Team Profile: Chardon Hilltoppers (Chardon, OH)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a 23-2 overall record, the Hilltoppers were the Western Reserve league champions with a perfect 12-0 slate. Over three postseason matches they have dropped just one set and next have a tall task in top-seeded and #11 ranked Jackson. Back-to-back district champions, here are some of the Hilltoppers current top athletes, all of whom were recently named to among WRC all-conference honors..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='169100' first='Emma' last='McCartney']</strong> - 2024<br>McCartney has good physical tools as a left side attacker. She can pass with good footwork and simple platform work. She can defend well at the net with good blocking mechanics and elevation. She creates opportunities in the back row at over 12 digs per match. McCartney can terminate the ball with good arm speed and range in her swing at the peak of her jump. With over 400 kills on the season, she leads this team at 4.9 kills per set. In their recent 3-0 district final win, McCartney terminated 18 kills on a .419 efficiency while adding 15 digs and four service aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Annabel Frieden </strong>- 2023<br>A 5'8 setter, Frieden is the floor leader for an offense that averages just shy of 13 kills per set. She brings competitive passion and energy, which helps ignite this team through the variety of offense that she can create and distribute for her hitters. At 10.5 assists per set, she has dished over 870 assists on the season, both career highs. If they can secure another win or two she has a shot to eclipse 2,000 career assists. Their offense is creative and varied in the quick tempos she runs through the middle and at the pins when in system. The success of the hitters allows her to get good space for them to swing. On the defensive side, she is averaging a career high 9.4 digs per match. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Skylar Toth</strong> - 2024<br>Toth is the second biggest producer offensively at 3.0 kills per set. The 5'9 outside hitter has been very effective in her first full-time season in a key offensive role for the Hilltoppers. Defensively, she makes just as big of an impact as she is one of three team members averaging double-figure digs per match. Toth collects 11.3 and is approaching 300 total digs on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='197525' first='Natalie' last='Zemba']</strong> - 2023<br>Zemba is a great presence in the middle. Her experience shows in her ability to make big plays for her team on both sides of the ball. As the third best offensive option in point scoring at 2.6 kills per set, she is terminating at a team best efficiency of .336. Her biggest contributions though may come on the defensive side as she has solid blocking movement and mechanics that have led her to over 100 total blocks on the season for a 4.1 blocks per match average. She is also the team leader in service aces with 54 total. In their 3-0 win over Walsh Jesuit in the district finals she contributed 10 kills and four blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Legan</strong> - 2024<br>The Hilltoppers' libero, Legan leads the team with 15.2 digs per match as she has picked up over 300 digs on the season for a new career high. During her two varsity seasons, she has eclipsed the 500 digs mark. The [program_tooltip program_id='431573' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431573' first='RockCity' last='']' last=''] club volleyball prospect has good angle production that can put her setter in a good spot with time and space to run their quick and varied offense. Over two seasons she has 90 total service aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->