Tri-State Tourney (IA, IL, WI) Recap – Best of the Big Schools

I’ve said this before, but I am extremely fortunate to be able to cover volleyball across multiple state lines. Over the past two weeks I was able to see state tournaments from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Each state has their own quirks to their own tournament which I’ll save for another day, but here is a quick look at the division states and their divisions. Illinois: Four teams in each with Class 4A (largest class), 3A, 2A, and 1A. Teams play at the state tournament at Illinois State University in Redbird Arena. Semifinals are on Friday while the the 3rd place consolation matches and championships are on Saturday. A total of 16 teams qualify. Iowa: Five classes with eight teams who qualify in each class with Class 5A (largest class), Class 4A, Class 3A, Class 2A, and Class 1A. 40 teams get to play at the state tournament where Thursday is a full day of championship matches, where there are little to no conflicts with other post season sports. 40 Teams total compete at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse Arena (formerly known as US Cellular Center formerly known as Five Seasons Center) Wisconsin: There are four divisions with the largest school division (D1) has eight teams while D2, D3, and D4 have four teams. D1 plays Thursday in the quarterfinals, and everyone plays the semifinals Friday and Saturday. Wisconsin has also combined their boys state tournament with their girls state tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay across from Lambeau Field. There are 20 girls teams total. Let’s talk about the top ten large schools. For those reading, we all have a concept of what a small vs. large school is. A little context, I grew up in rural Iowa and I thought I went to a relatively big high school. We were the biggest in our conference, we were in the third largest out of four classes and I honestly didn’t know any different. How many students did my school have? 450. By no means a large school compared to the schools in Illinois where 450 or more in their graduating class might be the normal. For this particular article we are putting the cutoff of large schools vs. small schools at 700 students or above. **And a small disclaimer Iowa is one of the few states that I’ve seen that I believe had a true state tournament where the top eight teams are at the state tournament. There’s a section in Milwaukee that traditionally has four to five ranked teams where only one gets to go to state. Illinois is loaded with teams, specifically in the Mother McAuley region where they defeated Marist enroute to the state tournament where Marist is definitely one of the top ten teams in this tri state area, as well as other Illinois squads. These teams are based on what I saw at the state tournament. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/GatorsVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GatorsVB</a> commit Kira Hutson with the kill. Long and athletic she can hit a variety of angles BHS 16 MV 13 <a href="https://t.co/XVs4eCJJSF">pic.x.com/XVs4eCJJSF</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1459353382028775426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Metea Valley - Aurora, IL (Class 4A - State Champion) Enrollment - 2923 Metea Valley is just miles from the Great Lakes Center where many of these athletes grew up playing in the Great Lakes Power League at Sports Performance. This team is led by one of the top Juniors in the nation in Kira Hutson. Hutson is a 6’4 six rotation outside that can score from everywhere. She is hitting over the block, she can turn the thumb up and go cross body down the line, the defense takes away one shot - she finds another. Defensively, Alabama commit [player_tooltip player_id="61633" first="Morgan" last="Rank"] is constantly saving points. Her range is remarkable and puts up a really pretty ball on the second contact. This squad was looked at as an underdog against the perennial power Mother McAuley out of Chicago, but they just keep chipping away. This team is far beyond Hutson and Rank. Another dynamic player is [player_tooltip player_id="160503" first="Regan" last="Holmer"] who sets and swings for the Mustangs. She will head to Grand Canyon University and play beach volleyball.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <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> are heading to the Class 4A championship The McAuley student section >>>>> <a href="https://t.co/9Exbu5TlFA">pic.x.com/9Exbu5TlFA</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1459343505638268930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Mother McAuley - Chicago, IL (Class 4A - State Runner-Up) Enrollment - 1763 Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School is an all-girl Catholic school in Chicago that is lined with plenty of trophies and awards across all activities. They host the prestigious Asics Challenge mid season that brings in some of the top teams in the country and always have plenty of alums who have found lots of success at the next level. This year’s team is no different with the level of talent and the overall effort and