Tournament Preview: SkyHawk Invitational
It’s back! For another year, the SkyHawk Invitational at Omaha Skutt will host some of the biggest volleyball juggernauts from around the Midwest. It’s all going down this Saturday, and we’ll have all the coverage here. Because we have representatives…
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Continue ReadingIt’s back! For another year, the SkyHawk Invitational at Omaha Skutt will host some of the biggest volleyball juggernauts from around the Midwest. It’s all going down this Saturday, and we’ll have all the coverage here.
Because we have representatives from multiple states coming to this showdown, it might be helpful to start with an introduction of the teams. There will be so many dream cross-state matchups in this one, so let’s get everyone acquainted!
Omaha Skutt Catholic [Nebraska]
Naturally, we start with the home team.
Nebraska prep volleyball enthusiasts know that Omaha Skutt does not allow their competition pool to be constrained by state boundaries. They want to play the best wherever the best may be.
Case in point: the SkyHawks are fresh off another appearance at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago. This team is working in some great young talent into the lineup this year, and you can read about some of them here and here. Skutt is at a 20-5 overall mark after playing some tough Illinois-area squads and now looks to bring more regional powers to its own court.
Papillion-La Vista South [Nebraska]
I made a mention of “volleyball juggernauts” in the introduction. Right now, Papio South is the most formidable foe that Nebraska has to offer.
The 2021 season really couldn’t get any better for the Titans up to this point. Seriously. Papio South is an astounding 27-0 and just picked up another win over Class A’s #2 team earlier this week.
This team has a perfect storm of veteran talent and rising stars. Senior setter Ava LeGrand Ava LeGrand 5'11" | S Papillion-LaVista South | 2022 State #46 Nation NE is headed to Kansas State, and senior libero Harlei Cole Harlei Cole 5'6" | DS/L Papillion-La Vista South | 2022 State NE is bound for Iowa. Stella Adeyemi Stella Adeyemi 5'9" | OH Papillion-LaVista South | 2023 State #95 Nation NE and Lauren Medeck Lauren Medeck 5'10" | OH Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State #31 Nation NE bring so much athleticism and power to the left pin. This group can beat you on first, second, and third contact.
Skutt is sending out-of-state reinforcements to try and take down Papio South. We’ll see if it’s enough.
Papillion-La Vista [Nebraska]
Just down the road from Skutt and Papio South is Papillion-La Vista, a team that’s slowly finding its identity with young players in the lineup. The Monarchs were in an opening weekend tournament with the two aforementioned teams and managed to score a 2-1 win over the SkyHawks.
Reagan Hickey Reagan Hickey 5'8" | S Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE and Morgan Glaser Morgan Glaser 6'0" | OH Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE are a couple of 2024s that factor heavily in the Papio attack. Anna Sis Anna Sis 5'11" | OH Papillion-La Vista | 2023 State NE has been terminal on the pin, too, and Samantha Riggs Samantha Riggs 5'7" | DS/L Papillion-LaVista | 2022 State NE provides steady senior leadership at the libero spot.
Saturday’s tournament is yet another opportunity for this lineup to find its groove.
West Des Moines Valley [Iowa]
WDM Valley visited for last year’s iteration of this tournament, and it generated quite a buzz. One of the big storylines was the outside hitter battle between future Husker teammates Lindsay Krause and Hayden Kubik Hayden Kubik 6'1" | OH West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State #11 Nation IA . While Krause has moved on from Skutt and is now a starter for the Cornhuskers, Kubik still has another opportunity to make some noise at this event.
Valley will cross the river with a record of 19-10 in Iowa’s ultra-competitive Class 5A. Ellie Morrow Ellie Morrow OH State IA will be a player to watch at the setter position, and Meredith Rieker Meredith Rieker 5'10" | MB West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State IA will make some important contributions on the left pin.
Overall, this is an exciting chance to see how Valley stacks up against some of its most talented neighbors.
The final match in the Main Gym is @WDMValleyVB and @SkuttCatholicVB.
Two future #Huskers hitters going head-to-head! pic.twitter.com/ycxs317eQx
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) October 10, 2020
St. Teresa’s Academy [Missouri]
St. Teresa’s Academy is another familiar challenger from last year’s event, and the Stars are familiar with this year’s SkyHawks, too. Skutt made a mid-September trip to Kansas City and picked up a 3-0 win over the home team. Now, it’s St. Teresa’s Academy’s turn to travel.
St. Teresa’s is still led by Reagan Fox on the left side. She has a lightning-fast arm that has impressed me in both high school and club settings. Alex Speier has been another effective terminator who should help keep the Stars’ offense rolling in this event.
After playing some solid volleyball in Omaha last year, St. Teresa’s will hope to build on that performance on Saturday.
Saint Thomas Aquinas [Kansas]
Aquinas is another out-of-state visitor with plans on winning a title this fall.
Like St. Teresa’s Academy, Aquinas has already met Skutt earlier this year. The Saints pulled out an impressive 3-0 sweep over Skutt, and they kept winning, too. Aquinas is currently 27-2 and will not be intimidated by all the tough competition.
This squad is centered around the golden right arm of Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS . It will surely be an exciting trip to Omaha for Martin, who will take her talents across town to Creighton next year.
Betsy Goodenow is another player that you have to see. I was thrilled to watch her explosive jump and whip arm during last spring’s club season. This electric 2023 pin hitter is bound for the Ivy League and will play for Yale. When you add freshman outside hitter Alea Goolsby Alea Goolsby 5'11" | OH St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State #36 Nation KS to the mix, you have a Saint Thomas Aquinas lineup that can compete with anyone.
Appleton North [Wisconsin]
Bring on the challengers from Wisconsin!
This is an awesome addition to the SkyHawk Invite field. Not only does Appleton North bring a huge sample size of wins to the event, but there’s D1 talent throughout the lineup.
Senior outside hitter Brianna Cantrell is leading the way offensively. The East Tennessee State commit has been pounding down kills with great efficiency in her final year with the Lightning. She is joined along the front row by fellow seniors Berkley Mischler (Lipscomb) and Bella Van Lannen (Northern Colorado).
And there’s a big group of D1 commits in the 2023 class, too. Florida-bound Kennedy Martin provides some unbelievable length on the right pin. Karissa Fortune (Drake) is effective on either pin, and Olivia Lasee (Lehigh) is a force in the middle.
Appleton North is undoubtedly equipped for a new challenge.
It’s time to get ready for some elite volleyball.