HS Conference Preview OVAC: Wellsville Tigers
With club season winding down, school season is ramping up. Open gyms and summer leagues have started and teams are reworking their lineups after losing seniors and gaining incoming freshman. I had a chance to attend a summer league in…
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Continue ReadingWith club season winding down, school season is ramping up. Open gyms and summer leagues have started and teams are reworking their lineups after losing seniors and gaining incoming freshman. I had a chance to attend a summer league in Steubenville, Ohio where Steubenville Big Red faced off against the Wellsville Tigers.
Wellsville had a different look from last season where they made it one game away from a state appearance. Graduating both setters, the Tigers may struggle a bit with bringing in a new setter. They are returning last years JV setter Mackenzie Nixon (Junior) who may be an option. They tried several different players during the match and its clear that they will have some work to do before the season starts.
On the plus side, Tigers will return several key players from last season with OVAC Player of the Year standout Presley Stokes Presley Stokes 5'10" | OH Wellsville | 2025 State OH (Sophmore) who led their team and the league in most areas. Along with her are incoming seniors middle hitter, Alana Amato Alana Amato 5'9" | MB Wellsville | 2023 State OH and Libero, Aubrey Ramsey who were go to players this past season for the Tigers.
I look for Wellsville to have some surprise game changers this season in some of the returning underclassmen. Myleigh Jackson (sophmore) and Bella Poppelriter (sophmore) started to really come into their own last year and will be two players that I expect will step up and make an impact this season. I think with the returning play makers and the younger players stepping up, Wellsville has a great shot at making a run for states again this season.
When it was all said and done, the Tigers came out on top of the match. I think it simply came down to experience. However, don’t count Steubenville Big Red out, they showed potential and I am excited to see the growth from this team as the pre-season continues.