Downers Grove North's Aiden Akkawi led the Trojans to the championship of the Downers Grove South Richard Griesheim Invitational with 13 kills in the title match against Oak Park-River Forest. (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 Do...
Downers Grove North defeats Oak Park-River Forest to claim Downers South title
Downers Grove North takes a curtain call after defeating West Suburban Silver rival Oak Park-River Forest in Saturday's championship match of the Downers Grove South Richard Griesheim Invitatational. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDowners Grove North’s Aiden Akkawi has never been part of a team that has won a tournament.“This is big,” he said. “We’ve never won a tournament all the years I've been here. I think it’s been since like 2013 or something like that. It’s been a long drought.”So Saturday, Akkawi w...
Naperville North goes three sets (of course) to beat rival Naperville Central
Of course, Naperville Central and Naperville North went the distance Thursday. What else would you expect from this neighbrohood rivalry? The teams are represented by (front row) Justin Wang and Isaac Merz (Naperville Central) flanking Ermuun Batchuluun (Naperville North), and (back row) Grant Anderson and Owen Hoag (Naperville North) flanking Naperville Central's Teddy Bramlett. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNaperville North has not fared well in three-set matches this season.Entering Thursday’s home contest against crosstown rival ...
Sandburg outlasts Lane Tech at Tiger Classic with a splash of water and a smile
A splash of water and a smile"We're No. 1?' Sandburg coach Madisen Babich could either be indicating a zone for her server or reminding everyone where the Eagles rankied at the 21st Annual Tiger Classic hosted by Wheaton Warrenville South and the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Madisen Babich is Sandburg’s biggest cheerleader. “I'm like a psycho on the sidelines,” she said. “I feel like I need to put a jersey on because the players all stare at me like, ‘She's lik...
Like their older brothers before them, youngest Saurers now sharing the court
Kaden Saurer (left) is a freshman at Queens University of Charlotte while eldest brother Kyle is a redshirt freshman at Brigham Young. The two oldest Saurer brothers played one season together at Elgin Academy before Kyle graduated and the school dropped the boys' volleyball program. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorOne brother attempting to follow in the footsteps of an older brother can be challenging.One brother attempting to follow in the footsteps of two older brothers can be extremely challenging.But two brothers following in the ...
Sandburg’s Jeremiah Aro is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week
Sandburg'sJeremiah Aro (9) ;ed the Eagles to their third Tiger Classic championship last weekend. (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 Sandburg’s 6-6 rightside hitter Jeremiah Aro. Aro was named the MVP at last weekend’s 21st An...
Too much time on their hands? No. 1 seed Belleville East falls in Tiger Classic opener
Belleville East's (from left) Jack Byers, Tyce Watson, Keegan Rose, Drew Neutzling and Chase Nesbit will chase Silver, not Gold, when the Tiger Classic resumes Saturday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMaybe Thursday's two-and-a-half bus ride from Northbrook to Aurora wasn't such a bad thing after all for Glenbrook North at the 21st Annual Tiger Classic.Certainly, waiting around the Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora for an hour-and-a-half for their opponents to show up probably did not do top-seeded Belleville East any favors...
The time may soon arrive to bronze the Gold, so what has led them to this point?
Whitney Young competes in the Chicago Public League Gold division and is annually considered one of the best boys volleyball teams in the city. On the home page are members of Gold division leader Taft. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLane Tech?The Champions have conquered Oswego East, Joliet West, DePaul College Prep, Barrington, Hononegah and South Elgin.Taft?The Eagles have clawed past St. Ignatius, St. Francis, Buffalo Grove, St. Viator and Glenbard South.Whitney Young?The Dolphins swamped Providence Catholic and (Fox Lake) Gra...
Glenbard West working for each other, defeats West Aurora to win Springfest title
Glenbard West's Henry Truitt throws up a set under the watchful eyes of West Aurora's Quinn Reynolds' during the championship match Saturday at Glenbard East. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFifty-six years ago, at an outdoor concert in front of 300,000 people on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York, Country Joe and the Fish asked the question, “What are we fighting for?”Saturday at Springfest hosted by Glenbard East, Glenbard West’s Henry Truitt had the answer … each other.“We all work for each other,” said th...
Maine South’s Trespeces-Winck is the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week
Glenbard West's Henry Truitt (12) was named MVP of the Springfest tournament at Glenbard East last weekend. (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 honor goes to Maine South’s 6-1 outside hitter Leo Trespeces-Winck. Maine South's Leo Trespeces-Winck Trespeces-Winck led the Haw...