Venice gets 1st 2 ASICS foes

The Venice High volleyball team will compete in Pool 8 of the Mother McCauley ASICS Challenge on Friday and Saturday in Chicago.

There are eight pools with three teams.

The Indians will play Downers Grove (Ill.) South High (4-9) in the first match at 7 p.m. and Notre Dame Academy (18-4) of Covington, Ky. in the second match at 8 p.m. to complete pool play. Both matches are at Brother Rice High School.

Saturday, the Indians will compete in bracket tournament play.

The only other Florida team in the event is Plant.

Venice will depart for Chicago on Thursday and return Sunday.

Before departing, Venice (11-4) has a big district match against Naples Gulf Coast. Indians coach Brian Wheatley scouted Gulf Coast on Monday night against Fort Myers Bishop Verot.

The Indians will enter the match against the Sharks with three straight losses suffered Saturday in the Berkeley Premier in Tampa.