Five takeaways from the Asics Challenge
The Asics Challenge, held at Mother McAuley was an amazing Tournament with 24 teams from Illinois and beyond! Here are five quick quips we can takeaway from the tournament. 5. Illinois has great volleyball, just ask 17th ranked Assumption (KY)…
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Continue ReadingThe Asics Challenge, held at Mother McAuley was an amazing Tournament with 24 teams from Illinois and beyond! Here are five quick quips we can takeaway from the tournament.
5. Illinois has great volleyball, just ask 17th ranked Assumption (KY)
Assumption had a rough trip through Illinois. Last year’s Asics winner, fell three times on this trip; Bookend losses to Mother McAuley (Thursday and Saturday), and a loss to Skutt (NE) in the Gold Division semifinals, ended their trip through the state at 3-3.
4. Not all teams held their pre-tournament seed – Mother McAuley = Rising Stock
Six of eight first place teams held seed, with three of the top four seeds reaching the semifinals. The second seed, Marist defeated number four seed, Skutt (NE) in two highly contested sets in the tournament championship. Host Mother McAuley, the 14th seed, upset Sandburg Friday night to place in the Gold bracket. First thing Saturday, the Mighty MAcs defeated number one seed Assumption (KY) to place in the final four. Henry Clay (KY), #9 seed outlast #8 Xavier (IA) to climb into the Gold Bracket quarter finals before losing to interstate rival Assumption. Notre Dame (KY) #7 seed lost to #9 seed St. Thomas (FL), who lost to Downers Grove North (IL), the #23 seed. The three-way log jam had Notre Dame prevailing for that last Quarter Final spot in the Gold Division.
3. Quality play reigned in all three divisions: Gold , Silver, Bronze
In the Silver Bracket, all four semifinal teams were from Illinois. Sandburg recovered from an earlier season loss to Downers Grove North, defeating them 25-20, 25-21, Advancing to the Silver Finals. Nazareth played extremely well in a 25-13, 25-21 win over Marian to reach the Silver bracket title match. In the Bronze Division, St. Charles East won a three set decision over Joliet Catholic by the scores of 25-14, 23-25, 25-13. The consolation match went three sets as well, with Catholic Memorial upsetting Walhert, 15-2, 25-19, 25 -21.
2. Illini favorite Marist receives redemption from 2018
In 2018, Marist fell to Assumption in the final. this season redemption was on their side. Having seen Marist play four matches in the first five weeks of the season, they still showed a different lineup almost every time I watched them play. Their bench players is what sets them apart from most programs. Most teams have two-players to relieve the starters but the Red Hawks can easily go 11 strong in their line up. One of the reasons they defeated Skutt in the final. Speaking of Skutt (NE), they’re definitely as good as Marist and the starting six may be better than Marist. What made them compete was the offense. Moving the ball pin to pin, moving middle from slide to swing hit to quick middle; Skutt was unpredictable in what they would run, unless they needed a must-kill. Then look at Lindsay Krause, 6’3 Outside hitter to get the ball. Which brings me to my last point…
1.The stars weren’t the teams, It was the depth of student-athletes on the rosters
Offense this weekend was tale-telling. It was magical. However, the defensive digs and saves per rally were off the charts insane. Trying to pick my team of All-Illini and All-National teams from this tournament was next to impossible. The next two articles focuses on who these stars were and why. My point here is , every match I saw was gut wrenching. There were 8-point runs follwed by 8-point comebacks. Line kills with bad first digs by the defense, followed by the ball approaching the back wall and the Libero one-handed facing away from the court, J-strokes the ball back to the middle of the court for a teammate to send over. This wasn’t an anomaly, it was every other play. PrepDig names their All-Illini and All-National teams in part two and three of this story.