HS Preview: Eastern Cincinnati Conference

<p>The ECC should be very competitive this 2021 season with a few teams that have a very viable shot at claiming the league title. Lebanon swept the conference last year with a 16-0 record in their first season as an ECC member. The Warriors return a lot of talent and offensive power as do a some other ECC programs that have a great shot to contend for the league crown. Here is a look at some fo the league favorites and top returning athletes.</p> <p><strong><em>Kings</em></strong><br /> Sophomore setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139272" first="Abby" last="Yoder"]</strong> is coming off a terrific club season that saw her U15 team ranked as one of the best in their age group nationally. She grew tremendously in her position and will be an x-factor for this team given the quality of arms they have to complement their steady ball control. Her biggest target will be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114565" first="Sydney" last="Barrett"]</strong> who as a freshman in 2020 finished 12th offensively with 219 total kills on the season. She will assume more responsibility and attention given the graduation of a key offensive piece from last season but she can do it. She is confident and aggressive, which will certainly help carry her team at times given the quality of her movement and ability to hit a heavy ball. She has good versatility and will be a key element to their ball control as well. Another rising sophomore is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114584" first="Elise" last="Marchal"]</strong> who also is coming off a great club season in which her skills and stock have increased given her high rate of improvement. She will form a great 1-2 tandem with Barrett in getting a lot of opportunities to swing. She was among blocking leaders last year as well, finishing 4th in that category. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114578" first="Dakota" last="Henry"]</strong> is another sophomore that saw significant action a season ago and is a stabilizer for this squad with her ball control and defense. She reads the floor extremely well and should be very effective at keeping them in system and helping create quality opportunities in the offense. This is a young team but not without experience. Their ceiling is high as a group and we should expect that they will continue to get better and better as the season progresses and includes a legitimate shot and winning the ECC title.</p> <p><strong><em>Lebanon</em></strong><br /> The Warriors return three of the top 10 offensive leaders for total kills from 2020. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114597" first="Mya" last="White"]</strong> led the conference offensively with 430 total kills and a 4.94 kills per set average while hitting a solid .325. She brings a lot of power on the left side and has the ability to contribute well as a six-rotation athlete. Her counterpart on the left side is junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114543" first="Ninah" last="Miranda"]</strong> who finished with 329 total kills and 3.74 kills per set average and third in this offensive category. This pair has the ability to generate point scoring in bunches and will need to produce if Lebanon is to repeat as the league champion. Senior middle<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="114447" first="Lily" last="Cropper"]</strong>, a North Carolina State commit, was seventh overall in total kills at 2.81 kills per set while hitting at a .457 efficiency. She also is the league’s top returning blocker with 86 last fall. Senior <strong>Elena DeMichele</strong> should provide good balance in the middle as she has ability to score around the setter while also contributing defensively as she finished last season among the top 10 in the league in total blocks. Replacing the 2020 player of the year at the setting position will be an early question mark for this team as they acclimate to new floor leadership that will come from a pair of sophomores in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114567" first="Lily" last="Bolen"]</strong> and <strong>Natalie Holt</strong>. Both have the skills to get these hitters the ball where they need it but their ability to command the floor will be a factor.</p> <p><em><strong>Milford</strong><br /> </em>The Eagles have good pieces available in different facets of the game that should help them compete well and possibly contend for the league title. They finished 4th in the league in 2020 at 10-6 overall and graduated a couple of key arms offensively. However, they return some of the best defensive presence in the conference at the net and from the back row. Junior libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114469" first="Emily" last="Morgan"]</strong> led the conference in total digs last season at 410, while averaging over 16 per match. With her patrolling the back court and creating a lot of transition offense opportunities for her team, not only could that lead to more point scoring but that certainly will serve to frustrate opposing attackers. At the net, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="141721" first="Campbell" last="Robinson"]</strong> and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137128" first="Olivia" last="Gentry"]</strong> pair to form one of the best blocking duos for any team in the ECC. They both averaged over two blocks per match and have the physicality to balance their defense with offense as they should see increased opportunity and outcomes on that side of the ball. Senior <strong>Ella Lindsey</strong> should be one of Milford’s primary offensive threats as she averaged 1.7 kills per set in 2020 while seeing nearly 450 attempts through their offense. Senior <strong>Sarah Geise</strong> returns to the setting role where she shared time a season ago averaging over four assists per set. She also provided great pressure from the service line finishing among the top five in the conference in total aces with 53.</p> <p><strong><em>Turpin</em></strong><br /> Don’t count out Turpin and their ability to sustain their place among league leaders in the ECC. They are a bit depleted including the loss of their setting tandem from 2020 but are not without weapons to help them compete at a high level. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114464" first="Elena" last="Dubuc"]</strong> just recently committed to Wright State, a program on the rise and receiving national-level recognition. She enters into her final season as Turpin’s primary offensive threat and has the ability to put some good pace on the ball from either pin. She has good athleticism and a solid skill foundation to help them in a variety of areas that should complement her leadership well. <strong>Kaitlyn Finnigan</strong> is another senior and should see increased opportunities and output. She terminated over 100 kills, averaging 1.28 kills per set a season ago while hitting at .400. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139273" first="Lilly" last="Gillespie"]</strong> should be fun to watch as her role will increase this season as a primary passer and pin attacker. She competed alongside King’s Yoder during the club season and gained some great competitive experience given their schedule and high level of success. She averaged just over one kill per set last season but expect her to grow those numbers from the onset of the season. Given the losses at some positions, this team will be looking for some answers. However, they have good competitive tradition so don’t be surprised if they remain in the mix among the league’s top teams. </p> <p><em><strong>Other Athletes to See</strong></em></p> <ul> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114492" first="Audrey" last="Planner"]</strong> - Loveland | 2022: 3.04 kills per set; 261 total digs</li> <li><strong>Hannah Graves</strong> - West Clermont | 2022: 2.77 kills per set; 408 digs</li> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137114" first="Piper" last="Ricketts"]</strong> - Little Miami | 2022: 2.46 kills per se</li> </ul>