Mother McAuley and Benet Academy could be headed toward another IHSA Class 4A championship match clash, or will the folks downstate pair the two big-school powerhouses in a supersectional smashup like they did in 2014? Stay tuned. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) 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 EditorLet the (guessing) games be...

Five-foot-7 junior defensive specialist Sarah Jensen (Barrington) and her teammates won SPVB 18 Red's third consecutive national championship in the 18 Club division at the 50th annual AAU Girls Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe dust has barely settled on the 2023 girls’ club season and tryouts for upcoming season have already begun.Although Illinois produced no national championships in the Open divisions at the USAV tournament in Chicago or...

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...

Back on top. Benet Acadmey's loss to Marist last week and Marist's loss to Mother McAuley at the ASICS Challenge put the Mighty Macs back on top the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com rGirls High School Rankings. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSports Performance owner/director Troy Gilb, who coached in Nebraska for several years, has a novel idea.Why not follow the Nebraska model when conducting the IHSA tournament?Nebraska, which has six classes, divides the state into six sections. Each section winner ...

Glenbard West's Adam Graham is one of several juniors who will return in 2024 bidding to earn the Toppers' second three-peat since 2015-17. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorI feel the need … the need, to seed.For the second time in two years, arguably the two best teams in the Illinois met prior to the IHSA tournament championship game.Last year, Barrington (36-3), led by Player of the Year Jack O’Riordan (Ohio State), lost a tough three-setter to eventual IHSA champion Glenbard West in the sectional champio...

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...

Barington's Quinn Kozak (9) and Gavin Rohlwing (11) go up to block St. Rita's Aidan Peloquin (2) at the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“I told the boys that championships are won in June, not in April.” – Lincoln-Way West coach Jodi Frigo.Frigo is absolutely correct. We are not even halfway through the boys’ season, and it’s too early to speculate about what will happen at Hoffman Estate June 2-3. But we do know this … there are teams that have established themselves a...

MOD Elite B15 Blue, which has gone on hiatus until the 2023 AAU/JVA Windy City Roundup at McCormick Place on June 17-18, won nine of its final 10 matches prior to the break including a victory over previously No. 1-ranked SPVB B15 Elite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjZLTQ90xMQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLast weekend’s 2nd City Showdown marked the end of the boys club season – with a few notable exceptions – until the boys high school season concludes in early June.So, these will be the final 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepv...

1st Alliance 17 Silver won the 17 Select diviison of the Triple Crown NIT in Kansas City, Missouri, om February 18-20. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe onset of spring on March 20 can only mean two things – the threat of cold, snow and freezing rain will linger for a few more weeks, and the girls club season will heat up for the stretch drive to AAU and USAV nationals in three months.  Meanwhile, here are the latest 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Girls Club Rankings of the 2022-23 season:1. 1st Alliance 18 Gold (1) 21-6The Tripl...

Michio Chicago 15 National's Cassidy Cage (28) challenges the block attempt of Illini Elite 16 Cardinal's Peyton Sasse during Windy City Power League play on Sunday, February 5. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/WQXxDUD-2kg Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEnough time has passed (or has it?) to take a swing at ranking Illinois’ girls club teams.Two have already qualified for the 2023 Girls 18s National Championship in Columbus, Ohio, April 28-30 – 1st Alliance 18 Gold and VC United 182 Elite -- while rarely a weekend goes...