Many in Riley Wilson’s position may have considered transferring after her first year of high school. Initially, she was placed on the freshman B team at Mother McAuley, which often implies slim chances of moving to varsity. However, Wilson remained steadfast. “My freshman year, they won the state title,” Wilson said of the Mighty Macs. “I thought, ‘I would love to contribute to that and be a part of that team culture.'”
On Tuesday night, in front of a crowd of about 2,000, Wilson embodied her ambition. As a senior middle hitter, she delivered eight kills and three blocks, aiding McAuley to a 19-25, 25-21, 25-21 GCAC Red victory over Marist.
UConn recruit Keira McQuillan added 15 kills and nine digs for McAuley (25-3, 4-1). Jayce Prohaska contributed 11 kills and 16 digs. Coastal Carolina commit Peyton Heatherly logged 27 assists and 10 digs. Youngstown State-bound libero Ava Calle had 14 digs.
Taylor Berg, a Western Michigan recruit, led Marist (23-4, 5-1) with 13 kills, while Michigan commit Maggie Kurpeikis had 11 kills. McAuley coach Jen DeJarld mentioned that sophomore Chyla Jukes didn’t play due to ‘personal reasons’, prompting the team to rely on Wilson for extra power.
“Riley had a lot of different shot selections,” DeJarld said of Wilson’s performance. “I was really impressed by her quick-reaction moves.”
The 6-foot Wilson has made significant strides from B-team status to becoming a pivotal varsity player. “Her advancement from freshman year to now is unparalleled,” DeJarld added. “I’ve never seen a B-team player become a varsity starter.”
Wilson credits the pivotal offseason between her freshman and sophomore year for her improvement. Returning with enhanced skills, DeJarld ensured there was “no debate” about her place on the junior varsity team. Wilson’s progress continues to inspire. “I decided that was my turning point,” Wilson recalled. “I wanted to set an example for others on the B-team.”
Her team has also noticed her dedication. “We played JV when I was a freshman; you couldn’t tell Riley was ever on the freshman B team,” McQuillan said. “She’s just going to keep getting better.” Prohaska agreed: “She’s fast and adapts well to the set; she brings great energy.”
Wilson acknowledges that she is receiving some college attention but admits she is behind in the recruiting phase. The meeting Tuesday marked the second recent clash between McAuley and Marist, following a 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 win for McAuley in Saturday’s ASICS Challenge semifinals.
Postseason seedings will be forthcoming on Thursday. Both teams are anticipated to claim the top two seeds at the Class 4A Argo Sectional, suggesting a potential rematch on November 5 in Summit.
Wilson focuses on the present. “We need to stay true to our movements and our off-court preparations,” she stated. “We must maintain an ‘in the now’ mentality.”
Reported by Jeff Vorva, a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.