Mother McAuley sophomore outside hitter Keira McQuillan (10) hits past a pair of Huntley defenders during the Mighty Macs' 25-11, 25-14 quarterfinal victory Saturday at Autumnfest. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorRivalry week.“That’s what we called it,” said Benet Academy’s 6-2 setter Ellie Stiernagle.This week, Benet Academy faced the two teams that had beaten the Redwings in the last two IHSA Class 4A championship games – Marist (2024) and Mother McAuley (2023).Benet seniors Stiernagle, Lynney Tarnow and Soph...

Michael Johnson (77), a 6-3 rightside hitter from Waubonsie Valley, returns after helping SPVB 18 Delta finish in the top 10 of the 18 Club division at last summer's AAU national championships in Orlando. Johnson will play for SPVB 18 Alpha this season. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The boys’ club season kicks off this weekend with THE Point Series 16/15s #1 2025 at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park, followed by the 18/17s on October 25-26 and the 2025 AAU/JVA Chi-Town Boys Challenge at McCormick Place November 1-3....

Lynney Tarnow (12) had 11 kills and a block in Benet Academy's 27-25, 25-19 win over Marist Tuesday in Lisle. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Randy WhalenSpecial to Illprepvb.comRoss was boss. Especially on her 16th birthday.Sophomore outside hitter Kolby Ross celebrated her Sweet 16 birthday with a match-high 14 kills, Klarke Mosby added 11 kills, and Lincoln-Way East got a huge Southwest Suburban Conference win by putting together a big capping burst for a 25-15, 21-25, 25-19 triumph over Lockport on Tuesday in Frankfort.The two teams could...

Barrington junior Kalyn Brookbank ranks among the top attackers in Illinois this fall with more than 350 kills. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorTalk about tough acts to follow.Barrington’s 6-1 junior Kalyn Brookbank hails from a strong lineage of outstanding athletes. Her mom, Betsy Spicer-Brookbank, was a two-time All-Big Ten volleyball selection at Illinois. Her aunt, Nellie Spicer-Coleman, starred at UCLA and was a member of the U.S. national team.Last season as a sophomore, Kalyn played high school ball...

Mascoutah finished fourth at the Saints Fall Classic Saturday in Bloomington, and had a good time doing it. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepb.com EditorHere are the best 10 things we saw (and heard) at the Saints Fall Classic Saturday in Bloomington1. The championship match.Bloomington Central Catholic and Normal U-High met up for the second and final time this season – the Saints are Class 2A-bound in the postseason and U-High is solid contender in Class 3A – in the championship match Saturday. It did not disappoint. The Saints overcame deficits o...

DeKalb took DuPage Valley Conference-leading Naperville North to the limit Wednesday. but changing the culture at the smallest school in the conference does not include talk about moral victories. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorDeKalb’s volleyball records are a little shaky between 2017 and the time when Keith Foster arrived in 2024.In fact, according to the IHSA record books, they’re non-existent.Now, Foster is trying to help the Barbs write a few chapters worth remembering.Foster came to DeKalb after spending 14 season as head coach...

Junior Kalyn Brookbank had 15 kills, 1 block, 6 digs and 5 aces as Barrington defeated Wheaton Warrenville South, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, Monday in Warrenville. It was Barrington's 13th three-set match this fall. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Stop by the concession stand. Pick up some popcorn, a slice of pizza and a cold drink. Talk to a few friends. Mingle in the hallway. Walk, don’t run, to the restroom. There’s no rush.Why?Because when Barrington plays volleyball, there’s a good chance that even if you mis...

Minooka's Kendall Kozak (6) has been a weapon for the Indians as both a setter and an attacker. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor Minooka setter/opposite hitter Kendall Kozak may not join the 1,000 kills-1,000 assists club for her career, but there’s no denying the contributions she has made to the Indians’ program since joining the varsity as a sophomore. Last week, the 5-10 senior registered her 1,000th career assist as Minooka defeated Romeoville, 25-15, 25-20, to remain atop the Southwest Prairi...

Cayla Prohaska had 20 klls in Saturday's championship match of the ASICS Challenge, but Assumption took the title, 17-25, 31-29, 25-17. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorMother McAuley had not one, not two, not three … but six chances to win the ASICS Challenge on the south side Saturday.Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky) just refused to go away.The Rockets fought off six match points in the second set, the last trailing 29-28, then went on an 8-1 run leading 16-15 late in the third to defeat the Mighty Macs, 17-...

Haley Burgdorf (23) and her St. Charles North teammates built a pair of big leads, then held on to defeat visiting St. Francis, 25-18, 25-22, on Wednesday. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo how did Haley Burgdorf spend much of her Wednesday?“Raw-dogging,”’ she said.The St. Charles North senior class was given the day off from school Wednesday while others in the building were testing. The disruption of their routine clearly threw the North Stars off their game Wednesday against visiting St. Francis.Althou...