
SPVB/Illprepvb Player of the Year Evan Dziadkowiec created unrivalled legacy
Lockport's Evan Dziadkowiec (far left), who graduated in the top 10 percent of his class while playing basketball and volleyball, finished among the top 15 assist leaders of all time in Illinois despite a COVID-shortened 2021 season and missing two games last year due to injury. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBasketball was Evan Dziadkowiec’s first love growing up in Lockport, but a little prodding from mom when he was in sixth grade steered him to a second sport.“I’ve been playing basketball since a ve...
Title No. 109 just escapes SPVB 17 Elite; EVC, Fusion, MOD, Shock, Starved rock
SPVB 17 Elite finished second in the 17 Open division at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida, last Friday, falling in the finals to Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal, 23-25, 25-22, 15-12. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOrlando, Florida – Sports Performance Volleyball Club has won 108 national championships during its storied history.SPVB 17 Elite came within a few points of making it 109.The Aurora crew fought its way to the championship match of the 17 Open division Friday at the 2024 AAU Girls Junior N...
USAV’s dance card is filled. Here are the Illinois girls’ teams heading to Las Vegas
Michio Chicago 15 National (above) will compete in the 15 USA division in Las Vegas while Sky High Adidas 17 Elite (on the home page) is headed to Mandalay Bay to compete in the 17 National division. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere have been a number of changes to the list of local qualifiers headed to the 2024 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship 14-17s at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 3-11.Teams have moved up a division or two. New faces have joined the list. And th...