Riley Wilson’s Journey from Freshman B to Varsity Star

At Mother McAuley High School, succeeding in volleyball can be quite challenging if you start on the freshman B team. This usually suggests slim chances of joining the varsity team. Nonetheless, Riley Wilson chose to stay and pursue her dream.

Reflecting on her first year in high school, Wilson witnessed the Mighty Macs winning a state title. “I thought to myself, ‘I would love to contribute to that and be part of this team culture,'” she said.

Faced with a crowd of around 2,000, Wilson excelled. As a senior middle hitter, she recorded eight kills and three blocks. Her performance helped McAuley secure a 19-25, 25-21, 25-21 victory against their rival, Marist, in the GCAC Red match.

Other team players also delivered strong performances. Keira McQuillan, heading to UConn, amassed 15 kills and nine digs. Jayce Prohaska contributed with 11 kills and 16 digs. Peyton Heatherly, committed to Coastal Carolina, tallied 27 assists and 10 digs. Ava Calle, heading to Youngstown State, added 14 digs.

On Marist’s side, Taylor Berg, destined for Western Michigan, led with 13 kills. Maggie Kurpeikis, committed to Michigan, added 11 kills. The Mighty Macs were missing sophomore Chyla Jukes for “personal reasons,” as stated by coach Jen DeJarld. This required the team to find additional strength in Wilson’s role.

“Riley had a lot of different shot selections,” mentioned DeJarld. “Her quick-reaction plays were impressive.”

Standing at six feet tall, Wilson’s advancement from the B-team to a key varsity role is significant. “The improvement she made from her freshman year to now is unparalleled,” DeJarld noted. “I’ve never seen a B-team player become a varsity starter before.”

The critical phase in Wilson’s development occurred between her freshman and sophomore years. She returned for her sophomore year with significant growth. DeJarld highlighted that her move to junior varsity then was undisputed. Wilson continued to thrive from that point.

“I decided that offseason would be pivotal,” Wilson stated. “I wanted younger players on the B-team to say, ‘Look at Riley Wilson in 2026.’ I focused on enhancing my middle play and extending my hitting range. Hard work pays off.”

Her teammates also noticed her rise. “We played JV when I was a freshman and she was a sophomore,” recalled McQuillan concerning Wilson. “I wouldn’t have guessed she was on the freshman B-team until this year. She’s grown tremendously.”

Likewise, Prohaska expressed admiration for Wilson. “She’s amazing. She’s quick and adept at adjusting to sets, contributing excellent energy.”

Despite her achievements, Wilson recognizes she’s slightly delayed in college recruitment. Recently, McAuley and Marist played twice within four days. McAuley won the first match, but the second had a crowded, enthusiastic audience. Upcoming postseason seedings likely position McAuley and Marist as top seeds at the Class 4A Argo Sectional.

Despite the promising outlook, Wilson remains focused. “We need to remain true to our movements and our activities off the court,” she stated. “We should maintain an ‘in the now’ mindset.”

Jeff Vorva contributed as a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.