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?...

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 ...

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...

Eddie Muller (2) and St. Francis finished third in perhaps the deepest field of any tournament in Illinois this season last weekend at Downers Grove South. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor There was a major shakeup in the rankings after last weekend. Breaking into the rankings proved none too fortuitous for several teams, who had no sooner joined the top 20 than they were bounced out, while disaster struck other rankings mainstays via injury and surprising losses. Even the top five were not i...

Adam Janowiak and Downers Grove North travel to Glenbard West on Tuesday. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt was a relatively quiet week with most teams taking advantage of spring (?) break to relax, refocus and reflect. However, there were a few teams in action last week, and the season resumes in earnest beginning today.Meanwhile, here are the latest 2024 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys High School Rankings (with preseason ranking in parenthesis) with our comments about the IHSA’s grossly im...

After participating in a couple of scrimmages, including one at Munciana in mid-January, Sidney Hamaker (17) and SPVB 18 Elite will compete at the 24 Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis on February 3-4. Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo it begins.Here are the initial 2024 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepv...

SPVB B18 Elite went 14-2 to win the 18/17 Open division of THE Point Series that wrapped up last Sunday at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat about Lenny?Lenny, Sports Performance’s erstwhile “No. 2” 18s team, is anything but a No. 2 team this club season. Not only did Lenny hand SPVB B18 Elite its only two losses during THE Point Series 15-18’s 2023 at the Wintrust Sports Complex this fall, but it also defeated 630 Volleyball 18-1 in straight sets on consecutive days last weekend.In ...