Barrington's 6-4 junior Sam Grozdic (3) had 8 kills and 2 blocks in the Broncos' 23-25, 25-21, 15-8 loss to Lincoln-Way East Saturday at North Central College. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorProm in the Pepper Family Wildlife Center at the Lincoln Park Zoo, which houses African lions, snow leopards, Canada lynx and red pandas, got a little sweeter for Lincoln-Way East early Saturday.The Griffins simply better hope none of the lions have a sweet tooth.  Lincoln-Way East (23-10 overall, 3-3 in the Southwest S...

Sandburg junior Jeremiah Aro (airborne left) had 11 kills to pace the Eagles, but it wasn't enough as Homewood-Flossmoor prevailed Tuesday in Orland Park, 25-22, 18-25, 31-29. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWhen Homewood-Flossmoor opened the season by winning 18 of its first 20 matches, the Vikings looked like shoe-ins to topple the program’s season record for victories. However, after a down stretch, the record started to seem unattainable.But the Vikings dug deep and found a way to win a big Southwest S...

Erik Gonzalez (3) had 7 kills in Lockport's 25-20, 25-22 victory Thursday over Lincoln-Way West. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYou know the old adage … share and share alike?Well, Lockport ain’t gonna be sharin’ this one.The Porters defeated Lincoln-Way West, 25-20, 25-22, Thursday in Lockport to clinch the outright Southwest Suburban Conference championship for the first time in program history.Lockport earned a share of the conference title in 2021 when the Porters, Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way Wes...

Junior middle hitter Matthew Swiatkowski (9) and the Benet Redwings competed in the tournament at Metea Valley on Saturday. On the home page, Geneva's Jack Malley (left) tries to get a kill past a crowd at the net at the Metea Valley tournament. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The heavily-bandaged right hand of York’s Jack Bute is testament to the power of Barrington’s 6-10 outside hitter Cole Hartke. Bute suffered an injury to his hand trying to block Hartke during club practice a few months ago.Hartke...

York's Jack Bute went from freshman 'B' team setter to one of the top outside hitters in Illinois. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorJack Bute began his high school career buried in the recesses of fieldhouses throughout the western suburbs as a setter on York’s freshman “B” team. But he developed one indispensable skill going into his sophomore year.“I brought Jack up as a sophomore due to his great serve receive, and he killed it in his sophomore year in that role,” said York coach Ken Dowdy. “Talk about an underclassman wh...

Thomas Tagtmeyer (10) crushes a kill between Plainfield South's Dominic Krejci (21) and Milan Gracanin (15) during the Bengals' 25-16, 25-19 victory Thursday. )Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorAfter playing vital roles on a team that went 33-6, won the Southwest Prairie Conference at 10-0 and advanced to the sectional championship before falling to O’Fallon, 25-18, 25-21, Plainfield East seniors Thomas Tagtmeyer and Braxton Francis have their sights set on another long postseason run.  “Thomas has been the guy for...

Gavin Gonzalez (3) and St. Francis were handed their first Catholic League loss Tuesday at Brother Rice. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThere is still a lot of fight in Brother Rice.Literally.Twin brothers John and Zach Mikrut warmed up for the Crusaders' big match against St. Francis by getting in a fight with each other at practice on Monday. That certainly fired up the pair as they took their frustrations out on the Spartans, combining for 21 kills and 4 blocks to lead Brother Rice to a 25-22, 25-...

1st Alliance 18 Gold reached the championship match of the 18 Open division at the 2024 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Baltimore, Maryland, before falling to TAV 18 Black out of Austin, Texas. (From left) Katie Scherer, Calli Kenny and Grace Nelson were named to the 18 Open all-tourament team. Baltimore, Maryland – After staging an improbable rally from a 14-11 deficit in the third set to defeat Munciana 18 Samurai, 14-25, 25-21, 16-14, in a challenge match Saturday, 1st Alliance 18 Gold seemed destined to claim a na...

Marist junior setter/rightside hitter and Ohio State recruit Christian Teresi was named MVP last weekend at Lincoln-Way East after leading the RedHawks to the tournament championship. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Christian Teresi was everywhere short of selling popcorn in the stands when he finished with 11 kills, 11 assists, 4 aces and 6 digs in Marist’s first meeting with defending IHSA champion Glenbard West earlier this month at the Brother Rice Smack Attack.But his efforts went for naught as the RedHawks lost to the...

Hersey improved to 22-3 with a 25-23 18-25, 16-14 victory over Glenbrook South on Saturday in Arlington Heights. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSix-foot-2 outside hitter Justin Arrowood had a lot of friends on the other side of the net when his Huskies played Glenbrook South in the final match of the Hersey round-robin tournament Saturday in Arlington Heights.But friendships are typically set aside when the first ball is tossed in the air.“Coming into this game, everyone knew this was the game that mattered,” Arrowood said. “We lo...