Junior libero Mari Rodriguez and the undefeated Huntley Red Raiders host Barrington on Wednesday in a remacth of last year's supersectional meeting at Dundee-Crown. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Well, at least we haven’t been sent to the ‘sectional of death.’”That’s how one suburban Chicago coach reacted to the release of the regional, sectional and supersectional sites by the IHSA last Friday. Similar sentiments are likely being felt by coaches throughout Illinois regardless of their team’s class, ...

Junior Addie Brookbank (5) and Barrington will try to improve to 12-1 when they visit Mid-Suburban West rival Fremd on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThree weeks in the books and we still have more questions than answers.This week's Wheaton Classic may answer a few of those questions in Class 4A, or it could leave us with a preponderance of riddles much like the Lincoln and Effingham tournaments did last weekend.Meanwhile, while some schools already know if they are hosting regionals, we are lookin...

Mother McAuley defeated Notre Dame Academy (Louisville, Kentucky) on Saturday to win its second consecutive ASICS Challenge championship. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s the same old story – B beats A, C beats B, A beats B.Can anyone hold down the top spot in the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls High School Class 4A rankings?We could find out this week when Marist, which beat Mother McAuley to open the door for Benet Academy to assume the top spot after the Redwings beat Marist in the finals of the Wheaton Classi...

St. Francis (far court), which has elected to play up in the Class 3A tournament starting next week, and Class 2A Chicago Christian were among the teams that participated in Blocktober Fest last weekend at Planfield Central. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) How many boundary-restricted public schools can lose their second-leading attacker and one of their top setters/hitters from the previous season and still manage to survive, let alone thrive?Not many, unless you’re Barrington.The Fillies lost 6-5 outside hitter and South Carolina recruit Ca...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Macomb's Kennedy Adair recorded her 1,000th career kill during Saturday's tournament at Quincy Notre Dame. That’s a wrap on the 2022 regular season. Now the real fun begins.Less than three weeks from today, the IHSA will crown champions in four classes. The road to Redbird Arena has more potholes than an Illinois winter. Who will navigate it best?That question, and more, will be answered in the next few weeks.Meanwhile, here are the final regular-season 1st Alliance VBC/Illprepvb.com Girls High School Rankings:Class 4A (last week’s rank...