grit these athletes play with. [player_tooltip player_id="138650" first="Gigi" last="Navarette"] is the spark of this team as a liber, she is committed to Northwestern. [player_tooltip player_id="61672" first="Caroline" last="Macander"] is one of the top available Class of 2022 setters who commands the court and knows how to create opportunities for her attackers. Their top attacker is [player_tooltip player_id="135954" first="Ellie" last="White"] who is only a sophomore, but she can attack from anywhere in the front row and is always a threat to score from the middle back as well. <img class=" wp-image-166007 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/DSC02658.jpg" alt="" width="476" height="317" /> Nazareth Academy - LaGrange Park, IL (Class 3A - State Champion) Enrollment - 1245 Seeing Nazareth Academy take on Belvidere North was one of the best matches I saw all season. The Class 3A finals was a chess match where both coaches had their teams extremely well prepared for two teams who are very opposite. Nazareth has the top Class of 2022 prospect in [player_tooltip player_id="61622" first="Katie" last="Hurta"] who sets and swings for the Roadrunners. She is heading to Indiana for college volleyball and she’s not the only Big Ten commit from this squad. [player_tooltip player_id="61653" first="Gillian" last="Grimes"] is the top libero is the Class of 2022 where she completely took over from left back. She had 35 digs in the three set match where she took multiple points away from Belvidere North. She will head to Michigan State next year. Coming back next year for Naz will be Clemson commit Katherine Sandt and another six rotation pin in [player_tooltip player_id="136605" first="Lauren" last="Salata"]. <img class=" wp-image-166006 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/DSC02766.jpg" alt="" width="494" height="329" /> Belvidere North - Belvidere, IL (Class 3A - State Runner-Up) Enrollment - 1440 At the state tournament, there are teams who walk on the court and they are physically imposing. Their front row is six foot or taller and they have an upperhand when they go head to head with the other team due to their size. Belividere North has [player_tooltip player_id="160499" first="Rachel" last="Scott"] who is a physical, athletic middle blocker, but aside from Scott, most of the team is 5’5-5’9….but with a ton of firepower. There are multiple division one commits with [player_tooltip player_id="160499" first="Rachel" last="Scott"] (Milwaukee), [player_tooltip player_id="61651" first="Kaitlin" last="Leider"] (Bradley), [player_tooltip player_id="61647" first="Grace" last="Betke"] (Texas Tech), [player_tooltip player_id="61650" first="Jayden" last="Flynn"] (Stephen F Austin). Ireland Henry is a junior libero who will have plenty of colleges to pick from as well. Betke is a big X-Factor for North where she may only be 5’6, but she plays outside where she has plenty of shots and comes up time and time again with big defensive plays (she will be a DS/L at Texas Tech). Scott, a 6’2 MB/RS is also a six rotation player. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="91876" first="Cordelia" last="Kearns"] with the big swing and kill for Oconomowoc Ocon 25-19, set one <a href="https://t.co/Jf3RlDvXB4">pic.x.com/Jf3RlDvXB4</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1457161173544144897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc, WI (D1 - State Champion) Enrollment - 1700 This team is full of firepower and spent the last half of the season as Wisconsin’s largest class at number one and blazed through the state tournament without dropping a set. Senior, [player_tooltip player_id="57245" first="Haley" last="Koch"] and [player_tooltip player_id="81252" first="Maleah" last="Howe"] are the lone Senior commits. Koch is going to Cedarville in Ohio and Howe was rehabbing an ACL injury. Howe plays club with a lot of the Belvidere North athletes at VC United. Ocon also has two of the top sophomores in the state with middle [player_tooltip player_id="122475" first="Anna" last="Bjork"] and setter, [player_tooltip player_id="122568" first="Lilly" last="Wagner"]. They are strong, athletic, physical and will be two key athletes on the Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold squad for the 2022 club season. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/GatorsVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GatorsVB</a> [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] with the big block for North. A North 6 Ocon 2 <a href="https://t.co/yXlXtFJ7B1">pic.x.com/yXlXtFJ7B1</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1457156302522798081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Appleton North - Appleton, WI (D1 - State Runner-Up) Enrollment - 1780 Appleton North is one of those teams that poses a big time size advantage against most teams they play against. With many athletes six feet or taller, its a physical lineup. There are also plenty of D1 commits who are going to be playing at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="57241" first="Brianna" last="Cantrell"] is the top outside hitter for the Lightning and is a East Tennessee State