AAU Nationals: Ohio 17 Open Teams

[program_tooltip program_id='430852' first='Tri-State' last='Elite'] 17 Blue The #2 seed overall, this team has the personnel and experience to get on the podium when all is said and done. They have been featured a few times and rightfully so with some of the best talent in the greater Cincy area, including northern Kentucky. What I feel will be the key for their success is their ball control as this will increase their ability to balance their offense. As they have several arms that can terminate, when they get them all involved they are very dangerous. Key point scorers include [player_tooltip player_id='114599' first='Reese' last='Wuebker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='114568' first='Addy' last='Brus'] on the left pin as both can get off the floor very well and put heavy pace on the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='139276' first='Sophia' last='Adkins'] can terminate on the right pin as they can also get point scoring from Kiana Dinn at opposite when she is not sharing in the setting role. [player_tooltip player_id='114574' first='Maria' last='Drapp'] will also provide a heavy dose of setting, which includes a good connection with middle [player_tooltip player_id='114600' first='Faith' last='Young'] who can find space and hit a heavy ball to both sides of the floor. The pressure for consistent ball control falls upon a corps of athletes led by [player_tooltip player_id='114590' first='Kelsey' last='Niesen'], an agile and productive six-rotation prospect for her high school team with good range in her 5'9 frame. [player_tooltip player_id='114578' first='Dakota' last='Henry'] and Alexis Woolf can be very good with their pursuit and platform work when their read and reaction is locked in. When all the parts are in synch, this group is fun to watch and difficult to beat.   Mintonette m.71 Another top seed in their pool, this group has size at every position that is tough to match. The length in their ball control, setting, and attacking is some of the biggest and best in Ohio and they have shown to be dominant at times dependent upon their passing and ability to minimize errors. It all starts with libero [player_tooltip player_id='114571' first='Madison' last='Cugino'], who has also seen time at the outside hitter role. She has good size at 5'9 to pass and defend as she anchors their first-contact work. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='139283' first='Kaylee' last='Musick'] (*pictured) is 6'0 and can create challenges for opposing defenses with her size, high contact point, and skills to distribute the full scope of the floor with good control and consistency. One of her best targets is outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='196346' first='Taylor' last='Bahnub'] who will see some high volume opportunities. She is 6'1 and does good work to move the ball around based on her vision and the space she creates. In the middle is [player_tooltip player_id='213214' first='Hattie' last='Welker'] who may be their most productive option there given her length at 6'2 and near 10' touch. Banhub and Welker are also two of the teams best blockers as they make good moves to get up and over the net. Opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='139286' first='Becca' last='Wight'] is 6'5 and can fill up a lot of space above the net when blocking while also being able to make contact well above the net offensively.   Elite VBTC 17 Black Led by our top-ranked 2024 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='139280' first='Alec' last='Rothe'], this squad begins as the #2 seed in their pool. Rothe is so athletic that it is tough to defend her but this team will need production from others to help alleviate her having to shoulder a ton of the load over four days. She is more than capable of handling defensive focus upon her as she can simply get up and over most blocks but minimizing her workload will allow her to remain more fresh later in the event. That added production goes through the hands of setter [player_tooltip player_id='139295' first='Maija' last='Eglitis'] and includes the arm of pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='152118' first='Olivia' last='Heitkamp'], who can elevate and contact high in her own right. It is understood that the best teams typically have at least three reliable arms to score and [player_tooltip player_id='169124' first='Eva' last='Dittmar'] has done a good job throughout the season of point scoring and supporting the work of Rothe and Heitkamp. Her ability to terminate efficiently will increase this team's odds for a deep run.   Maverick 17 Elite [player_tooltip player_id='239167' first='Kate' last='Trzcinski'] is the best all-around prospect on this team as she contributes in a lot of ways. As a six rotation left side attacker, she provides good effort and accuracy in her ball control and defense while being able to score with her arm through multiple attack points and tempos. [player_tooltip player_id='196509' first='Ava' last='Kanj'] has good length in the middle and anchors their net defense well while also providing some point scoring through quicker options. Jessica Nieman is a 6'0 lefty on the right side that can also score with her arm as she provides a presence on that side of the floor that needs to be respected and which helps balance their offensive options. The libero role is filled by Mia Schaeffer who at 5'9 has range and plays with good preparation and patience to pursue the ball well in all directions defensively. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='435239' first='Fiona' last='Cooper'] has good mechanics and distributes tempo well to help create good opportunities for her hitters.   OPVC 17 Day [player_tooltip player_id='196359' first='Darbi' last='Ricketts'] is a spark plug for this team as the 5'7 outside hitter as great athleticism. She hits a high volume while being able to score with a very crafty arsenal of shots in both the front and back rows. She is also solid in the passing and defensive areas for her team. In the middle is [player_tooltip player_id='196360' first='Madelyn' last='Luers'] who is their best option through the quickest part of their offense. Other offensive production comes from [player_tooltip player_id='114598' first='Leah' last='Wiley'] who, at 6'1, has good versatility to score in the middle but seemingly is more dynamic with her arm and elevation on the right side.

Tri-State Elite 17 Blue
The #2 seed overall, this team has the personnel and experience to get on the podium when all is said and done. They have been featured a few times and rightfully so with some of the best talent in the greater Cincy area, including northern Kentucky. What I feel will be the key for their success is their ball control as this will increase their ability to balance their offense. As they have several arms that can terminate, when they get them all involved they are very dangerous. Key point scorers include Reese Wuebker Reese Wuebker 5'10" | OH Centerville | 2024 State #57 Nation OH and Addy Brus Addy Brus 5'10" | OH St. Ursula | 2024 State OH on the left pin as both can get off the floor very well and put heavy pace on the ball. Sophia Adkins Sophia Adkins 6'0" | OH Mercy McAuley | 2024 State #71 Nation OH can terminate on the right pin as they can also get point scoring from Kiana Dinn at opposite when she is not sharing in the setting role. Maria Drapp Maria Drapp 5'9" | S Mercy McAuley | 2024 State OH will also provide a heavy dose of setting, which includes a good connection with middle Faith Young Faith Young 6'0" | OH Harrison | 2024 State OH who can find space and hit a heavy ball to both sides of the floor. The pressure for consistent ball control falls upon a corps of athletes led by Kelsey Niesen Kelsey Niesen 5'9" | DS/L Roger Bacon | 2024 State OH , an agile and productive six-rotation prospect for her high school team with good range in her 5'9 frame. Dakota Henry Dakota Henry 5'5" | DS/L Kings | 2024 State OH and Alexis Woolf can be very good with their pursuit and platform work when their read and reaction is locked in. When all the parts are in synch, this group is fun to watch and difficult to beat.