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...
Loyola’s Jack Lopez is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
Loyola Academy's Jack Lopez (10), who led the Ramblers to the championship of the 20th Annual Tiger Classic, is this week's Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat would former Loyola Academy and Pepperdine great and 2014 Sun-Times Player of the Year David Wieczorek think about Jack Lopez’s performance last weekend at the 20th Annual Tiger Classic?“He was smiling all the way from the beaches of California,” said Loyola coach Lionel Ebeling. Lopez had 61 k...
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 ...
Loyola tops Lincoln-Way West for Tiger title; Lincoln-Way East wins Indiana battle
Loyola Academy (near court) extended its season-opning win streak to 17 by defeating Lincoln-Way West, 25-18, 25-21, to win the 20th Annual Tiger Classic Saturday in Wheaton. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLoyola Academy coach Lionel Ebeling wasn’t making excuses after the Ramblers dropped their first set of the season to Lake Park in Saturday’s semifinals at the 20th Annual Tiger Classic hosted by Wheaton Warrenville South.But …“What's amazing is that we have yet to play with our six or seven guys in our...
Down two starters, SPVB 16 Elite wins 16 Open division at the JVA World Challenge
SPVB 16 Elite won the 16 Open division at last weekend's 2024 JVA World Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Down two starters? No problem.At least it wasn’t last weekend for Sports Performance 16 Elite, which played without 6-1 setter Ellie Stiernagle (Benet Academy), who is still recovering from a hand injury, and 6-0 outside hitter Haley Burgdorf (St. Charles North), who was on loan to SPVB 18 Elite. SPVB 16 Elite (8-1) shook off a second-day, 25-21, 16-25, 15-11 loss to Tri-State Elite 16 Blue (Cincinnati, Ohi...
Karma? Serendipity? Saints hand Matt Caputo the coach a win at his alma mater
St. Charles East boys coach Matt Caputo won his first game at his alma mater thanks to the efforts of Adi Nakarani (1), Alex Temple (13), NiharPatel (2) and Andrew Heilers (11). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMaybe it was some of that old Wheaton Warrenville South magic rubbing off.Matt Caputo, who was the starting libero on Wheaton Warrenville South’s 2007 IHSA championship team, is in his first year as boys head coach at St. Charles East. He brought his Saints to Wheaton on Thursday to compete in the 20th Annual Tiger Classic.Would...
Glenbard West remains calm, rallies to defeat York in battle of unbeatens
Adam Graham (left) had 8 kills and 8 digs and libero Andrew Ellis added 14 digs to help lead Glenbard West to a 19-25, 25-21, 25-17 victory over York Tuesday in Elmhurst. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone should be.” – Clementine Paddleford.York was just a few points from handing two-time defending IHSA champion Glenbard West its first loss of the young season and only its third West Suburban Silver setback dating to 2016, leading 25-19, 16-13 in the batt...
‘Cohesion’ is the reason Hersey beat Glenbrook South … that, and Arrowood’s 17 kills
Hersey improved to 22-3 with a 25-23 18-25, 16-14 victory over Glenbrook South on Saturday in Arlington Heights. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSix-foot-2 outside hitter Justin Arrowood had a lot of friends on the other side of the net when his Huskies played Glenbrook South in the final match of the Hersey round-robin tournament Saturday in Arlington Heights.But friendships are typically set aside when the first ball is tossed in the air.“Coming into this game, everyone knew this was the game that mattered,” Arrowood said. “We lo...
Glenbard West’s Graham is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
Glenbard West's 6-3 outside hitter Adam Graham was named the MVP of the Brother Rice Smack Attack last weekend. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMoments after Glenbard West defeated Marist to win the Brother Rice Smack Attack last weekend, 6-foot-3 outside hitter Adam Graham explained why the Hilltoppers continue to dominate Illinois boys’ volleyball.“We beat ourselves up in practice knowing that we're going to get better,” he said. “We need to get better to accomplish our goals.”Few work harder – either on ...
Presenting the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys H.S. Rankings
Junior middle hitter Ben Boyce (10) and Wheaton North finished fifth at last weekend's 20th Annual Tiger Classic. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe eyes of the boys’ volleyball world will be on Brother Rice this weekend (OK, not all, but quite a few), where Glenbard West and Marist could be headed to a showdown for early (or is it midway?) bragging rights at the annual Smack Attack. Elsewhere this weekend, Downers Grove South will also play host a strong field for the annual Rick Griesheim Invitationa...