Recruiting The 2022's and 2023's of the Asics Challenge

For those readers who are new to Prep Dig, we cover athletes of all ability levels. We know for athletes who are looking to play volleyball at the next level, it comes down to best fit and might not always be the highest level of play. This past weekend at the Asics Challenge at Mother McAuley in Chicago, there were plenty of high level 2023 athletes and still plenty of 2022 prospects who would definitely impact a team at the next level. What level is that? That’s up to the athlete and their best fit. Here are some athletes who need to be on the radar for coaches at the next level. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Plenty of highlights all weekend from <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/asicschallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#asicschallenge</a> <a href="https://x.com/McAuley_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McAuley_VB</a> <a href="https://x.com/McAuleyMacs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McAuleyMacs</a> <a href="https://x.com/RedHawkVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RedHawkVB</a> <a href="https://x.com/AHSRockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AHSRockets</a> <a href="https://x.com/SkuttCatholicVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkuttCatholicVB</a> <a href="https://x.com/NDA_athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDA_athletics</a> <a href="https://x.com/AHSRockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AHSRockets</a> <a href="https://t.co/19VErcUPBT">pic.x.com/19VErcUPBT</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1445743638974119939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> *If any of these athletes are committed please email me, <a href="mailto:chris@prepdig.com">chris@prepdig.com</a>. Research was done through a Google and Social Media search.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="106678" first="Sydney" last="Nolan"] is so tough to stop on the slide for <a href="https://x.com/NDA_athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDA_athletics</a> - 2023 plays for <a href="https://x.com/NKYVC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NKYVC</a> We’re going to set three! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/asicschallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#asicschallenge</a> <a href="https://t.co/iuP4QufXX7">pic.x.com/iuP4QufXX7</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1444370981871620096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="106678" first="Sydney" last="Nolan"] - Notre Dame Academy (KY) Class of 2023 - Middle Blockers Nolan was dominant this weeked for the Pandas who took runner-up behind Assumption after a three set battle in the finals. However, in the semifinals against Mother McAuley, Nolan was too tough to stop. Everyone in the gym knew that Nolan was going to get set on the slide or a “C” or shoot where she can attack at every angle. At 6’3 and a high tough (Approach touch at 10’5), she is a major presence that teams have to know where she is at in every front row rotation. Her ceiling is extremely high for growth for an already strong foundation of skills. She plays club at NKYVC. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="61672" first="Caroline" last="Macander"] running quite the show for <a href="https://x.com/McAuley_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McAuley_VB</a> - she’s pushing to the pins off one foot while remaining neutral. Really physical at the net as well. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/asicschallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#asicschallenge</a> Gold Semifinals <a href="https://x.com/McAuley_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McAuley_VB</a> 17 <a href="https://x.com/NDA_athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDA_athletics</a> 15 — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1444362368587374592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="61672" first="Caroline" last="Macander"] - Mother McAuley (IL) Class of 2022 - Setter Command of the court. A leader. Macander gets to every ball and is an absolute workhorse for Mother McAuley where she is getting her hands on every ball. Her energy and fight is contagious for the rest of the team. McCauley suffered a tough three set loss to NDA in the semifinals and came back to win a consolation match against a really gritty Marist team. McCauley has plenty of weapons on offense, but Macander is the one who puts her teammates in position to terminate.   [player_tooltip player_id="126332" first="Emily" last="Bentley"] - Notre Dame Academy (KY) (Title Photo) Class of 2022 - Setter Bently stood out right away to me even Friday night at Palos Courts. Bentley puts up such a smooth ball up for her attackers and its a well orchestrated offense. Attackers aren’t guessing where the ball is going to be. The slide is absolutely money for both of her middles where you know there has been plenty of repetitions to get this down. Bentley isn’t an offensive setter, but her offensive attacking efficiency is extremely high with how she can aggressively throw down a ball inside the ten foot line. I tried finding where she was committed because with her skill set, I know plenty of schools would be happy to have her on their side of the net next year.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> More standouts from the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/asicschallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#asicschallenge</a> from multiple states Morgan Burke - <a href="https://x.com/SkuttCatholicVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkuttCatholicVB</a> Paisley Douglas - <a href="https://x.com/SkuttCatholicVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkuttCatholicVB</a> [player_tooltip player_id="106674" first="Emma" last="McDowell"] - Dunbar (Lexington, KY) [player_tooltip player_id="106672" first="Ava" last="Jackson"] - Dunbar [player_tooltip player_id="157453" first="Peyton" last="Mast"] - <a href="https://x.com/NDA_athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDA_athletics</a> P.S. there’s A LOT of high level liberos here — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1444103674582740992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="157453" first="Peyton" last="Mast"] - Notre Dame Academy (KY) Class of 2023 - Right Side Strong, physical, left handed right side. However, I’m going to throw in the adjectives dynamic and smooth which I don’t always use with left hand players (but I love leftys! No hard feelings). Mast is able to swing on both pins. She can pass and serve receive and swing on the left side which is often tough for many left-handed athletes. She can come out of the middle and swing a two ball and is a given to blast away from the right side. What her biggest attribute is that she is not a one trick pony, she can do multiple things for her team along the front row. [caption id="attachment_160241" align="aligncenter" width="482"]<img class="wp-image-160241" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/10/DSC09588.jpg" alt="" width="482" height="321" /> [player_tooltip player_id="57287" first="Tatum" last="Baldwin"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="57287" first="Tatum" last="Baldwin"] - Sussex Hamilton (WI) Class of 2022 - Setter [player_tooltip player_id="81266" first="Riley" last="Dahlquist"] - Sussex Hamilton (WI) Class of 2022 - Middle Blocker These athletes will have plenty of options after their prep volleyball careers are done. Their first priority will be looking to return to the state tournament after claiming the 2020 state championship in Wisconsin’s largest class. Baldwin and Dahlquist have played for Milwaukee Sting throughout their club careers and are accustomed to top tier training and high level competition. Baldwin runs the floor like a point guard (she might have some basketball in her blood with her dad being the head coach at UW-Milwaukee and her brother Patrick being one of the top incoming freshman in the country at UWM. Dahlquist is strong and physical at the middle where she is a strong defensive presence and can score points. <img class=" wp-image-160242 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/10/DSC09670.jpg" alt="" width="474" height="316" /> [player_tooltip player_id="138649" first="Kamryn" last="Chaney"] - Marist (IL) Class of 2023 - Outside Hitter It remember seeing Chaney play for Michio, but I say this to people often, where realizing who athletes are from club to high school takes me a bit to make the connection. It wasn’t just the swing from Chaney, but the sound of when she strikes the ball is just different. There is plenty of power from Chaney, but this weekend she showed that she can power through, but also mix in tips and shots to keep the defense guessing on what her next move will be.   [player_tooltip player_id="61673" first="Anna" last="Baranski"] - Minooka (IL) Class of 2023 - Setter/Right Side I’ve seen Baranski play for a couple of years between Minooka and Uno and she just finds ways to do positive things for her team. She’s the utility player who can play any position and will find a way to contribute to her side of the net. She was setting and playing right side Friday and her game is so polished. She’s fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game and has so many positive intangibles on her side.   [player_tooltip player_id="106672" first="Ava" last="Jackson"] - Paul Laurence Dunbar (KY) Class of 2022 - Outside Hitter [player_tooltip player_id="106674" first="Emma" last="McDowell"] - Paul Laurence Dunbar (KY) Class of 2022 - Libero Dunbar came from Lexington, Kentucky to compete against some of the top teams in the country. Two players who are Seniors that really stood out were [player_tooltip player_id="106672" first="Ava" last="Jackson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="106674" first="Emma" last="McDowell"]. Jackson is a really fast twitch outside hitter where she can do a lot of fun things on the outside where she is a pure point scorer. McDowell is so solid, there’s no flash to her game, she just makes the play and goes about her business. She commands the defense and gets the job done by making all the routine plays look easy.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Mary Clare Brusek has been dominant out of middle for <a href="https://x.com/RedHawkVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RedHawkVB</a> - finding multiple ways to score. Tied at 22 in set two <a href="https://t.co/fvl9XL0DSc">pic.x.com/fvl9XL0DSc</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1444402667195936768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Mary Claire Brusek - Marist (IL) Class of 2022 - Middle Blocker Brusek was one of the top middles in the entire tournament. Just under six feet tall, Brusek is fast twitch where she moves incredibly well along the net and the connection between her and 5’5 freshman setter Maddie Berry was on point. Brusek knows how to find the open corner, is available in transition, and knows when and how to throw to score points. Her efficiency had to be through the roof and had the hot hand all weekend.   [caption id="attachment_160243" align="alignright" width="422"]<img class="wp-image-160243" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/10/DSC09666.jpg" alt="" width="422" height="283" /> Arteaga[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="61662" first="Chloe" last="Arteaga"] - Marist (IL) Class of 2022 - Libero Arteaga has a major presence on the court. She does everything that is expected of liberos from taking pace off a hard swing and her serve receive is on the money. However, her anticipation is really strong where she is picking up everything on the scramble plays. She does well in chaos where she can pick up a tip, set a second ball to an open hitter, and always make the ball better.     Erica Sledge - Marian Catholic (IL) Class of 2022 - Setter Sledge’s hands are money. She is so smooth with her release to get the ball to her attackers. With her movement on the court, she gets her feet in position to set the ball cleanly and can really move the ball from pin to pin. Sledge has played her club ball for Ultimate and has had a really successful career on the high school and club level. She will be a solid pick up at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id="61689" first="Natalie" last="Kent"] - Joliet Catholic (IL) Class of 2022 - Libero Kent keeps it real simple for Joliet Catholic. She makes all the plays her team needs and provides plenty of stability and consistency to the defense. The Angels are a real aggressive team where they go for the big swings and blocks. Kent is one who can establish control on the court and provides that first touch in order to keep a dynamic offense running.