Schuck on a Truck: Club Four 17U Boost volleyball team heading to Las Vegas for national tourney

QUINCY — Vegas, baby!

The Club Four 17U Boost volleyball team is heading to the Mojave Desert and what is quickly becoming one of the nation’s epicenters for major sporting events — Las Vegas — to play in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships. The team leaves Monday and will participate in pool play beginning Wednesday at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

The Club Four squad will play in the 17U American bracket. The group of players from West-Central Illinois high schools qualified for the national event by winning the Mid-East qualifying tournament in Indianapolis earlier this year. The group has been ranked in the top 30 in the nation in its division this season.

Members of the team include, in alphabetical order, Illini West middle hitter Madalyn Boyer, Quincy Notre Dame middle hitter/right side Eva Breckenkamp, Quincy High School defensive specialist Abby Bunch, QND setter Annie Eaton, QND libero Kourtney Keck, QHS middle hitter Madison Loos, Brown County outside hitter Ashlee Markert, QND defensive specialist Ashlyn Peters and QHS outside hitter Kaley Summers.

Before heading off to Vegas, players on the Club Four squad took the time to join Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the tailgate of his pickup to talk about the trip, their summer success and the springboard into their fall prep seasons for this episode of “Schuck on a Truck,” brought to you by Shottenkirk Toyota.