Cross-State Matchups and Key Wins from the Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Ursuline Earns 3-0 Win Over Notre Dame Academy (KY)</em></strong><br>Senior middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114516' first='Brooke' last='Bultema']</strong> led Ohio's Division I top-ranked team to a big 3-0 win over Kentucky's 2020 state champion and current #2 ranked team in Notre Dame Academy. Bultema terminated a match high 13 kills while hitting at a .364 efficiency to go along with her three blocks. Sophomore pin hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176087' first='Katie' last='Gielas']</strong> had a solid night with eight kills while hitting a match high .438. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='197515' first='Sydney' last='Breissinger']</strong> picked up 22 digs while serving up five aces, which helped to neutralize NDA's offense. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141725' first='Lindsey' last='Green']</strong> had 30 assists. NDA's big hitter in senior <strong>Sydney Nolan</strong> had difficulty scoring although she earned a team high nine kills on the match although hitting just .103. Ursuline has not been shy in terms of scheduling and their late-season opportunities with teams like NDA and their upcoming match versus a good Centerville (Ohio DI #17) team continue to prepare them for what should be a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>KY Defending State Champions Overcome Tough Mercy McAuley Challenge</em></strong><br>Mercy McAuley battled well versus St. Henry, Kentucky's defending state champion. The Wolves were ahead 2-1 in sets before dropping a tight fourth set by the score of 25-27. St. Henry cruised in set five to take the match following a 15-7 score in the final frame. The Wolves, Ohio's #3 ranked team in Division II, got big offense from junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114582' first='Ruby' last='Klusman']</strong> as she terminated 20 kills in the match. Freshman <strong>Emma Adkins </strong>and sophomore<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='152058' first='Caroline' last='Moore']</strong> also reached double-figure kills with 13 and 12 respectively. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114574' first='Maria' last='Drapp']</strong> distributed the offense and tallied 50 total assists. Mercy McAuley has battled top teams all season and are poised to compete well as they enter the postseason phase just ahead. What's also exciting for the Wolves is that this collection of talent will all return in 2023. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Turpin Claims Big ECC Victory Over Defending League Champs</em></strong><br>Turpin, behind a match high 18 kills from junior<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='139273' first='Lilly' last='Gillespie']</strong> (*pictured), earned a big win over Lebanon. It was the first win in this series for Turpin since Lebanon joined the ECC two seasons ago. Gillespie was terrific defensively as well as she added 15 digs in her individual effort. Junior opposite <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139274' first='Melana' last='Bigelow']</strong> added 10 kills in one of her better efforts this season coming in a big moment as Turpin improves to 13-4 in league play (14-6 overall). Another key stat came from senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227366' first='Maddie' last='Waters']</strong> as the middle totaled four blocks to help slow down Lebanon's offense. Turpin closes out ECC league play on Thursday as they take on league-leading Kings on the road. Gillespie and Kings' stars in setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139272' first='Abby' last='Yoder']</strong> and pin hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114565' first='Sydney' last='Barrett']</strong> compete on the same club team together at NKYVC with each contributing significantly to their team's 5th place finish in the 16U Open division at this past summer's GJNC event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->