Audrey Asleson’s two older siblings played sports at Lyons, but she chose a different path.
Asleson decided to attend Benet for its academic rigor and great volleyball tradition. The sophomore setter is handling both with aplomb.
“She’s just generally getting better as the year goes along,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “She’s got a world of potential, and she keeps fulfilling it every day.
“She’s as athletic of a setter as we’ve seen in the area, so some of the sets and some of the things that she can do, not everyone can.”
Asleson recorded 14 assists, three service points, two kills and a block on Monday as top-seeded Benet beat fourth-seeded Oswego East 25-15, 25-18 in the Class 4A Plainfield North Sectional semifinals.
The Redwings (34-4) will play third-seeded Naperville North (35-3), which ousted defending state champion Metea Valley, in the sectional final at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Asleson, a first-year starter, hasn’t been fazed while quarterbacking her team to another great season.
“I’d say there were a little bit of nerves, but I’m just trying to get better every game,” she said. “There’s always going to be some points I mess up on, but I just try to get over it.”
Asleson is following in some big athletic footsteps, both within her family and the Benet program. Her sister, Grace, played setter at Stetson, and her brother, Tommy, plays basketball at Denison.
The 5-foot-11 Asleson is the first sophomore to start at setter for Benet since Sara Nielsen in 2014. Nielsen led the Redwings to the state championship that year and later played at Minnesota and Kansas.
Fellow sophomore Aniya Warren, the team’s star libero, said Asleson has been up to the task.
“I think she’s doing really good with coming in and filling a lot of great setters’ shoes,” Warren said. “She’s done a good job with IQ and distributing the ball around really well.”
Warren started as a freshman and quickly established herself as one of the top young liberos in the state. Now she’s watching Asleson do the same at setter.
“For the most part, I just tell her to stay confident,” Warren said. “Some plays aren’t always going to be great plays. You’re going to make mistakes, but you still have to go out there and get after it.”
Asleson has done just that after spending her freshman season as a backup to Sam Buckley, who was an all-state honorable mention and plays for Washington University.
“It was great to have someone to look up to,” Asleson said. “Sam was super nice, and she’s obviously a great setter. We were partners in practice. It was nice to have her to look up to last year.”
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Asked if she has anyone in particular she looks up to this season, Asleson didn’t single anyone out.
“The whole team is close,” she said. “That’s why I think we’re doing so well — because we’re all helpful and really close with each other. We help each other when we’re down and when we’re up, make sure there is a lot of energy on the bench and on the court.”
The Redwings are still a young team, with only four seniors on the roster. They have three freshmen — including 6-4 middle Lynney Tarnow, who led the team with seven kills on Monday — and six sophomores, a group which includes Asleson’s twin sister, Morgan.
Asleson said it’s good having her sister around.
“Yeah, because she’ll tell me the truth, even if it’s something I might not want to hear,” she said. “I’m just really excited that I’m a part of the team.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.