Ohio Top 250 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the last stops in the 2022 Prep Dig Top 250 Expo tour. The tour has made its way to Mentor, OH, and this stop did not disappoint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In, yet, another hot bed for volleyball, Ohio knows how to ball out and it certainly brought out all of the talent last weekend! The gym was red hot with top notch volleyball! And here were some of the standouts from the Ohio Top 250.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='220608' first='Layla' last='smith'] - 5'11 MB - Lakewood/Boss Cleveland </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top blockers in the field in Mentor, [player_tooltip player_id='220608' first='Layla' last='smith'] was quite eye popping along the net. Smith has a great eye for the offense and can create a formidable block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":271793,"width":244,"height":137,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Courtney-Johnson9.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-271793" width="244" height="137" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261333' first='Courtney' last='Johnson'] - 5'7 S/L - Riverside/Team ECV </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Listed as a setter coming in, it is to no surprise why [player_tooltip player_id='261333' first='Courtney' last='Johnson'] put up such great out of system balls. I caught Johnson mostly on the defensive front, where she proved to be a very calm and steady defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='218156' first='Chloe' last='Smith'] - 5'10 OH - Holy Name/AVC </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While her booming swing catches your attention very quickly, what [player_tooltip player_id='218156' first='Chloe' last='Smith'] brings to go alongside her physicality is pretty amazing too. While an imposing attacker, Smith is a very high level defender and manages to constantly stay involved in the offense too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='232701' first='Emerson' last='Spiesz'] - 5'4 L - Aurora/AVC </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A way a libero can stand out beside her athletic abilities is their ability to lead, and [player_tooltip player_id='232701' first='Emerson' last='Spiesz'] knows how to do just that. She quickly established herself as a director of the defense. A vocal leader to go along with her big defensive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":271782,"width":243,"height":137,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Belle-Groomes.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-271782" width="243" height="137" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152043' first='Annabelle' last='Groomes']</strong> - 6'0 S/OPP - St. Joseph Academy/AVC </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Listed as a setter coming in, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152043' first='Annabelle' last='Groomes']</strong> got to get her fair share of swings on the right side. The mighty southpaw can bring the hammer with a great cross body shot down line that, seemingly, no one could defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='169131' first='Addison' last='Burick'] - 5'10 S - Louisville/Elite </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quickly finding her footing at the Top 250, [player_tooltip player_id='169131' first='Addison' last='Burick'] was one of the standout setters for a few reasons. While her offense was very clean, Burick is not afraid to run the ball anywhere around the court. She was constantly putting hitters in top scoring positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelsie Galter-Davis</strong> - 5'5 L - Solon/ClevPrime </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the scrappier ones of the bunch, <strong>Kelsie Galter-Davis</strong> knew how to bring the ball up at any costs necessary. Whatever ball entered her side of the net, it was Galter-Davis' to own. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='239943' first='Adella' last='Rodriguez'] - 5'11 OH - Clay/Toledo VBC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some players pull back in the long, hard rallies, but not [player_tooltip player_id='239943' first='Adella' last='Rodriguez']. While Rodriguez came into the Top 250 with a very strong arm, it was in the long rallies where she shined, as she kept swinging harder and harder. She's quick off the ground and knows her way around the block!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":270921,"width":238,"height":186,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/105-Makayla-Hopes.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-270921" width="238" height="186" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261347' first='Makayla' last='Hopes'] - 5'6 OH - Grand Valley/Club Ashtabula</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While slightly undersized, when you play the entire game this well, it doesn't matter. [player_tooltip player_id='261347' first='Makayla' last='Hopes'] is one of the most complete packages to step onto the court at the Top 250. Hopes can defend with the best of them any where around the court and has a great attacking vision as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='152049' first='Kayla' last='Channell'] - 6'1 MB - Gilmour Academy/AVC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's no way you will miss her, she's absolutely huge at the net. [player_tooltip player_id='152049' first='Kayla' last='Channell'] was not only one of the top blockers on the weekend but she can follow it up with a heavy ball. Whether in reception or in transition, Channell is always available to put the ball away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='227277' first='Sianna' last='Dykes'] - 6'0 MB - Howland/Infinity</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most explosive kids in the gym.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227277' first='Sianna' last='Dykes']</strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sianna-dykes/"><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;can jump into the clouds and bring down some serious lightning in the middle. An offensive dynamo for sure, Dykes is so agile around the court. This makes Dykes just as good of a blocker as she is an attacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='235443' first='Lauren' last='Blair'] - 5'8 S - John Glenn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unafraid to go against the grain, play around with her offense, [player_tooltip player_id='235443' first='Lauren' last='Blair'] is a very effective, dynamic setter. While Blair can throw the ball around the court with ease, she does so at very high level, putting her hitters in constant scoring positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gabrielle Jones</strong> - 5'11 OH - Chaminade Julienne/Elite VBTC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most powerful arms in the gym, <strong>Gabrielle Jones</strong> is total terror. With some serious heat behind her swings, she can bring it throughout many different routes around the court. Jones is also a superb pin blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":271879,"width":255,"height":143,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Ruth-Anderson.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-271879" width="255" height="143" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='246112' first='Ruth' last='Anderson'] - 5'11 OH/MB - Newark/[program_tooltip program_id='431757' first='ABBA' last='']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When in flight, it's quite difficult to slow [player_tooltip player_id='246112' first='Ruth' last='Anderson'] down. One of the highest of fliers in the gym, Anderson uses her attack reach to its full potential to score. She's an imposing blocker with a lot of speed to stay available in the offense at all times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261323' first='Bree' last='Herman'] - 5'4 L - Riverside/EVC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another leader in the back court, [player_tooltip player_id='261323' first='Bree' last='Herman'] has no problem becoming the director of defense for any court she steps foot on. While a vocal leader, Herman always positions herself in the best places to make a play and can put up one heck of a set in out of system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->