Sophomore Bella Potempa (10) and Timothy Christian teammate Abby VanderWal (left) hope to lead the Trojans to their first IHSA Class 2A semifinal berth since 2015. On the homepage is St. Charles North's Haley Burgdorf. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe start of practice for the 2023 Illinois girls high school season is just a little more than a week away. Today, Illprepvb.com takes a look ahead to some of the players we expect to make an impact during the upcoming season.So here they are, the Michio Chicago...

Brendan McCarthy and Bbrother Rice rebounded from Tuesday's loss at Loyola Academy to defeat visiting De La Salle on Thursday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comOak Lawn's youth movement is going strong.Freshman Marco Budzak and sophomore Simon Komperda had 7 kills apiece as the host Spartans watched their young players come through during a 25 -13, 25-19 victory over Shepard in a South Suburban Red clash Thursday in Oak Lawn.The defending South Suburban Conference Red champion Spartans (16-14 overall, 4-2 in c...

Sam Levinson and Lyons Township defeated Downers Grove North Tuesday at Oswego to advance to the IHSA quarterfinals Friday at Hoffman Estates. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) At Lincoln-Way WestMother knows best.So, when Camryn Sheehan woke up not feeling well this morning, his mom, Amy Sheehan, knew what to do to get him better. After all, she had a personal stake in his health. Not only as his mom, but as his coach on the O'Fallon boys' volleyball team.It worked. Sheehan smacked a team-high 12 kills, many of them in a key second-set bu...

Joey Glennon (14) and Lincoln-Way East went 2-0 at the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic on Thursday. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe top seeds were dropping like flies Thursday on day one of the Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic.Sets, not matches.Top-seeded Lincoln-Way East (10-1) was the only one of the four top seeds in action Thursday to avoid dropping a set, sweeping Oswego, 25-17, 25-20, and St. Charles North, 25-18, 25-16, to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals beginning at 9:00 a.m....

Oak Park-River Forest, led by Grace Nelson (11) and Kinsey Smith (4), won the York summer league tournament Monday. https://youtu.be/qerVsnXPrUo By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorIt’s only summer, but …The Oak Park-River Forest redemption tour began in earnest Monday night.“The girls were disappointed with their with their finish last season,” said Oak Park-River Forest coach Kelly Collins, whose 27-10 team was defeated by Mother McAuley, 25-15, 25-15, in a sectional semifinal at Lyons Township a little more than 15 months ago.“The...

Oak Park-River Forest figures to be one of the best teams in Class 4A this season behind Kansas-bound outside hitter Grace Nelson and Davidson College recruit setter Kinsey Smith. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe Illinios girls high school volleyball season begins in earnest in just a few days, and today Illprepvb.com continues its annual series of previews of the teams, players and coaches whose ultimate goal is a trip to Redbird (now CEFCU) Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.Here is nearly everything yo...

The Marist RedHawks ran their record to 8-0 with a 25-20, 25-23 victory Wednesday in Barrington. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Marist coach Jordan Vidovic talks … and Wednesday’s nonconference match at Barrington was only 15 points old when he brought his team off the court for a chat … the RedHawks listen.“Coach does a good job of bringing us all together in the huddle,” said Marist’s 6-5 outside hitter Marty Canavan. “He knows what to say. He knows what we’re doing wrong. He's watching from the sidelines focusing on every posi...

Glenbard West's Parker Moorhead led the Toppers to their second consecutive IHSA championship last weekend at Hoffman Estates. (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 2023 Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our fifth annua...

Benet Academy (far court) improved to 7-2 overall by defeating Naperville North on Tuesday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comThe Block Brothers made sure that Lincoln-Way East kept Brother Rice at bay.The Griffins’ middle hitting pair of Joey Glennon and Sam Yacobozzi combined for 12 kills and 6 blocks as Lincoln-Way East rode some nice blocking and a balanced attack to defeat Brother Rice, 25-20, 25-18, in an early season battle of top teams Tuesday in Frankfort.“I was a little worried since we hadn't played i...