The volleyball career of Mother McAuley’s Jayce Prohaska got started several years ago at a pier in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
True, her older sister, Cayla, was already playing the sport and Jayce was considering it, but the final decision was made at the lake. Or, to be precise, in the lake.
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“I was challenged by my dad (Rob) when we were at the lake that if he threw me off the pier and in the lake I would start playing volleyball,” Jayce said. “And he did it.”
Jayce, a senior outside hitter/right-side hitter, has been making a splash ever since.
She had an incredible night Tuesday on both offense and defense with eight kills and eight digs for the Mighty Macs in a 25-14, 25-6 win over Joliet Catholic in a GCAC crossover match in Chicago.
UConn commit Keira McQuillan added six kills and Coastal Carolina recruit Peyton Heatherly had eight assists for McAuley (18-3). Nora Dunn tallied seven assists, Ellie Pfeiffer picked up three kills and a block and Ava Calle and Joey Perry contributed five digs apiece.
Ella Horn came up with five kills for JCA (10-7), which had a six-match winning streak snapped.
Prohaska, meanwhile, operates without a set position as she has ping-ponged between the right side and the outside the past two seasons. All eight of her digs Tuesday came in the first game.
“She’s just a complete player for us,” McAuley coach Jen DeJarld said of Prohaska. “She just fills in wherever we need her. She’s so steady for us in pretty much every department.
“She’s one of our best blockers out there. She has diversified her hitting. She’s a strong ballhandler, too. She’s the complete package.”
The 6-foot Prohaska is still working things out in regards to choosing a college but confirmed she isn’t going to make a quick decision. Her next stop is getting more than just a player, however.
McQuillan, for one, appreciates Prohaska’s hitting prowess and also likes other aspects of her game such as leadership skills.
“She’s such an awesome leader,” McQuillan said of Prohaska. “She’s a really good captain and she’s always there for you. She’s definitely one of my bigger sisters on the team.”
Speaking of bigger sisters, Cayla is a freshman outside hitter at Campbell. Jayce admitted that she misses having her around “a lot.”
“It’s been a change because she was a very good leader,” Jayce said of Cayla. “And I miss her around the house, too. I used to drive with her everywhere … little things like that.”
DeJarld pointed out that Jayce has been growing into her own after Cayla’s departure.
“She was definitely close with Cayla and Cayla was definitely a mentor to her and a role model for her,” DeJarld said. “But this year, Jayce is one of our captains.
“And she’s one of the strongest leaders I’ve had in a while.”
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For both McAuley and Joliet Catholic, the fun is just starting this week. The Mighty Macs and Angels will take part in the 24-team ASICS Challenge at McAuley on Friday and Saturday.
Assumption out of Louisville is the top seed and ranked third in the nation in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association/USA Today poll. Marist is seeded second and McAuley, ranked 15th in the nation, is the third seed. Marist and McAuley could meet in the semifinals.
Two other teams — Divine Savior of Wisconsin and Mercy from Michigan — are in the top 25 in the nation. McAuley will play its annual warmup match Thursday night against Assumption.
For Prohaska, going through that gauntlet is all good.
“It’s important to play competition like that,” she said. “It’s good to play teams from other states. Tournament play is awesome because every team you play is going to be better than the last one.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.