Team Profile: New Bremen Cardinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals finished the 2021 season at 24-1 with their lone loss coming in the postseason to the eventual state champion in Division IV. This season they are currently 13-1 overall with their only loss coming recently to league foe Marion Local. New Bremen is currently in second place the the Midwest conference as both teams were ranked 1-2 in the most recent Ohio Division IV state poll. Here are some of the top Cardinals performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152118' first='Olivia' last='Heitkamp'] </strong>- 2024 | MB/RS<br>Heitkamp is a high potential athlete as she is athletic and has good versatility in her skill set. She has good length at 6'1 and elevates quickly off the floor with good lift, which helps her productivity on both sides of the ball. She leads the Cardinals offensively with 4.9 kills per set, a significant increase from 2021. Blocking is a strength of this team collectively and an area where Heitkamp can be elite. She currently provides 3.3 blocks per match. Her combined experience of club competition and high school play showcases the range of skills she can provide as a left pin passer and hitter, an impact arm and blocker on the right side, and a quick option hitter in the middle phase of the court. Heitkamp had a career high 29 kills in an earlier 3-1 win this season over a good Coldwater team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rianna Paul</strong> - 2023 | OH<br>Paul is the Cardinals' second best offensive option. She is contributing a career best 2.3 kills per set to support the production they get in the middle from Heitkamp. The 5'7 senior's career and season-best output of 13 kills came in their most recent match, a 3-2 win over Fort Loramie, in which she also hit at a .323 efficiency. Her ability to be productive and score points will continue to be an x-factor for New Bremen's success going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176090' first='Melina' last='Schrader']</strong> - 2025 | S<br>The sophomore setter has improved the quality of her contributions now in her second season and full-time role as the Cardinals' setter. The most recent club season was a big factor in her improvement, specifically in her movement to pursue the second touch and her increased ability to deliver a varied offense of tempo and location from pin-to-pin. She averages nearly 10 assists and 1.4 kills per set along with eight digs per match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='169515' first='Abi' last='Powers']</strong> - 2023 | L/DS<br>Powers is performing well on the defensive side as she is averaging a career high 14.7 digs per match. She recently surpassed the 500 digs mark for her career and should best her total output from a season ago by the end of her senior season. She has a calming presence on the floor in their defense and ball control phases with good footwork and platform skills that are simple and often get her setter into a good position to run their offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->