Any time is a good time to enjoy a picture from photographer extraordinaire Dave Ruggles. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorJust when you think you’ve got it all figured out.The first regular-season edition of the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com 2024 Girls H.S. Rankings saw some shuffling among the top 10 in each class, but the bigger news was the number of “other teams to watch” falling by the wayside.Of course, a few of those teams were based on recommendations by coaches in their conferences, so we can conveniently blame them...

Marist hopes to end Mother McAuley's run of consecutive Class 4A championships should the two teams meet during the IHSA tournament. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor In our 2023 preseason rankings, Illprepvb.com accurately predicted eight of the 16 IHSA semifinalists – no easy feat since we don’t know who will be assigned where and which sectionals will match up in the supersectional.Those eight teams included the eventual IHSA champions in Class 2A (Breese Mater Dei), 3A (St. Francis) and 4A (Mother McAuley). We also accu...

Top Notch 15 Elite, based in Springfield, finished fifth in the LIberty division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorGame over.The USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship 14-17s at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, are in the books.The final chapter was written Thursday with the conclusion of play in the various 15...

Windy City Premier B17 was one of three Illinois teams to win a national championship at the 2024 AAU Boys Junior National Championships in Ortland, Florida. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor2009.Fourteen years. Fourteen national tournaments (the 2020 national championships were cancelled due to COVID).2009.That was the last time an Illinois team failed to reach the 18 Open championship quarterfinals of either a USAV or AAU boys national tournament. There was even a run of five years between 2012-2016 when two Illinois teams adv...

MOD Elite B18 Blue went 6-0 to win the 18 Open division at the 2024 AAU/JVA Windy City Round-Up last weekend at McCormick Place. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMOD is ready to rumble.MOD Elite B18 Blue wrapped up the regular boys’ club season Sunday by sweeping five of its six opponents to win the 18 Open division at the 2024 AAU/JVA Windy City Round-Up last weekend at McCormick Place.MOD dropped only one set during the two-day affair, beating SPVB B18 Lenny, 25-23, 19-25, 15-10, in a Gold bracket semifinal Sunday.“The boys ha...

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...

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...

Aris Maurukas (10) and the No. 18 Benet Academy Redwings went 4-0 at last weekend's tournament at Metea Valley. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat’s going on?No sooner had the ink dried on last week’s rankings than five teams in the top 20 went down in flames. When the dust settled, only a handful escaped unscathed.That’s been the nature of the beast this season, however.Teams are trending upward. Teams are trending downward. Every team has flaws, blemishes, minor imperfections. No team is unbeatable. ...

Matthew Muehlnickel (10) and his Lincoln-Way East teammates would face rival Lincoln-Way West in a sectional semifinal should both teams advance in the Collinsville sectional. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Only one more week remains in the regular season before we get to that one-and-done portion of the program. Looking ahead to the IHSA tournament, we know Marist should have next to no difficulty advancing to the semifinals at Hoffman Estates. Their possible (probable? likely? inevitable?...