Marist's sophomore setter Joey Staresinich (23) looks for a teammate during the championship match of the Lincoln-Way East Invitational Saturday in Frankfort. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Christian Cudzilo turned into Godzilla, and Glenbard West avenged its only two losses of the season to capture the championship of the 34th Lincoln-Way East Boys' Volleyball Invitational. Cudzilo clubbed a match-high 9 kills and added 6 digs and 2 blocks in the title match, a 25-11, 25-17 victory over Marist, Satur...

Maine South's six seniors -- (from left) Luka Babich, Simon Zwierczyk, Daniel Troyan, Nelson Arteta, Caden Kalinowksi and Elijah Graves -- celebrated a victory over Maine West Thursday in Park Ridge. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Maine South coach Garrett Fechner wasn’t going anywhere.“The thing I’m proud of our boys is … what really good teams do when not every play is going your way, it's the response, OK?” Fechner said. “You can just take it, or how do you respond to being down? You can call it a night, but I said them, ‘I’m...

Morton improved to 15-4 overall and 3-1 in the West Suburban Gold by defeating Willowbrook on Tuesday with a team that features a heavy reliance on youth, senior leadership and friendship. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt starts with building friendships.Veteran Morton coach Tony Hornilla was faced with a dilemma at the start of the season. The two pin hitters he expected to fill those roles this spring did not return.   “I called up two sophomores last year who were in line to be our next pins, but one left to play tennis...

Oak Park-River Forest setter Matthew Proskey hopes to finish his high school career where it began ... in the IHSA tournament finals. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Anyone who has ever played baseball knows it can get lonely playing the field, particularly in the outfield. You can go batter after batter, inning after inning, without ever making a play or contributing in any meaningful way. But in volleyball, Oak Park-River Forest’s Matthew Proskey is never alone. “Matt gave up baseball to play vol...

Wheaton Warrenville South's Simon Bratt had 14 kills and 3 aces in a losing effort against Oak Park-River Forest in Saturday's championship match of the Richard Griesheim Invitational at Downers Grove South. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Matthew Proskey remembers last year’s disappointment at Downers Grove South. “This means a lot to us,” said Oak Park-River Forest’s 6-2 veteran setter. “Last year, we got second, so we were hungry. We were glad to come back this year and win.”Proskey and Co. wanted desp...

Loyola Academy libero Todd Pham was a busy man Tuesday at Brother Rice, but his 14 digs were not enough as the Ramblers fell to the host Crusaders. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com Coming off an emotional match the previous night, Brother Rice knew that Tuesday’s matchup was more important. After all, it was a Chicago Catholic League Blue division contest.  In a topsy-turvy match, the host Crusaders remained unbeaten in the league with a 25-23, 22-25, 25-20 victory over visiting Loyola Acade...

Wheaton Warrenville South's Simon Bratt is surrounded by his teammates after setting a new IHSA record for career kills Monday at Neuqua Valley. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt wasn’t flashy or spectacular. Not one of those where the player rises up over the net and slams the ball down inside the 10-foot line, drawing a chorus of "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd.It was a simple tip kill over the outstretched arms of two defenders.But like they say about Texas leaguers in baseball, they all look the same in the scorebook.With his s...

Wheaton North defeated Marist to win the Tiger Classic championship Saturday at Wheaton Warrenville South. It was Wheaton North's first TIger Classic title in the tournament's current format. By Phil BroyznskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere was a chance history was going to be made Saturday at the 22nd Annual Tiger Classic hosted by Wheaton Warrenville South.However, few thought that it would be Wheaton North making it.The Falcons weathered an 8-0 run in the first set against defending champion Marist, then survived a see-saw second set behind t...

Wheaton Warrenville South's (from left) Matthew Burkly, Nathan Paige, Simon Bratt. Logan Thornton, Marko Polovina and Ryan Sweeney are looking to become the first host team to win the Tiger Classic since the Tigers defeated Sandburg, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, in 2016. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Wheaton Warrenville South has not won its own tournament since 2016 … about the time the Tigers’ two freshmen setters – 6-0 Matthew Burkly and 5-9 Ryan Sweeney – and 6-1 freshman outside hitter Logan Thornton were 5 years old. But afte...