Plainfield East's Tyler Volling (21) was named the MVP at the Richards tournament. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSaturdays have not been kind to Plainfield East.“We dominate that narrative,” said Plainfield East’s 6-2 junior setter/rightside Nathan Grutza.Heading into the quarterfinals Saturday at Richards, Plainfield East was 20-1 on weekdays but a pedestrian 5-4 on Saturdays.The Bengals went 1-2 on Saturday at Marist (losing to Marist and Downers Grove South to finish fourth), 2-1 at Smack Attack (losing to...

Led by Joe Watkins (18, back row, third from left), Lyons defeated Lockport to win the Argo Invite Saturday in Summit. https://youtu.be/Ra4abzYr-SU By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorJoe Watkins’ memory might be a little hazy, but there’s nothing wrong with his game.With Lyons trailing Lockport 15-13 midway through the third set of the Argo Invite championship match, Watkins strung together three successive kills to ignite a 12-8 closing run that gave the boys in royal blue and gold a 25-23, 15-25, 25-23 victory and the tournament ti...

Plainfield North (far court) travels to Homewood-Flossmoor Tuesday while Glenbard West (near court) entertains Oak Park-River Forest. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comWith Southwest Suburban Conference play opening next week, the Andrew boys’ volleyball team knows it has to bring its A game.Well, to tune up, the Thunderbolts brought their A game -- as in aces – Monday against Eisenhower. Defensive specialist Drew Schissler served six of them and Andrew had 11 aces overall during its 25-8, 25-11 victory over the...

Wednesday's rematch between Glenbard East and Downers Grove South did not quite have the drama of their first meeting this season at the Springfest tournament earlier this month. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorGlenbard East tried to keep it close.But let's be Real. With their best attacker and six-rotation player seated on the bench nursing an injury he aggravated in practice Tuesday, the Rams didn’t quite have enough firepower Wednesday to overcome Downers Grove South in Downers Grove.Downers Grove South, whic...

Metea Valley's Bartosz Chmielewski (6) drives a kill past a Loyola defender during the Tiger Class at Wheaton Warrenville South. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comNolan Krygsheld earned his wings.The Chicago Christian rightside hitter had 13 kills and 5 blocks to help rally the Knights to an 18-25, 25-19, 25-18 victory over Riverside-Brookfield in a Metro Suburban Conference battle of unbeatens Tuesday in Palos Heights. Afterward, he was going to get 10 wings at Buffalo Wild Wings courtesy of Jeff Dryfh...

Hinsdale Central's Carter Lyons delivers one of his 10 kills against York Saturday in Elmhurst. (Phiotos by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comGlenbard West is ready for all challengers.The top-ranked Hilltoppers showed that by handing Indiana's top-ranked team, Roncalli (Indianapolis, Indiana) its first loss of the season, 25-23, 25-23, Saturday in the title match of the 30th Annual Lincoln-Way East Invitational.It was the 22nd straight victory for Glenbard West (23-1). Roncalli (26-1), which was the Indiana state runner-...

Joliet West had a busy but productive summer, winning the summer league at UNO Volleyball Cub and a tournament hosted by Joliet Junior College. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSummertime, and the livin’ is easy … if you happen to be a spectator.Girls who only a few weeks ago turned in their club jerseys have been immersed in an endless series of high school summer camps, summer leagues, college camps, skill camps, college visits, family vacations, etc., etc. etc.Wednesday in Elmhurst, the schedule became slightly less frantic for the e...

Kate Goudreau (3) and St. Charles East defeated Nazareth, 25-16, 25-16, to win the Silver bracket at the ASICS Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley on Saturday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor“Just remember, stick to the plan,” said the Oz the Great and Powerful to Finley the monkey.“But the plan is you,” Finley replied.Whatever the plan was Saturday, Mother McAuley stuck to it. The result was the Mighty Macs’ sixth ASICS Challenge championship, and their first since the national championship team won it back in ...

Paige Lauterwasser, shown here during a match from last fall, powered Naperville North past rival Naperville Central in a DuPage Valley showdown Tuesday at North. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) At BolingbrookIt's a new season, but a match from last year couldn't help but be on the minds of Andrew and Bolingbrook players when the two teams met in a Southwest Suburban Conference battle Tuesday in Bolingbrook.After all, it was a rematch of last season's sectional final.This time, it was the host Raiders who showed they are a team to be reckoned ...

Glenbard West's 6-5 Liam O'Neill (14) and the Hilltoppers will try to defend their 2022 IHSA championship this spring. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorThe boys are back, so here is a look at some of the teams that will be punishing the floors throughout Illinois gymnasiums this spring while they compete for local, conference and tournament bragging rights and perhaps a little IHSA tournament glory in 2023 (in alphabetical order):Andrew (11-25)Sean Burns takes over as head coach for Troy Hari, whose final team re...