New faces, same results. SPVB B18 Bravo wins gold at the Chi-Town Boys Challenge

SPVB B18 Elite finished ninth in the 18 Open division at the 2025 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge at McCormick Place. https://youtu.be/b-EALao5p50 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe names have changed, but one thing hasn’t … the winning.SPVB B18 Bravo, which won an AAU national championship in the 18 Select division last summer in Orlando, defeated MAVS 18 Red (Lenexa, Kansas), 25-23, 25-22, to win the 18 Elite division at the 2025 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge Monday at McCormick Place.None of last year’s Bravo cast returned ...

Downers Grove South reverses the flow in the third set to sideline St. Ignatius

St. Ignatius' Skylar Greene, shown earlier this year during the Mizuno Crimson Classic, was forced to leave Thursday's regional championship match after suffering a gash on her right knee after crashing into the stands chasing a loose ball late in the second set. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSt. Ignatius ebbed when it should have flowed, and when the door opened, Downers Grove South just couldn’t say no.Downers Grove South used a 9-0 run midway through the third set to erase an 11-9 deficit, then weathered ...

Six Illinois athletes among 17 named to the first U.S. Boys U17 National Team

Frankie Vincent of Schaumburg High School and Pipeline VBC is one of six Illinois athletes named to the first U.S. Boys U17 National Team. COLORADO SPRINGS – Six athletes from Illinois are among the 17 who have been selected for the 2025 U.S. Boys U17 National Team that will train for the 2025 NORCECA Boys U17 Continental Championship, set for November 18-23 in Managua, Nicaragua.The six players from Illinois are 5-10 sophomore libero Nate Paige (Wheaton Warrenville South/630 Volleyball VBC), 6-3 sophomore middle blocker Sean John (Hersey/...

Looking for players to watch during the IHSA tournament? Here are 30 of them

Addison Nenninger has set two IHSA championship teams for Breese Mater Dei. Can she make it three in a row? By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIf you love high school volleyball but your favorite team is eliminated from postseason contention, yet you still want to see some great volleyball, we’ve put a list together of some players you might want to catch while your team looks ahead to next year.Check them out. It promises to be the best two hours or so you’ll spend before the extended family invades your home at Thanksgiving and...

LaSalle-Peru ready to go to the mats next week after beating ‘super-hyped’ Kaneland

LaSalle-Peru earned a share of the Interstate Eight Conference title Thursday with its win over Kaneland. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNext stop … Galesburg.LaSalle-Peru’s 5-10 junior outside hitter Aubrey Duttlinger declared the Cavaliers ready for the postseason after her team defeated Kaneland, 25-19, 25-16, Thursday in Maple Park to earn a piece of the Interstate Eight Conference championship.The win was LaSalle-Peru’s sixth in its last eight games after back-to-back losses to Morris and Sycamore earlier this month ended what h...

Looking for a darkhorse in the upcoming IHSA state tournament? Here’s 12 of them

Lincoln-Way East, which has yet to see Indiana recruit Alaina Pollard on the court, served notice that it is still a team with which to reckon in the IHSA tournament with its win over Lockport on October 14. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLyons Township in 1989. Quincy Notre Dame in 1998. Mt. Pulaski in 2007. Chicago Christian in 2010. St. Francis in 2022.What did they have in common?They were all double-digit losers who won state championships.Today, we look at 12 teams that are not ranked. With an e...

Oops! She did it again. Brass named Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb Player of the Week

Benet Academy's Brooklynne Brass (5) was named MVP of Autumnfest at Glenbard East after leading the Redwings to the tournament championship. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBenet Academy’s Brooklynne Brass may not catch former teammate Aniya Warren, whose impressive list of individual hardware included five tournament Most Valuable Player awards, but at least she’s making sure the MVP plaques stay in Lisle.Brass was named the MVP of Autumnfest at Glenbard East last weekend after leading Benet Academy to the ...

Benet wraps up “rivalry week” by beating McAuley for Autumnfest championship

Mother McAuley sophomore outside hitter Keira McQuillan (10) hits past a pair of Huntley defenders during the Mighty Macs' 25-11, 25-14 quarterfinal victory Saturday at Autumnfest. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorRivalry week.“That’s what we called it,” said Benet Academy’s 6-2 setter Ellie Stiernagle.This week, Benet Academy faced the two teams that had beaten the Redwings in the last two IHSA Class 4A championship games – Marist (2024) and Mother McAuley (2023).Benet seniors Stiernagle, Lynney Tarnow and Soph...

Here are 50 more players to watch when the boys ’25-26 club season gets underway

Michael Johnson (77), a 6-3 rightside hitter from Waubonsie Valley, returns after helping SPVB 18 Delta finish in the top 10 of the 18 Club division at last summer's AAU national championships in Orlando. Johnson will play for SPVB 18 Alpha this season. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The boys’ club season kicks off this weekend with THE Point Series 16/15s #1 2025 at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park, followed by the 18/17s on October 25-26 and the 2025 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge at McCormick Place November 1-3....

L-W East’s Ross enjoys ‘sweet’ win over Lockport; Benet’s momentum miffs Marist

Lynney Tarnow (12) had 11 kills and a block in Benet Academy's 27-25, 25-19 win over Marist Tuesday in Lisle. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comRoss was boss. Especially on her 16th birthday.Sophomore outside hitter Kolby Ross celebrated her Sweet 16 birthday with a match-high 14 kills, Klarke Mosby added 11 kills, and Lincoln-Way East got a huge Southwest Suburban Conference win by putting together a big capping burst for a 25-15, 21-25, 25-19 triumph over Lockport on Tuesday in Frankfort.The two teams could...