Future 17-Elite was the top local finisher in the 17 Open division at last weekend's 2024 AAU/JVA Chi-town Boys Challenge at McCormick Place, outperforming its No. 8 seed heading into the tournament to place third. Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Not so fast. Not so fast!” – the Cowardly Lion in “The Wiza...

Benet Academy libero Aniya Warren is making her third consecutive appearance on the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Girls High School All-State Team and is widely considered one of the best liberos in the nation. She will continue her academic and athletic career at Pudue University. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permiss...

Quincy Notre Dame setter Annie Eaton led the Raiders to 137 wins during her four-year career and ranks among the top five on the IHSA list of all-time career assist leaders. (Photos courtesy of Muddy River Sports). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAsk somebody who knows her, and they might tell you that despite her mind-numbing assist record set while at perennial Class 2A power Quincy Notre Dame, 5-8 setter Annie Eaton’s "best and prettiest” assist might not have even occurred on the volleyball court.Back in the spring of 2022,...

Bella Bullington had 16 kills to lead Marist to its first IHSA Class 4A championship since going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Someone along press row asked, “How do you explain it?”Sheer toughness, that’s how.“That’s an upset for the ages right there,” said Marist coach Jordan Vidovic. “No question about it. All toughness, right? You can have the biggest players, you can have a Division I roster, you can bring in transfers, you can do whatever you want, but you still g...

(Bartonville) Limestone's Ella Karmenzind (24) soars for one of her 6 kills in the IHSA Class 3A championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy Sharer            Special to Illprepvb.comNORMAL – Down a set and trailing 19-11 in the second, Mahomet-Seymour seemed stuck between hopelessness and panic against (Bartonville) Limestone in the Class 3A state championship match at CEFCU Arena on Saturday.Appearances, however, were deceiving as the Bulldogs, No. 2 in the final Illprepvb.com state rankings, resuscitated themselves and their rauc...

DePaul College Prep sophomore Kalia Kroth (13) led the Rams past St. Laurence in the IHSA Class 3A supersectional Monday at Hinsdale South. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – Gone is Mother McAuley. Gone, too, are Galena and St. Francis.Three new IHSA champions will be crowned this weekend at Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.But the drama only begins there.Can Benet Academy, which has played second fiddle to Mother McAuley each of the previous two seasons, cap...

Kayla Birmingham (6) had 22 kills and 2 aces, but her efforts went for naught as DePaul College Prep defeated St. Laurence, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21 at the IHSA Class 3A Hinsdale South Supersectional. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDePaul College Prep and St. Laurence have a lot in common.Both schools compete in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference for girls’ sports and the Chicago Catholic League for boys athletics. DePaul College Prep rose from the ashes of Gordon Tech, an all-boys school, in 2014, while previo...

Benet Academy's Keira O'Donnell had 6 kills and 2 blocks to lead the Redwings into Saturday's IHSA Class 4A championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNORMAL – You don’t have to remind the Benet Academy Redwings how their season has ended the last two years.Just don’t compare those teams to this year’s Redwings.“It’s a whole new season, a whole new team, so we’re just trying to treat it like a new opportunity, a clean slate,” said Benet Academy setter Audrey Asleson. “We obviously think about what happe...

Barrington's 6-2 outside hitter Whitney Mall had 14 kills to lead the Fillies to their fourth consecutive Class 4A regional championship at Prospect last week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThis week, rather than recognize one outstanding individual performance, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week series recognizes several outstanding individual performances during last week’s regional championship games.These individuals helped propel their teams to this week’s sectional semifinals, whic...

Benet Academy junior Brooklynne Brass (5) had 13 kills, 2 blocks and 4 digs in the Redwings' sectional championship victory over St. Charles North last Thursday at West Aurora. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThis week, rather than recognize one outstanding individual performance, the Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week series recognizes several outstanding individual performances during last week’s sectional championship games.These individuals helped propel their teams to Monday’s supersectio...