Barrington's 6-10 outside hitter Cole Hartke is helping the Broncos find their way after they experienced a slow start to the 2024 season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.comThere is a simple formula in volleyball that states, “energy plus fun equals wins.”Barrington did not display much energy at the beginning of the season and certainly wasn’t having a lot of fun.Cole Hartke is helping to change that.“We had a rough start,” said Barrington’s 6-10 outside hitter. “We weren’t playing to expectations. We really needed to t...

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...

Loyola Academy's Jack Lopez (10), who led the Ramblers to the championship of the 20th Annual Tiger Classic, is this week's Ultimate VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Week. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhat would former Loyola Academy and Pepperdine great and 2014 Sun-Times Player of the Year David Wieczorek think about Jack Lopez’s performance last weekend at the 20th Annual Tiger Classic?“He was smiling all the way from the beaches of California,” said Loyola coach Lionel Ebeling. Lopez had 61 k...

Loyola Academy (near court) extended its season-opning win streak to 17 by defeating Lincoln-Way West, 25-18, 25-21, to win the 20th Annual Tiger Classic Saturday in Wheaton. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLoyola Academy coach Lionel Ebeling wasn’t making excuses after the Ramblers dropped their first set of the season to Lake Park in Saturday’s semifinals at the 20th Annual Tiger Classic hosted by Wheaton Warrenville South.But …“What's amazing is that we have yet to play with our six or seven guys in our...

SPVB 16 Elite won the 16 Open division at last weekend's 2024 JVA World Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – Down two starters? No problem.At least it wasn’t last weekend for Sports Performance 16 Elite, which played without 6-1 setter Ellie Stiernagle (Benet Academy), who is still recovering from a hand injury, and 6-0 outside hitter Haley Burgdorf (St. Charles North), who was on loan to SPVB 18 Elite.  SPVB 16 Elite (8-1) shook off a second-day, 25-21, 16-25, 15-11 loss to Tri-State Elite 16 Blue (Cincinnati, Ohi...

St. Charles East boys coach Matt Caputo won his first game at his alma mater thanks to the efforts of Adi Nakarani (1), Alex Temple (13), NiharPatel (2) and Andrew Heilers (11). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMaybe it was some of that old Wheaton Warrenville South magic rubbing off.Matt Caputo, who was the starting libero on Wheaton Warrenville South’s 2007 IHSA championship team, is in his first year as boys head coach at St. Charles East. He brought his Saints to Wheaton on Thursday to compete in the 20th Annual Tiger Classic.Would...

Adam Graham (left) had 8 kills and 8 digs and libero Andrew Ellis added 14 digs to help lead Glenbard West to a 19-25, 25-21, 25-17 victory over York Tuesday in Elmhurst. (File photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone should be.” – Clementine Paddleford.York was just a few points from handing two-time defending IHSA champion Glenbard West its first loss of the young season and only its third West Suburban Silver setback dating to 2016, leading 25-19, 16-13 in the batt...

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...

Glenbard West's 6-3 outside hitter Adam Graham was named the MVP of the Brother Rice Smack Attack last weekend. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMoments after Glenbard West defeated Marist to win the Brother Rice Smack Attack last weekend, 6-foot-3 outside hitter Adam Graham explained why the Hilltoppers continue to dominate Illinois boys’ volleyball.“We beat ourselves up in practice knowing that we're going to get better,” he said. “We need to get better to accomplish our goals.”Few work harder – either on ...

Caleb Day (2), Jack Byers (24), August Werner (9) and Kamden DeJournett (7) have led an otherwise young and inexperienced Belleville East team to a record 16-0 start. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDon’t ask August Werner about Belleville East’s three losses to O’Fallon last year.“It haunts me,” said the Lancers’ 6-1 outside hitter. “It haunts me. I’ve lost nine times to them. I haven’t won a single time against them playing varsity.”Belleville East will find out soon enough how they stack up against their Southwestern Confere...