Jeff Vorva

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Jeff Vorva

For Lincoln-Way West senior outside hitter Hunter Vedder, it’s time to get serious. The Warriors were state quarterfinalists and won 32 matches last season. They have high hopes but have been underperforming this spring. And Vedder, the team captain, has seen enough. “I have to make sure everyone is on their best behavior,” said Vedder, a Trinity Christian recruit. “There is no time for messing around. We all have to stay focused and get back to work.

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Jeff Vorva

For a while, Matt Pennala didn’t listen to overtures from St. Xavier coach Tom Ryan. In 2018, Pennala graduated from high school in Long Beach City, California. But after playing for Long Beach City College in 2023, he didn’t see the wisdom of continuing with volleyball. Then Ryan came calling. “I pretty much ignored him,” Pennala said of Ryan. “At the time, I just wanted to get my associate’s degree.

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Jeff Vorva

Moving up? Lincoln-Way East, Stagg and Oak Lawn inch up rankings topped by Marist. Top 10With records through Tuesday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Marist 23-1 (1)Nathen Toth and Redhawks have Midwest Battle, Brother Rice and Glenbard West coming up. 2. Lincoln-Way East 19-3 (3)Could Will Hubatch and Griffins face Marist this weekend at Midwest Battle hosted by Fishers? 3. Brother Rice 21-6 (2)Junior setter Oliver McNichols makes all-tournament team at Lincoln-Way East Invitational.

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Jeff Vorva

At first, Stagg’s Michael Kos said he was a football player who plays volleyball, even though in grade school he was a “volleyball guy.”Then, he said he liked both sports equally. The way the sophomore outside hitter is playing lately for the Chargers, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he became a volleyball guy who plays football. Either way, the sports complement each other. “He’s gotten so big and so strong playing football and his swing is hard to stop,” Stagg coach Pat Kelly said of Kos.

1 week ago | southwestregionalpublishing.com | Jeff Vorva

Jim Dodge’s first joke as the new mayor of Orland Park on May 5 was that his initial village board meeting was going to last three hours. The truth is that it took around 40 minutes and the hundreds of people in attendance at Village Hall were appreciative and even more appreciative they were able to walk next door to the Civic Center for some cake and other treats as they celebrated a new era in the village’s history. Dodge, trustees Dina Lawrence, John Lawler and Joanna M. L.