Ermuun Batchuluun had 15 assists, 3 kills and a block in Naperville North's 25-17, 25-16 loss Tuesday to Downers Grove North in a regional semifinal in Downers Grove. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Plainfield South and Lincoln-Way West met earlier this season at the Wheaton Warrenville South tournament, the Warriors won the battle, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20.That victory helped Lincoln-Way West earn the No. 7 seed in the Hinsdale South sectional, ahead of No. 10 seed Plainfield South.The Cougars remembered, a...

West division winner Barrington won its fourth Mid-Suburban League championship in the past five years Thursday, defeating East winner Prospect, 25-17, 25-17, in Mt. Prospect. By Phi BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s boys volleyball team has had more players miss time with injuries and illness this season than the Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff.Six-foot-1 outside hitter Eli Rodda, the team’s lone four-year varsity player and projected as a six-rotation starter, suffered a knee injury April 9, and, prior to Thursday, made only one...

Aidan Akkawi led Downers Grove North with 11 kills in the Trojans' 25-19, 25-12 rout of Glenbard West Tuesday in Downers Grove. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comPractice made perfect for Downers Grove North on Tuesday.Or at least as close to perfect as a volleyball team can get against an elite opponent.The Trojans, ranked No. 3 in the latest Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys H.S. Rankings, made only five hitting errors and got dominant performances across the board in sweeping second-ranked Glenbard W...

St. Charles North's Diego Torres (8) had 5 kills during the North Stars' 25-18, 25-23 victory over Geneva in Saturday's quarterfinal match at the regional hosted by St. Charles East . )File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNobody has done a study of the IHSA boys volleyball tournament, but…Since the NCAA Division I men’s basketball field expanded to 65 teams in 1985, the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seeds have the closest head-to-head record with the No. 9 seed owning an 83-77 advantage, a 51.88 winning percentage.Somebody fo...

Barrington's Matt Louis was a latecomer to the sport and was barely a twos team player when he began. Last week, he was named the Mid-Suburban West Player of the Year. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEach week during the volleyball season, we announce an Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. Coaches throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a player for their outstanding performance on and off the court.This week, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week is Barrington’s 6-6 middle hitter Matt Louis.Louis w...

Vince Spadoni had les West Chicago to a share of the Upstate Eight East division title this spring. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Each week during the volleyball season, we announce an Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. Coaches throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a player for their outstanding performance on and off the court. This week, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week is West Chicago’s 6-6 outside hitter Vince Spadoni. West Chicago's Vince Spadoni Spadoni has 300 kills, 48 a...

West Chicago earned a piece of the Upstate Eight Conference East division title with its 25-23, 25-23 victory Thursday over Ridgewood. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMarist star Christian Teresi put his own spin on the basic law of gravity on Thursday.Everything that goes up must come down, of course. But when Teresi puts the ball down, it sometimes goes back up, occasionally almost to the rafters.The Ohio State recruit did that at a key moment in the second set against host Glenbard West, smashing back-to-back sets from Jacob F...

Wheaton Warrenville South, the top seed at the South Elgin sectional, will open IHSA tournament play against Bartlett at the St. Charles East regional Saturday at 8:00 a.m. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhenever Wheaton Warrenville South’s Mark Gheorghita attends a volleyball camp, he is reminded of the 12 core attributes of a good setter. “One of core attributes is knowing who's got the hot hand,” Gheorghita said.“Most of time, that would be Simon,” he said.Simon Bratt, Wheaton Warrenville South’s 6-3 junior outside hitter, had ...

Owen Bare (far left) watches Otis Yahn convert one of his sets into a kill during Glenbard West's run to the championship of Springfest at Glenbard East earlier this season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEach week during the volleyball season, we announce an Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. Coaches throughout Illinois are invited to nominate a player for their outstanding performance on and off the court.This week, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week is Glenbard West’s 6-0 s...

Mason Lupima (2) and Joliet Central defeated Southwest Prairie Conference rival Romeoville, 25-12, 25-19, on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorReavis’ Pawel Greczek is no stranger to Argo. When he was a member of the Reavis JV team as a freshman, his team defeated Argo to win the conference championship.Tuesday in Summit, Greczek and the Rams added another notch to their belt, defeating Argo, 25-18, 25-18, in a battle of South Suburban Conference unbeatens, clinching no worse than a share of the league...