Team Profile: Mintonette m.51
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Mintonette’s m.41 team won the USA GJNC 14 Open gold medal last summer with a tournament leading 10-1 overall match record. They were dominant throughout the event as the only team to win over 20 sets with a set record…
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Continue ReadingMintonette’s m.41 team won the USA GJNC 14 Open gold medal last summer with a tournament leading 10-1 overall match record. They were dominant throughout the event as the only team to win over 20 sets with a set record of 21-8. The bulk of this team returns as Mintonette m.51 this season. Having the opportunity to see them compete at the Early Bird event in Indy recently, this team is poised to make another huge impact on the club season over the next several months. Here are some of their key prospects, including four of them that were part of the OVR’s Select squad last summer that earned a bronze medal at the all-star championships.
Layla Hoying
Layla
Hoying
6'0" | OH
Bishop Watterson | 2026
State
OH
– OH
Although this team can develop good balance offensively, Hoying’s arm is a key element as one of two huge threats on the left pin. She has really steady six-rotation skills as she can terminate effectively out of the back row as well. The 5’10 Bishop Watterson product earned nearly 200 kills over the high school season in her freshman effort. She has good court awareness and movement with her arm that produces through a variety of attack points and tempos in front of the setter. Hoying can swing for range, placement, and to challenge the net defense well with her contact point and power.
Mallory Matheny
Mallory
Matheny
5'11" | S
Bishop Hartley | 2026
State
OH
– S
Bishop Hartley was 26-2 overall with Matheny sharing setting responsibilities in her freshman season. She has a subtle and calm presence on the floor with this Mintonette team although her impact is huge as the primary distributor. Their defense and ball control are so good that she rarely has to chase the ball to the second touch. However, when on the move, she has quickness and footwork to get to still locate the ball well for her hitters with her hands. Matheny’s hand position and contact are simple and she has the ability to distribute the full range of the floor without much variation in her movement making her a tough read when they are in-system.
Sara Snowbarger
Sara
Snowbarger
6'0" | OH
Wooster | 2026
State
OH
– OH
Snowbarger is another big six-rotation threat and contributor. She has good length that aids her skills on both sides of the ball. She had a huge high school season as a first-year athlete as she led Wooster offensively at 5.5 kills per set as they won their conference title and finished 19-5 overall. With 427 total kills she also earned nearly 15 digs per match. Snowbarger has a terrific skill foundation and like others on this team she certainly has potential to be among the best in this class in Ohio throughout her prep career.
Emma Cugino
Emma
Cugino
5'7" | DS/L
Oletangy Orange | 2026
State
OH
– L/DS
Cugino is among the best libero prospects in this class in Ohio after her success throughout her first varsity season with Oletangy Orange. Averaging 19.9 digs per match, she collected a total of 458 digs over the season. She prepares herself well to pursue the ball on defense and has simple reaction as she is efficient with her first step and can create good angles to put the ball in a good spot so her setter can get to work. Among a team that has a good collection of defenders, Cugino is the leader of their serve receive and defensive efforts.
Mackenzie Palumbo
Mackenzie
Palumbo
6'1" | OH
Dublin Jerome | 2026
State
OH
– RS/OH/MH
Palumbo is a new addition to this team and a great one at that. She comes over from Elite VBTC. At 6’1, she brings length that accompanies good experience and success most recently from her first high school season with Dublin Jerome. The Celtics finished 23-3 overall as Palumbo was part of the trio of arms that did the bulk of the scoring. She provides a great presence on the right pin with her size and arm that complements the returning big arms on the left side. Her versatile skills also will allow her to contribute in other areas offensively if needed.