Jack O'Riordan (19) has led Barrington to a 12-0 record this spring and is a top attacker for his club team, Adversity 18 Adidas, which is ranked No. 3 nationally. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorCharlie Spry would probably be dialing up Brian Urlacher for hair grooming tips if not for Jack O’Riordan.Barrington is seeded No. 1 at this weekend’s 2022 Tiger Classic at Wheaton Warrenville South, but the Broncos teetered on the edge in their opening set Thursday against Metea Valley. The Mustangs broke out to a 19-1...
Stop No. 12? Good luck. O'Riordan named SPVB/Illprepvb's top player
Jack O'Riordan provided leadership and phenomenal numbers for a young and untested Barrington team that set a program record for wins. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comEverywhere Jack O’Riordan went this season, it seemed all eyes were on him.The Barrington outside hitter consistently drew multiple blockers, while in the stands every fan came to watch him play, some hoping to see him fail.At times, it was sort of like waiting for someone to steal the basketball from Michael Jordan. It didn’t happen often,...
Byas comes up big for Lincoln-Way East; Molnar seals Downers South's victory
Lincoln-Way East (near court) won the far south suburban sectional title for the sixth time in the past eight years Tuesday, turning back Marist (far court), 23-25, 25-22, 25-21. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJared Byas made sure Lincoln-Way East was the team that was moving on. The Lincoln-Way East outside hitter had a match-high 18 kills and added 8 digs and 10 service points as the Griffins punched their ticket back to the IHSA quarterfinals with a thrilling, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, victory over Marist in ...
Staying in touch with sport he loves, lifelong friendships keep Febonio in the game
Mark Febonio (right), seen here conversing with fellow official Dave Harlan, has been officiating Illinois high school volleyball for 24 years. He says he will continue to officiate volleyball after his job takes him to California this summer. Editor's note: The IHSA tournament gets underway Monday, so we thought we'd begin by taking a look at one of the people who make the tournament possible. By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.comMark Febonio didn’t get the chance to play high school volleyball while he was growing up in Massachusett...
'Don't make Jack mad,' said Wegh. So Barrington tops Buffalo Grove for MSL title
West winner Barrington repeated as Mid-Suburban League champion Thursday, outlasting East winner Buffalo Grove in Barrington. https://youtu.be/rZEqqiYHHdI By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBarrington’s junior setter Carsten Wegh only had one thing on his mind late in the third set of the Mid-Suburban League championship game Thursday.Maybe two things.“I was just trying not to mess up,” Wegh said. “I was trying to get a good ball. Jack (O’Riordan) was pretty fiery, so I was trying to not make him mad.”Trailing 22-20, West division ch...
Brannigan moves on from error, leads Marist past Hinsdale Central in thriller
Hinsdale Central's Jakobi Lange (left) had a match-high 14 kills, but it was not enough as Marist defeated the Red Devils in three sets Tuesday in Hinsdale. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comLuke Brannigan got a second chance. This time, he put it away. Brannigan, a sophomore outside hitter, banged the match-winning kill as Marist scored the final 5 points and defeated Hinsdale Central, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, in a match between two of the state’s top teams Tuesday in Hinsdale. “It felt pretty good, but I als...
Lincoln-Way East rolls; Glenbard West, Libertyville, Downers South also win
Jared Byas had 7 kills as Lincoln-Way East defeated O'Fallon in an IHSA quarterfinal Friday at Hoffman Estates. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/wj6tTrxOdyQ By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comJerry Moylan knows he has a great responsibility as the setter of the Lincoln-Way East volleyball team.His hitters make his job a lot easier.Moylan passed out 19 assists and the Griffins used a balanced attack to topple O'Fallon, 25-17, 25-23, in an IHSA quarterfinal match Friday at Hoffman Estates. Making its sixth state quarter...
Gavin Swartz gets in on the family fun as Glenbard West wins IHSA championship
Liam O'Neill (14) had a pair of kills in the semifinal as Glenbard West defeated Libertyvillle, 25-21, 25-13, on its way to its fourth IHSA championship. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) https://youtu.be/1QfZHq8kMU4 By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWhen Glenbard West won the first of its three consecutive IHSA championships in 2015, 6-foot-5 middle hitter Parker Swartz contributed 7 kills, 3 digs and a block to the Hilltoppers’ 25-15, 25-13 victory over Vernon Hills in the title match.Meanwhile, the volleyball career of middle brother Ryan...
High school careers come to a close for dozens of Illinois girls at USAV nationals
Fusion 18 Silver took just seven players to Phoenix due to illness, injury and other commitments, but went 6-2 in the 18 American division and placed 25th. The high school volleyball careers of dozens of players from Illinois ended last weekend at the 2022 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.And while there were no national championships to celebrate, each team had its own story of courage, determination, and ultimately, survival.Three local teams competed in the 18 Open division – Adversity G18 Adidas, 1st Alli...
Benet, Rogers get the last word against Glenbard East, and the word is … 'Ole!'
Glenbard East's Trevor Real (6) smashed 10 kills Wednesday against visiting Benet, but the visitors prevailed in three sets. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Matt Le CrenSpecial to Illprepvb.com As Benet’s resident artist, Drew Rogers was put in charge of designing T-shirts for the Redwings’ senior night.It was a way for the Maryville University-bound outside hitter to demonstrate that his creativity is not limited to the volleyball court.“I was like, ‘What’s our slogan for the year?’” Rogers said. “It’s got to be, ‘Ole.’”The Redwings began...