As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Under Armour is finally entering the women’s volleyball market (sorry, just women’s for now). At first, it seemed seriously wrong to be this late. However, if this first offering is what we get for waiting, we will gladly give a couple of months back and enjoy the fruits of UA’s labor. Let’s take a look at the Under Armour Highlight Ace.
Featuring a Compfit ankle collar — because most volleyball players wear ankle braces anyway — the Highlight Ace is designed to form fit and support the joint injured most in volleyball (play at the net can get ugly). This isn’t thin and stretchy like past Compfit (the UA Juke comes to mind); the padding does break in quickly — or so our testers have told me.
Full disclosure: this pair of the Highlight Ace is a women’s size 9.5 and it is being tested by my daughter, who plays Open, Gold-level club volleyball at age 14. A pair in size 8.5 also found it’s way to my house and is being tested by my other daughter, who plays Elite-level (a step below Open) at age 12. This review should be fun.
The midsole and traction is taken directly from the Clutchfit Drive 3 and Charged Controller — and right out of the box there is a tackiness to the rubber. No gum rubber here, which keeps the look clean, and Charged cushioning runs the impact protection game. The insole is 4D and honestly feels like the orange Micro G found in the basketball line.
The Highlight Ace uses an open mesh upper with strategic fuse overlays on the lateral forefoot and the toebox, where volleyball shoes tend to wear the most (damaged by diving and toe dragging on defense). In the midfoot you can see the support straps pulled tight by the lacing system for some extra lockdown.
Overall, the Highlight Ace is a super clean design and honestly could work as well on a basketball court as it should on a volleyball court. Really, the actions and movements are so similar, it is no wonder the athletes of one can easily transition to the other.
No word yet on when the Highlight Ace will come to men’s sizes, but hopefully that will be soon. As for now, ladies, or the ladies in your life, can purchase the shoe here. As more news comes — different colors, men’s sizing — you know we will bring it.
Under Armour Highlight Ace
$120 USD
Women’s sizes 5-12
not even gonna lie, these look clean for even some casual use
These actually look pretty cool. Way better aesthetically than the Curry 3.
who? We want half…. Im Beyonce and aint nobody telling me what to do. DO NOT WORRY.
Does it basketball??
If men want this, go 1.5 sizes up from your normal size and it should fit if the shoe is tts.
Be careful – they do seem cut a little narrower
Duke when can we expect an update on the review. What do your daughters think so far?
As far as a 12 and 14 year old go, here is the quick review – cushioning is stiff and responsive (it is the same charged midsole as the controller and the drive 3). Traction is great on clean floors, but wiping every 5th point or so on dusty floors. Fit is TTS and normal width, the collar locks the heel in with no heel slip. Only problem so far, and it is small, is durability – the area where the toe flexes, holes have worn from the leather/synthetic lace strips rubbing while flexing. but really, after 6 months of 2 or 3 two our practices a week, minimum, that’s a non-issue. Basically, a curry model for volleyball.
I’m so glad that someone has finally came out with high tops for volleyball in the US. When I played in high school and college in the 90’s Reebok and Nike both had them available. When my daughter started playing we could find them no where. she hates wearing low tops. It took me 4 years to finally convince her to give a low top pair of volleyball shoes a chance instead of playing with basketball shoes. she loved the vb ones because they have better traction and more lightweight. she was super excited to find these online. I can’t wait to surprise her with them this season.
My daughter and I saw these shoes on another player at our opening season tournament and was like”what are those?” After talking to the player who had them we decided to try and purchase and after a little research we did. My daughter plays 17’s open and when she plays she goes full speed,practice and games. Well she loves these shoes. They are much lighter,have great traction and so far are holding up well. She’s an outside and ds so they get worked. We read that sometimes you have to order a 1/2 size up but hers fit perfect at 11 1/2. Anyways ordering a second pair so she can keep them in rotation and for $90.00 We think it’s a great price.