Like I stated in our Day 1 recap, attending the Mother McAuley Asics Challenge was amazing. From the history of this iconic tournament to the amazing athletes representing their schools it did not disappoint. Congrats to the host school Mother McAuley for capturing the tournament title! Here is the list of the Show Stoppers who shined during the tournament. Also I added a list of the freshmen athletes I was able to see performing well for their squads.
Show Stoppers
Ellie White, JR OH, Mother McAuley – A 4-star Michigan commit, White swings hard anywhere on the court. She is one of the most effective back row attacks I have seen all year. Congrats on breaking 1,000 kills this weekend!
Gigi Navarrete, SR L, Mother McAuley – Navarrete, a 4-star recruit committed to Northwestern, is a straight SCRAPPER. She brings a lot of fire and passion to every play. She loves to pick everything thrown her way, mopping up the floor consistently.
Sydney Buchanan, SO OH, Mother McAuley – Buchanan, a 3-star recruit, is another one of the MAC’s offensive weapons. She helps balance out attacks with her strong arm on the court which keeps opponents on their toes.
Ellery Rees, JR MB, Mother McAuley – Rees, a 3-star recruit, is an impact player at the middle blocker position. She gets her hands on balls when blocking along with owning the middle attack.
Mary Kate Sheehan, SR Opp, Mother McAuley – Sheehan, a John Carroll commit, was a ball of fire on the right side. She added a bunch of balance to pin attacks along with some key blocks in the final match.
Sydney Nolan, SR OH, Notre Dame Academy – A 6-3 UNC commit, this 3-star recruit was able to swing over blocks. She was incredibly effective in Game 2 of the finals where she was literally unstoppable every time she attacked.
Ava Tilden, SO OH, Notre Dame Academy – Tilden, a 4-star recruit, is a huge offensive threat for the Pandas. She does well not backing down against bigger blocks and keeps challenging the defense.
Kamden Schrand, SR L, Notre Dame Academy – Schrand, a Louisville commit, held her own in the back row as she passed well out of serve receive and made hustle plays to keep her team in the rally.
Riley McCloskey, SO OH, Notre Dame Academy – McCloskey, a 4-star recruit, was swinging mainly on the opposite pin. She has a good arm and is not afraid to swing.
Charlotte Moriarty, SO OH, Assumption – Moriarty, a 3-star recruit, hits a heavy ball consistently. She takes aggressive swings and goes right at and/or through the blockers.
Kristen Simon, SO L, Assumption – A 3-star recruit, Simon was everywhere in the back court. I love how smooth she is in serve receive and how she can dig anything thrown her way.
Gabrielle Gerry, SR MB, Assumption – A South Carolina commit and 3-star recruit, Gerry makes her presence felt in the middle. She is a solid wall at the net and attacks with force.
Whitney Woodrow, SR S, Assumption – Woodrow, a 3-star recruit committed to Fordham, is smooth and a great “quarterback” for her squad. At 6-1 she is very effective at the net.
Morgan Burke, SR OH, Skutt – I stated in yesterday’s post about how Burke, a 3-star recruit committed to Michigan, moved to the outside. And between her leadership and her incredible line shot, she helped lead her team to third-place despite the odds.
Paisley Douglas, JR L, Skutt – Douglas was solid in the back row and helped keep the Mustangs in system when challenged in serve receive.
Abbie Hagehorn, SO Opp/OH, Skutt – Hagehorn helped balance out the attack throughout the weekend. She might not be “flashy” but she packs a punch on the pins.
Sylvie Zgonc, SR OH, Hamilton – Zgonc, a 3-star recruit committed to South Dakota State, is the do-it-all six-rotation outside. She is explosive and consistent all the way around.
Alex Kreutzmann, SR S, Hamilton – A East Tennessee State commit, Kreutzmann is a 5-1 setter who dished the ball effectively. She has a very smooth touch.
Bella Bullington, SO OH, Marist – Bullington, a 3-star recruit, easily goes over blocks and finds open spots on the floor to exploit. She also packs a punch when she swings.
Kamryn Chaney, SR OH, Marist – A Princeton commit, Chaney was an all-around banger. Her jump serve was a force that every team struggled with and she was so impressive to watch!
Georgia Watson, SO OH, Huntley – Watson, a 6-3 pin, played all around adding an attack from right back that most teams don’t field. She also attacks over blocks with ease.
Avery DeBlieck, SR MB, Huntley – DeBlieck, a 6-3 Loyola Chicago commit, is a presence in the middle with her size. She is also a solid attacker.
Maggie Duyos, SR S, Huntley – An Austin Peay commit Duyos is a technical setter who leads her team with her energy, athleticism, and clean deliveries.
Colleen Engstler, SR OH/Opp, Downers Grove North – Engstler is a key offensive component with her scoring prowess. She has a good arm too and can pound it at times.
Madison Quest, SO OH, Divine Savior – Quest, a 4-star 6-3 recruit, hits a heavy ball anywhere on the court and with her extension it is tough for blockers to slow her down.
Olivia Durst, SO OH, Divine Savior – Durst, 3-star recruit, is another one of the “undersized” athletes bringing the heat. She has a great vertical and swings aggressively.
Katherine (Kitty) Sandt, SR S/Opp, Nazareth Academy – Sandt, a 6-1 Clemson commit, was huge at the net both defensively and offensively. Also, with her steady and consistent setting with placement.
Lauren Salata, JR OH, Nazareth Academy, Salata, a 4-star recruit, is a handful for defenses and she can unload on the ball well. She’s very smooth and consistent.
Kate Goudreau, SR OH, St. Charles East – Goudreau is a very fiery outside hitter. She’s also a very smart attacker.
Sarah Musial, JR S, St. Charles East – Musial, a 6-0 setter, is steady and consistent with her location and brings leadership to the floor while guiding the offense.
Ellie Schneider, SR MB, Metairie Park – Schneider – a 6-4, 3-star recruit committed to Kansas, was a force at the net. Her wingspan helped her seal the net against anything tight with her huge block.
Jordan Heatherly, SR S/Opp, Montini Catholic – Heatherly, a 3-star recruit committed to Memphis, is a 6-2 lefty setter who has a lively arm in the front row and dishes efficiently in the back row.
Ava Neushwander, SR MB, Joliet Catholic – A Carthage commit, Neushwander is a technical undersized middle blocker. But don’t let that fool you. She is a wall at the net who adds spark to her teammates with her attacks.
Freshman Standouts
Kelley Crowley, OH, Downers Grove North
Emma Duff, S, Brookfield Central
Molly Doughterty, MB, Brookfield Central
Francesca Lorenzo, OH, Montini Catholic
Jane Manecke, Opp, Nazareth Academy
Audrey Dyas, MB, Notre Dame Academy (4 Star recruit)
Lizzie Larkins, S, Notre Dame Academy
Addison West, OH, Skutt
