Previewing the 2022 ASICS Challenge
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Let’s dive into one of the best high school tournaments of the season. The annual ASICS Challenge always pulls in some of the best high school volleyball programs from across the Midwest, and that is certainly the case in 2022.…
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Continue ReadingLet’s dive into one of the best high school tournaments of the season.
The annual ASICS Challenge always pulls in some of the best high school volleyball programs from across the Midwest, and that is certainly the case in 2022. Chicago’s Mother McAuley High School is hosting this weekend’s festivities, and I can’t wait to head down there and cover the action.
With teams from a few different states participating in the ASICS Challenge, it might be helpful to get everyone acquainted beforehand. So, here’s a breakdown of the opening pools for this Windy City tilt.
Pool 1
Mother McAuley (IL)
Brookfield Central (WI)
Wahlert Catholic (IA)
Pool 1 of the ASICS Challenge is a microcosm of the exciting field of teams we’ll have in Chicago.
Host team Mother McAuley heads up this group, and taking down this 18-1 powerhouse will certainly be a tough task. The Mighty Macs feature a wide array of 1st Alliance superstars that I covered during this year’s club season, including Gigi Navarrete Gigi Navarrete 5'6" | DS/L Mother McAuley | 2023 State #18 Nation IL , Ellie White Ellie White 5'11" | OH Mother McAuley | 2024 State #34 Nation IL , and Sydney Buchanan.
Brookfield Central of Wisconsin and Wahlert Catholic of Iowa are Pool 1’s visiting teams. Both teams will offer good scouting opportunities when I make the trip from Nebraska to Chicago, so stay tuned for plenty of first impressions.
Pool 2
Assumption (KY)
Montini Catholic (IL)
Joliet Catholic (IL)
Pool 2 is headlined by Kentucky’s Assumption High School, a dynasty that has produced innumerable Division 1 talents over the years. A bevy of efficient attackers leads the Rockets this fall, with Charlotte Moriarty Charlotte Moriarty 5'10" | OH Assumption | 2024 State #170 Nation KY and Bailey Blair doing much of the scoring.
Montini Catholic and Joliet Catholic will be worthy challengers for the Kentucky insurgents. Memphis commit Jordan Heatherly Jordan Heatherly 5'10" | S Montini Catholic | 2023 State #89 Nation IL looms large for Montini, as she can do just about anything for the Broncos as a setter-opposite. This is another 1st Alliance connection to keep an eye on, too.
Pool 3
Notre Dame Academy (KY)
New Trier (IL)
Catholic Memorial (WI)
Another Kentucky entrant spearheads Pool 3. Notre Dame Academy features many athletes that club volleyball enthusiasts will surely recognize, like North Carolina commit Sydney Nolan Sydney Nolan 6'2" | MB Notre Dame | 2023 State #60 Nation KY and 2025 attacker Riley McCloskey Riley McCloskey 6'1" | OH Notre Dame | 2025 State KY . The Pandas boast a balanced attack, so I imagine we’ll be discussing a few more NDA standouts before the end of the week.
With Illinois’ New Trier and Wisconsin’s Catholic Memorial joining the fray, we have an excellent tri-state configuration in Pool 3. Geographical bragging rights are in play.
Pool 4
Omaha Skutt Catholic (NE)
Kettle Moraine (WI)
Downers Grove North (IL)
Here comes the seven-time defending state champion.
Omaha Skutt Catholic is making the trip from my Nebraska backyard, and this event should be a good barometer for this dominant volleyball program. Senior outside hitter Morgan Burke Morgan Burke 5'10" | S Skutt Catholic | 2023 State #132 Nation NE remains a big factor in the offense and can make her mark at one more ASICS Challenge before heading to Michigan next fall.
Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine also has a big-time outside hitter in Grace Grocholski Grace Grocholski 5'10" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI , a multi-sport star who will take her basketball skills to West Virginia next year. All the firepower in this pool still won’t deter Downers Grove North, the sole Illinois team of Pool 4 who will hope to defend some home territory.
Pool 5
Divine Savior Holy Angels (WI)
Sandburg (IL)
Nazareth (IL)
Divine Savior Holy Angels has had a busy schedule in 2022, so the 27-4 squad from Milwaukee should feel right at home in this packed tournament. Sophomore outside hitter Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State #13 Nation WI is a name to know with this group, though many readers here might already recognize her name already.
Sandburg and Nazareth are the two Illinois challengers to the Milwaukee visitors. Once again, Pool 5 offers many new scouting opportunities that I’ll surely take advantage of this weekend.
Pool 6
Marist (IL)
St. Charles East (IL)
Cary-Grove (IL)
Pool 6 features an Illinois triad, and Chicago-area school Marist claims the top seed. While we’re discussing standout 1st Alliance athletes at this event, veteran pin hitter Kamryn Chaney Kamryn Chaney 6'0" | OH Marist | 2023 State #79 Nation IL ought to put on a show for the RedHawks this weekend. The Princeton commit will certainly be among the most physical hitters in Chicago.
St. Charles East and Cary-Grove hope to challenge this physicality. The Illinois familiarity in this group could generate a bit of parity, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
Pool 7
Huntley (IL)
Crystal Lake Central (IL)
Henry Clay (KY)
The Illinois powerhouses just keep flowing in, and Huntley is the top seed in Pool 7. The Red Raiders will likely lean on senior leaders Avary DeBlieck Avary DeBlieck 6'2" | MB Huntely | 2023 IL and Allyson Panzloff Allyson Panzloff 6'1" | OH Huntley | 2023 IL , both of whom are heading to Division 1 destinations next fall. It’s just another demonstration of the growing prep volleyball stronghold of Chicago and its huge network of suburbs.
Crystal Lake Central is also making the short hop to the ASICS Challenge this year. And, if you’re into longer trips, Kentucky’s Henry Clay High School is heading up to Chicago to bolster representation from the Bluegrass State. Henry Clay has produced dynamic collegiate athletes like Kaitlyn Hord and Taylor Trammell, and this event will give us a glimpse at the team’s next wave of talent.
Pool 8
Metairie Park Country Day (LA)
Hamilton (WI)
Minooka (IL)
How’s this for a geographical outlier? Metairie Park Country Day joins the ASICS Challenge field from all the way down in Louisiana. This definitely qualifies as another first look for me, and I’m excited to see what this unfamiliar team can offer.
By contrast, Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin, has a few different athletes that I’ve watched in person at a variety of venues. Sylvie Zgonc Sylvie Zgonc 5'11" | OH Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State #115 Nation WI has been a standout at many of our Prep Dig Circuit events while competing for Milwaukee Sting, and Eva Finnessy Eva Finnessy 5'11" | OH Sussex-Hamilton | 2025 State WI will be another strong attacker to follow here. Both Hamilton and Metairie Park will have the task of holding off Minooka, the lone Illinois team in this final group.