Early Season Big Performances

Mike Bryant August 22, 2023 @ 08:36 AM

[player_tooltip player_id='169129' first='Chloe' last='Gels'] - St. Henry Over seven sets, Gels earned 40 total kills to help St. Henry to a solid opening weekend. St. Henry finished 2-1, dropping their only match to a very good Coldwater team. A 5'10 senior outside hitter, Gels averaged 5.7 k/s while hitting at an impressive .310 efficiency. She also added 15 digs on the day. She has an aggressive arm with a lot of point scoring experience and value over her previous two varsity seasons. Look for her to remain among the total kills leaders as the season moves ahead.   [player_tooltip player_id='239943' first='Adella' last='Rodriguez'] - Clay (*pictured) Rodriguez averaged 4.1 k/s for Clay over their first round of contests. Helping her team to a 2-1 record this past Saturday, Rodriguez twice earned double digit kills with terrific efficiency as she had 11 kills at a .429 clip in their 2-1 win over St. Francis Desales while scoring 13 kills on a .414 efficiency in their 2-1 victory versus Lincoln. She had a solid club season and enters her final varsity campaign in 2023 with 634 total career kills. The senior outside hitter gets good lift and shows her experience well with arm control that allows her to move the ball around aggressively at the top of her jump.   [player_tooltip player_id='289183' first='Christian' last='Thompson'] - Fairfield Union Thompson had one of the biggest kills per set outputs among all early matches as she terminated 7.5 k/s on a .500 efficiency as she and her team earned consecutive 2-0 wins to begin the season. The 6'0 junior was a critical offensive piece last season as she earned 366 total kills for an average of 4.7 k/s with a season efficiency of .354. In their win over Lakewood, Thompson earned 15 kills showcasing her arm at both pins and out of the back row. She is athletic with big lift that helps her generate contact point and pace that is tough to slow down.   [player_tooltip player_id='227628' first='Sidney' last='Sprada'] - Brookville Sprada, just a sophomore, was one of the most effective attackers when considering volume of work in the early season. The Blue Devils started their 2023 competition schedule at 3-0 with Sprada earning 29 total kills over that span. What is most impressive is that she terminated the ball at a 69% kill rate while hitting at an overall efficiency of .642. Through 42 swings she had only two errors. Her high flying contact point was on display as she scored from both sides of the floor with elite moments driving the ball to the floor through the space she found around the block. She is poised to have a huge offensive season over the next couple of months.   [player_tooltip player_id='196345' first='Lydia' last='Werling'] - St. Henry As St. Henry opened the season at 2-1 over seven total sets, Werling sits atop the setters list for the best production as she dished 82 total assists for a 11.7 a/s average. The senior earned a career best for a season in 2022 with a 9.3 a/s average and enters 2023 positioned well to eclipse the 2,000 career assists mark early as she now boasts a career total of 1,957 following the first weekend of competition. The senior is a savvy competitor. She is quick and athletic while bringing good court direction and leadership that matches her well-rounded skills that helps ignite her team.

Chloe Gels Chloe Gels 5'10" | OH St. Henry | 2024 State OH - St. Henry
Over seven sets, Gels earned 40 total kills to help St. Henry to a solid opening weekend. St. Henry finished 2-1, dropping their only match to a very good Coldwater team. A 5'10 senior outside hitter, Gels averaged 5.7 k/s while hitting at an impressive .310 efficiency. She also added 15 digs on the day. She has an aggressive arm with a lot of point scoring experience and value over her previous two varsity seasons. Look for her to remain among the total kills leaders as the season moves ahead.