MEQ Recap: Good Success for Ohio Teams
In this article:
Rock City Wins 17 USA Division Rock City 17-1 continues to assert themselves competitively as they finished the recent Mideast Qualifier with a 9-1 record to win the 17 USA division to earn their bid to this summer’s USAV Girls…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingRock City Wins 17 USA Division
Rock City 17-1 continues to assert themselves competitively as they finished the recent Mideast Qualifier with a 9-1 record to win the 17 USA division to earn their bid to this summer’s USAV Girls Junior National Championships. A huge strength of this team is in their ball control and defense, which is anchored by 2023 prospect Maria Insana Maria Insana 5'3" | DS/L Kenston | 2023 State OH . The 5’4 Youngstown State commit has great instincts on the defensive side and maximizes her quickness well with good first-step movement to pursue the ball and develop range. Middle Emma Blankenship is a big presence and force especially on the defensive side. She also showed her ability to score through quick options and with good movement overhead off one foot. Maria Flynn Maria Flynn 6'0" | OH Gilmour | 2024 State OH , at 6’1, has an aggressive arm on the pins and found a lot of success at the right side as one of multiple point scoring options. Recent rankings additions in setter Samantha Hartman Samantha Hartman 5'8" | S Mentor | 2024 State OH and middle Niyah Lester Niyah Lester 6'2" | MB Brush | 2024 State OH also contributed to their great run over the weekend.
Elevation ‘ last=”]’ last=”] 18s Go Undefeated
The top team for Elevation ‘ last=”]’ last=”] went 10-0 on the weekend dropping only three sets on their way to a tournament title and an open-level bid to the national championships. Kentucky commit Brooke Bultema Brooke Bultema 6'3" | MB Ursuline | 2023 State #36 Nation OH was a consistent threat as has been typical for this team this season as she is tough to handle in the middle with her aggressive movement and arm around the setter offensively. Setter Lindsey Green Lindsey Green 5'11" | S Ursuline | 2023 State OH (Ball State) is a competitive veteran and plays with confidence and composure to help lead her team in the toughest moments while also developing good offense. Ranked #8 nationally by one source, this team has good depth in the middle with Campbell Robinson Campbell Robinson 6'2" | MB Milford | 2023 State OH (Albany) and Amelia Nott Amelia Nott 6'1" | MB Centerville | 2023 State OH (Morehead State) and get good leadership in the ball control and defensive phases from Sydney Breissinger Sydney Breissinger 5'5" | DS/L Ursuline | 2023 State OH (Creighton).
NOVA Earns Triple Qualification
NOVA 18 Navy lost one match on the weekend which was in the championship match as they finished 2nd overall with a 9-1 record. Their roster includes some great athleticism and talent. Jocelyn Jourdan Jocelyn Jourdan 6'2" | OH Austintown-Fitch | 2023 State OH , heading to Youngstown State, is a primary option for this team. She has good size and contact point at 6’2 and can generate good power at both pins. Middle Allana Appelby is signed to Cleveland State. She is an athlete and can be a big factor in putting a big block on the defensive side as she continues to improve the quality of her arm to match the big Elevation ‘ last=”]’ last=”] she can create. Outside hitter Natalie Stepanovich is 6’0 and can also score points effectively. She is signed with Robert Morris. Having earned bids to the 18 USA division earlier, this is a team that should be a big threat for a successful run at nationals this summer as a triple qualifier.
Black Swamp Wins 18 Liberty Division
With a 10-0 record on the weekend, Black Swamp 18-1 completed their weekend with a convincing 2-0 win in the championship match. Middle Caroline Lanicek Caroline Lanicek 6'1" | MB Calvert | 2024 State OH (Hillsdale College) is a big presence and can be a huge challenge for defenses with her ability to contact high and as she is a lefty. Emily Klopp Emily Klopp 6'3" | MB Mohawk | 2023 State OH (Clarion) also brings big size to the net at 6’3 which can influence a match with her length and blocking ability. On the pin is Rylie Ritzhaupt (Otterbein) who brings athleticism at 5’9 to be able to contribute as a six-rotation athlete with good skills offensively and with her ball control and defense. Hannah Miller Hannah Miller 5'8" | DS/L Calvert | 2023 State OH (Findlay) also provides great competitive experience with a solid skill set to be able to contribute in a variety of ways.