commit. She is joined by other D1 commits in [player_tooltip player_id="81262" first="Berkley" last="Mischler"] (Lipscomb), [player_tooltip player_id="81269" first="Bella" last="Van Lannen"] (Northern Colorado), [player_tooltip player_id="119395" first="Olivia" last="Lasee"] (Lehigh), [player_tooltip player_id="91877" first="Karissa" last="Fortune"] (Drake), and [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] (Florida). North graduates a large core of their team, but will return Fortune, Lasee, and two top 2024 athletes in [player_tooltip player_id="122483" first="Ella" last="Demetrician"] and [player_tooltip player_id="122566" first="Emerson" last="Van Lannen"]. <img class=" wp-image-166002 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/DSC02896.jpg" alt="" width="434" height="289" /> Barrington - Barrington, IL (Class 4A - Third Place) Enrollment - 2924 Barrington is a Northwest suburb of Chicago where there is plenty of volleyball talent. A third place finish in Illinois’ largest class is no small feat. This team is led by two power pins in [player_tooltip player_id="138663" first="Campbell" last="Paris"] who is committed to South Carolina and [player_tooltip player_id="138661" first="Jessica" last="Horwath"] who is a six rotation solid player who is extremely creative with how she can score points. Libero, [player_tooltip player_id="165821" first="Amanda" last="Cleary"], had over 400 digs on the season and is committed to Missouri State. A Class of 2024 prospect to have on the radar would be a setter/hitter is [player_tooltip player_id="136595" first="Jenna" last="Meitzler"] who is uber smooth and efficient with whatever position she plays. <img class=" wp-image-166003 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/DSC00591.jpg" alt="" width="476" height="318" /> Pleasant Valley - Bettendorf, IA (Class 5A - State Champion) Enrollment - 1,414 Pleasant Valley comes out of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River along the Iowa/Illinois border. [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"] is one of the top setters in Iowa and everything runs through her. She is the Class 5A player of the year in Iowa and has committed to Evansville. Her teammate, 2023 MB [player_tooltip player_id="79675" first="Chloe" last="Cline"] has also committed to play at Evansville. They have two solid uncommitted Seniors in [player_tooltip player_id="132854" first="Arra" last="Cottrell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="162876" first="Livia" last="Thomsen"]. <img class=" wp-image-166004 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/DSC01254.jpg" alt="" width="443" height="295" /> Western Dubuque - Epworth, IA (Class 4A - State Champion) Enrollment - 944 This has been a state title in the making with a large core of these players finishing second two years ago, in the final four last year, and now got their chance to raise the state championship trophy. There have a full lineup of athletes who are still deciding on where to play college volleyball, but setter [player_tooltip player_id="79259" first="Madison" last="Maahs"] and outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="79233" first="Meredith" last="Bahl"] are both 1st Team All State selections. A rising prospect is Class of 2023 libero [player_tooltip player_id="79696" first="Ella" last="Meyer"] who has been leading the backcourt since her freshman year.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Just casual [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"] 🔥🔥🔥 she’s heating up <a href="https://t.co/008XpCWRCo">pic.x.com/008XpCWRCo</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1456326904491954183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Brookfield Central - Brookfield, WI (D1 - Final Four) Enrollment - 1244 BC has one of the top players in the country in [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"] who took a few weeks this season to spend with the USA U18 Youth National Team, winning a bronze medal at the FIVB World Championships. She is electric, one of the best to take the court in Wisconsin prep volleyball. The Lancers had plenty of years of heartbreak at the sectional level, but this was their year. BC also had Marquette commit, [player_tooltip player_id="81253" first="Morgan" last="Daugherty"] who has a major presence at the net as a middle blocker. <img class=" wp-image-166005 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/DSC02793.jpg" alt="" width="491" height="327" /> Edwardsville - Edwardsville, IL (Class 4A - Fourth Place) Enrollment - 2327 Edwardsville is near St. Louis with plenty of it’s athletes playing for top clubs out of the St. Louis area. They took the first set off Mother McAuley and took Barrington to the brink as well in the third place game. This is a really athletic and physical team. Right side and uncommitted 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="165809" first="Gabby" last="Saye"] provides a big block and a really heavy swing. She’s left handed and scored plenty of points at the state tournament. Another 2022 uncommitted prospect is libero Kaitlyn Conway who covers a lot of ground and has a really solid first contact.