St. Francis (far court), which has elected to play up in the Class 3A tournament starting next week, and Class 2A Chicago Christian were among the teams that participated in Blocktober Fest last weekend at Planfield Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) How many boundary-restricted public schools can lose their second-leading attacker and one of their top setters/hitters from the previous season and still manage to survive, let alone thrive?Not many, unless you’re Barrington.The Fillies lost 6-5 outside hitter and South Carolina recruit Ca...
There’s no place like home, but if you can’t play here, then it’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’
Barrington's Jenna Meitzler (back row, fourth from left) and her Sky HIgh Adidas 17 Elite teammates opted to stay downtown during the USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place this week, but some clocal lubs chose the creature comforts of home. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s easy to forget that with more than 50,000 people from all parts of the country descending on Chicago to participate as a player, coach or spectator at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior National Championship at McCormick Place, there were also ma...
Wait for it … 57 players to catch up with during the IHSA tournament
Marist won IHSA Class 4A championships in 2017 and 2018, and Kamryn Chaney (23) hopes to lead the RedHawks to a third title before moving on to Princeton in the fall of 2023. On the cover, Aquin's Lucy Arndt is Southeast Missouri State-bound next fall, but not before she hopes to lead the Bulldgos to a second consecutive Class 1A semifinal appearance. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The IHSA tournament kicks off Monday, and it’s the last time hundreds of seniors throughout the state will don their high s...
Benet Academy plays rotation roulette, wins twice at Wheaton North tournament
Benet Academy rolled out a few dfferent lineups Wednesday in the opening round of the Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational, but won both of its matches against Kaneland and West Aurora. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSetters playing outside. Middles playing rightside. So many substitutions you needed a GPS tracker to keep pace.Simply put, to quote one of the greatest movie lines of all time, it was, “Madness.”“We thought we had a lineup, but then we had an injury, so now we've had a few days to try to mix and match a little...
Hersey’s van den Herik plans a comeback; Burgdorf embraces underdog role
Hersey captured the title of its siix-team round robin turnament Saturday while awaiting word on the future of 6-1 outside hitter Claie Van den herik (8). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNever bet against Hersey’s Claire van den Herik.Van den Herik, a 6-1 outside hitter, was poised to make a triumphant return to the court this fall after an ACL tear to her left knee during a summer league game prior to last season robbed her of her junior year.“I went up (for a kill), then all of a sudden when I came down, I heard a pop,” van den Her...
Hope ramps up as season winds down for several nat’l tournament contestants
Illini Elite 15 Cardinal, which finished second at the JVA World Challenge in mid-April, has its sights set on winning a national championship in Orlando. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIllini Elite 15 Cardinal coach Kyle Caldwell is not ready for the club season to end.“I’m not ready,” he said. “This group is a lot of fun. They're good kids. They work hard. They’re everything you ask for in a team.”But end it must, either at the 2023 USAV Girls Junior 14s-17s National Championship at McCormick Place, June 28-July 6, or the 2023 AAU ...
Life on the outside agrees with Oswego’s talented 6-1 junior Sidney Hamaker
Oswego junior Sidney Hamaker (13), shown here at last weekend's West Aurora round-robin, had 12 kills Tuesday to lead the Panrthers past host Waubonsie Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere are very few places – if any – on a volleyball court where Oswego’s 6-1 junior Sidney Hamaker doesn’t thrive.As a sophomore last year, Hamaker played middle hitter for her club’s top 18s team, which finished second at the AAU national championships in Orlando. But for the past two years, she’s played outsi...
Presenting the final 2023 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys Club Rankings
Ultimate B18 Gold (far court) finished 13th in the 18 Open division at the 50th AAU Boys National Championships in Orlando, Florida, behind 6-7 outside hitter Tyler Tharpe (Whitney Young), who is headed to Ohio State in the fall. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe boys’ club season ended a little over a week ago, but the start of another season is just around the corner.So, what did we learn from the past year?There are strong rising senior and junior classes in Illinois, but the time lost to COVID has sig...
Presenting the latest Illprepvb.com/1st Alliance VBC Boys High School Rankings
Glenbard West junior outside hitter Casey Maas (1) was named to the six-man all-tournament team at Glenbrook North last weekend. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe end is nigh.For some, it cannot come soon enough. For others, it’s only the beginning of a journey they will hope will consummate with a visit to Hoffman Estates on June 2-3.These are the last Illinois’ boys high school rankings of the regular season. As such, we’ve expanded the rankings to 25 (actually 27, including ties) teams. How it all shake...
Suitable for viewing: Parker Moorhead, Glenbard West enjoy Act II against Marist
Parker Moorhead (12) had 8 kills, including the final two of the match, as Glenbard West defeated Marist for the second time this season, 26-24, 25-23, Thursday in Glen Ellyn. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorGlenbard West’s Parker Moorhead loves watching game film.“I always love watching film,” he said. “I like watching myself. I can't lie. This was just so much fun. I’ll probably watch this like 10 or 12 times.”Moorhead will particularly enjoy watching the final two points of Thursday’s match against ...