630 Volleyball 17-1 sits atop the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys' 17s Club rankings after winning the 17 Open division at the JVA Showdown in Motown last weekend. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTime to play catch-up with boys’ volleyball clubs.While the girls were wrapping up their high school season, boys club teams in Illinois were quietly going about their business at THE Point Series at the Wintrust Sports Center in Bedford Park and the Third Coast Invitational at the Wisconsin Center.Last weekend, several Illinois boys...
Marist adds a little variety to its attack, turns the tables on Glenbard West
Danny Dorsey (16, far right) returned to the Glenbard West lineup Thursday after siitting out last weekend's Northside Classic with an ankle injury and led the Hilltoppers with 7 kills, but it was Marist that won the rematch of the Smack Attack finale. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comVolleyball is all about making adjustments.Marist made them. The RedHawks, ranked No. 2 in the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys Rankings, avenged an earlier loss to top-ranked Glenbard West and came away with a 25-21, 25-23 v...
Presenting the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team
Glenbrook North libero Paul Wyszynski helped to lead the Spartans to an IHSA championship and a 25-0 season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our third annual effort to honor the best boys high school volleyball players in Illinois.Coaches were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or c...
From here to there and back again: a recruiting nightmare with a happy ending
Amy Schwem (far right) and Lemont won the Silver division championship at the Wheaton Classic during her senior season. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Amy Schwem led Lemont to a 30-8 record and a regional championship as a senior. By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comSometimes something seemingly very insignificant turns out to be a bit of foreshadowing.Such was the case for Amy Schwem, a four-year varsity setter at Lemont and a second-team Illprepvb.com all-state selection, during Senior Night festivities on Oct. 17, 2019. Her larger-than...
Stop No. 12? Good luck. O'Riordan named SPVB/Illprepvb's top player
Jack O'Riordan provided leadership and phenomenal numbers for a young and untested Barrington team that set a program record for wins. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEverywhere Jack O’Riordan went this season, it seemed all eyes were on him.The Barrington outside hitter consistently drew multiple blockers, while in the stands every fan came to watch him play, some hoping to see him fail.At times, it was sort of like waiting for someone to steal the basketball from Michael Jordan. It didn’t happen often,...
Skowronski, Naperville Central start fast, roll past inexperienced Neuqua Valley
Kenzie Brower (14, left, middle) had 3 kills as Naperville Central began its pursuit of a DuPage Valley Conference title Thursday with a victory over Neuqua Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comKaitlyn Skowronski and her Naperville Central teammates put a new twist on the familiar adage about how the key to success is not how you start, but how you finish.Strong starts by the Redhawks in both sets finished Neuqua Valley, which could never dig out of big early holes as Naperville Central rolled to a 25-16, ...
Downers South has one goal in mind: adding another plaque to the gym wall
Downers Grove South's 6-3 junior middle hitter Hugo Hu had 2 blocks and a kill Tuesday against visiting Hinsdale Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). There is a large wooden plaque hanging on the west side of the Downers Grove South gymnasium honoring the 2013 state championship boys’ volleyball team.That plaque is getting lonely, and if given the opportunity, Dominic Fallara and his teammates would like to change that.“We’re waiting to get the ‘go’ on state,” said Fallara, a 6-foot senior setter. “That’s what we’re pushing for. We’re here t...
Mother McAuley avoids Edwardsville's upset bid; Metea Valley tops Barrington
Barrington's 6-2 sophomore Berkely Ploder (10) tries to beat the block of Metea Valley's Jessica Williams (4) during the first set of Friday's second Class 4A semifinal. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – They're back.Sophomore Ellie White and senior Peyton Brokemond made sure Mother McAuley returned to a familiar place in the state title match as White whammed 23 kills and Brokemond bashed 18 to lead the Might Macs past Edwardsville, 27-29, 25-21, 25-16, in the opening IHSA Class 4A semifinal Friday at ...
Who survives? A not-so-brief look at all 32 sectionals from Bartlett to Wayne City
Junior Jessica Horwath (2) will try to lead Barrington to its first sectional championship since 2006 when the Fillies compete at Lake Zurich this week. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor We start the week with 128 teams. By late Friday, only 16 will remain. Who survives? Here it is, Illprepvb.com’s not-so-brief look at the 32 sectionals feeding into 16 supersectionals that will provide four fields of four semifinalists in each class November 12-13 at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State Univers...
Loyola-bound Schwieger powers Waubonsie Valley to outright DuPage Valley title
Ben Schwieger (9) had 18 kills, 2 blocks and 12 digs in his final appearance in a Waubonsie Valley uniform before he departs to begin his college basketball career Sunday at Loyola-Chicago. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Ben Schwieger donned his Superman cape … er, his Waubonsie Valley jersey … for the last time Thursday at Naperville North.He made his final game one to remember.The 6-foot-6 senior outside hitter, who will begin his college basketball career Sunday when he arrives on the campus of Loyola University-Chicago, pounded 18 kills to g...