Courtney McCarthy (12) had 26 assists to lead Minooka to a 25-23, 25-19 victory over Plainfield East on Thursday. Minooka finished 10-1 in the Southwest Prairie Conference, one game behind Joliet West (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMy former mentor at the Daily Herald – the late, great Bob Frisk – picked each quarterfinal, semifinal and championship game of the boys’ state basketball tournament for years before he retired. The sports staff picked high school football games every week.We have often thought...

Hutsyn Timosciek and Lockport defeated Lincoln-Way East to win the Autumn Knights tournament at Lincoln-Way Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Tell the truth. Did you see that one coming? Belleville East, which saw its bid for a Southwestern Conference title go by the board in a loss to Class 3A power Mascoutah on October 13, limped (?) into Autumnfest at Glenbard East last weekend with some hurt feelings and a No. 7 seed. The Lancers sprinted all the way back to Belleville after defeating No...

Marist and Mother McAuley meet for the second time in a little more than 72 hours when the South Side rivals collide Tuesday at Mother McAuley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Reciprocity. Sometimes teams have to wait weeks to avenge a loss to a bitter rival. Sometimes they have to wait until the following season. And sometimes, they only have to wait a little more than 72 hours. Mother McAuley and Marist, who collided in a Gold bracket semifinal won by the Mighty Macs, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, at...

Kolby Ross (7) and Lincon-Way East visit Lockport in a pivotal Southwest Suburban Conference match on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLong have they foreseen this doom … foreseen and done nothing.Until now.After four consecutive years of watching either Mother McAuley or Marist meet Benet Academy in the Class 4A finals, the IHSA has finally said, “enough.”This year, the folks downstate decided to eliminate two of those three perennial big school powers from advancing to the Class 4A semifinals at Re...

Benet Academy libero Claire Weathers is helping the Redwings navgate their rugged schedule while sophomore setter Claire Rooney recovers from a thumb injury that is expected to keep her out until late October. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorTwo weeks on the books, and there are some changes in the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls High School rankings – some for the better, some for the worse. But for the teams ranked No. 1 in their respective classes – Marist, (Bartonville) Limestone, Roches...

Marist is seekiing to become the first three-peat champion among big schools since Mother McAuley performed the feat in 1980-82. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorGirls volleyball. It’s always a number game. Down goes Batavia, Highland Park and Alton to Class 3A. Student enrollment in the Batavia school district has declined 15 percent over the past 10 years. At least there’s one upside. Small consolation.  Up goes Bloomington Central Catholic to Class 3A, courtesy of the IHSA’s multiplier and “success factor.” Breese Mate...

SPVB B18 Bravo won the 18 Select division at the 2026 AAU Boys Junior National Volleyball CHampionships in Orlando, the club's 113th national championship. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The 2025-2026 boys club season is over. Don’t fret. The 2026-2027 season starts in less than 90 days.  Illinois-based clubs did produce three national AAU champions in Orlando – Hybrid Advantage 15 Red in the 15 Elite division, MOD B16 Gold in the 16 Premier division, and Sports Performance B18 Bravo in the 18 Select division. SP...

Blue Steel 16 Black was one of three Illinois-based teams to win a national championship as the 2026 club season came to an end. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The girls club season is over. Can the high school season be far behind? (It’s closer than you think). Illinois-based clubs did produce three national champions, two in USAVs – Adversity G17 Purple Adidas in the 17 Freedom division and Blue Steel 16 Black in the 16 National division at the 2026 USAV Girls Junior National Volleyball Championship 14-17 in Indianapolis...

Briggs Corona (10) and the Marist RedHawks are the team most likley to challenge Glenbard West for IHSA supremacy in 2027. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIn the immortal words of the late Bill Paxton … “Game over, man. Game over.” The 2026 high school season ended with Glenbard West defeating Oak Park-River Forest for its sixth IHSA championship (one behind Wheaton Warrenville South’s record seven) and first title since 2023.The Hilltoppers will enter the 2027 season as heavy favorites to repeat behind ...

The 2026 IHSA boys high school volleyball tournament kicks off Friday and continues through the championship game at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, at Bolingbrook High School. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor We know at least one of the teams that will be there. Now it’s time to figure out who the other seven will be. The IHSA boys volleyball tournament kicks off Friday throughout Chicagoland and this side of the Mississippi River east of the St. Louis metro area, with the 2026 champion crowned sometim...