Lyons Township junior Brody Lee-Caracci led his team to a regional title with 342 kills this spring. On the home page is Glenbard West's Charlie Clifford. (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 permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorToday, we are pleased to announce the 2025 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys A...
SPVB/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Simon Bratt rewriting the record books
Whearton Warrenville South's Simon Bratt led the Tigers to the IHSA quarterfinals for the first time since 2012 with 655 kills, which ranks second all-time in Illinois history and was third in the nation this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Note: The entire 2025 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com 2025 Boys H.S. All-State Team will be announced Wednesday, June 18. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comAs hard as it may be to believe, Wheaton Warrenville South outside hitter Simon Bratt has only been playing club volleyball for fo...
The best ever? Marist defeats Glenbard West to win its second straight IHSA title
Glenbard West's 6-4 junior middle hitter Otis Yahn (19) had 6 kills in the Hilltoppers' 25-20, 25-20 loss to Marist in Saturday's IHSA championship match at Hoffman Estates. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorLet the debate begin. “This is the best team to ever do it, right here, the best team in Illinois history, hands down,” said Marist coach Jordan Vidovic, moments after his team defeated Glenbard West, 25-20, 25-20, Saturday at Hoffman Estates to earn its second consecutive IHSA championship.“I can say tha...
O’Fallon stuns Sandburg; Lane Tech makes history; Glenbard West, Marist advance
Head referee Marek Franc explains a call to Lake Park's Nolan Cocat (16) and Carter Gibbons (14) during the Lancers' 17-2,5 25-14, 25-21 loss to Marist in an IHSA quarterfinal Friday at Hoffman Estates. (Photo by Mike Cocat) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.com O’Fallon finding itself in a close match? That's no problem for the Panthers.After nearly seeing its season end earlier in the week in a 23-25, 31-29, 25-21 sectional final victory over Lincon-Way East, O'Fallon found itself in another tight match Friday in the second IHSA q...
Marist looking to go back-to-back, but the rest of the field has other weekend plans
Junior setter Andrew Fanella (3) and his Glenbard West teammates will be looking to bring home the school's sixth IHSA boys championship from Hoffman Estates this weekend. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThere will be some new faces taking the floor when the 2025 IHSA boys volleyball quarterfinals get underway Friday at Hoffman Estates.Defending champion Marist and last year’s third-place finisher Glenbard West are the only teams among the eight quarterfinalists returning from year ago, and there is some though...
Sandburg grooves to a little ‘boogie fever;’ ‘We are family’ says Hilltoppers’ Clifford
Glenbard West's Luke Bachman (5) beats the block of Plainfield South's Domonic Krejci (10) and Emilio Lagunes (7) by hitting down the line during the Hilltoppers' 25-17, 25-17 victory in the sectional championship match Tuesday at Hinsdale South. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWill Ashum is Sandburg’s enforcer.“With Will, it's his energy, his attitude,” said Sandburg’s 6-6 outside hitter Jeremiah Aro. “He doesn't take any (crap). If anyone is coming at you, he has your back.”Ashum's attitude was on display t...
Sandburg ends Reavis’ special season; New Trier, Libertyville win at Barrington
Setter Easton Donausky (8) and Sandburg advanced to Tuesday's sectional championship match at Hinsdale Central with its win Saturday over Reavis. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe Sandburg boys' volleyball team underwent a change before this season with former assistant Madisen Babich taking over as head coach.How did that change the Eagles? “We have a new coaching staff and an entirely new culture,” said Sandburg outside hitter Jeremiah Aro said. “They held us accountable. We just shut up and worked.”Th...
Plainfield South stuns Downers North; Reavis screams, surprises Brother Rice
Matt Swiatkowski (9) and Benet Academy, who defeated Oswego, 25-20, 25-14, in the regional championship match Thursday in Oswego, will face Plainfield South in a sectional semifinal at Hinsdale South at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWith their team trailing 21-16 in the third set to No. 2-ranked Downers Grove North in the regional championship match Thursday on the Trojans’ home floor, even the most fervent Plainfield South fan had to have some doubt creeping into their mind.But not Do...
Venes, vidi, vici. No. 10 seed Plainfield South conquers No. 7 Lincoln-Way West
Ermuun Batchuluun had 15 assists, 3 kills and a block in Naperville North's 25-17, 25-16 loss Tuesday to Downers Grove North in a regional semifinal in Downers Grove. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Plainfield South and Lincoln-Way West met earlier this season at the Wheaton Warrenville South tournament, the Warriors won the battle, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20.That victory helped Lincoln-Way West earn the No. 7 seed in the Hinsdale South sectional, ahead of No. 10 seed Plainfield South.The Cougars remembered, a...
St. Charles North bucks the 8 vs. 9 trend, defeats rival Geneva at St. Charles East
St. Charles North's Diego Torres (8) had 5 kills during the North Stars' 25-18, 25-23 victory over Geneva in Saturday's quarterfinal match at the regional hosted by St. Charles East . )File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorNobody has done a study of the IHSA boys volleyball tournament, but…Since the NCAA Division I men’s basketball field expanded to 65 teams in 1985, the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seeds have the closest head-to-head record with the No. 9 seed owning an 83-77 advantage, a 51.88 winning percentage.Somebody fo...