Glenbard West's Charlie Clifford (8) was an all-tournament selection at Glenbard East and the MVP at Lincoln-Way East. (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 6-4 outside hitter Charlie Clifford.Clifford was named the MVP o...
Bolingbrook, Lewis men’s volleyball find support from unexpected source: each other
Members of the Lewis University men's volleyball team showed their support for the Bolingbrook HIgh School boys' team at Thursday's game against Romeoville. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LQ_9FZqU54 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAnyone who attended a Lewis University men’s volleyball home match this season might have noticed a large and vocal section of high school students wildly cheering on the Flyers.Those high school students were members of the Bolingbrook boys’ volleyball program, who “adopted” the Lewis University men’s...
‘Lost in the sauce,’ Sandburg succumbs to defensively-improving Lincoln-Way East
Lincoln-Way East improved to 4-0 in the Southwest Suburban Conference with its win Tuesday at Sandburg. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLost in the sauce.That’s how Sandburg coach Madisen Babich described her team’s performance Tuesday.“They outplayed us. They outworked us. I think we were in the mindset of looking past them and not really worried about them. But how could you not ever be worried about a Lincoln-Way East?” she said.“It’s jersey to jersey,” Babich added. “It’s Sandburg versus Lincoln-Way East, no matter who's in that je...
Downers Grove North proving it belongs in the conversation, takes down rival York
Downers Grove North fetaures (from left) libero Stellan Hammond, libero Ryan Pawlik, middle hitter Dylan Quinn, middle hitter Gino Andreatta, middle hitter Quinn Leahy, outside hitter Zak Baker and outside hitter Aiden Akkawi. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s been 31 years since Downers Grove North reached the IHSA quarterfinals. Is this the year the three decades-long drought ends?Six-foot-3 outside hitter Aiden Akkawi believes it is.“We’re proving to the whole state (that we’re one of the best teams in Illinois),” he said. “...
Downers Grove North’s Aiden Akkawi is the Ultimate/Illprepvb Player of the Week
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...