Four Undefeated Teams as Regular Season Winds Down

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Division I</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seton</strong><br>At 15-0 overall, Seton is the top-ranked team in the most recent Division I poll having held on to this position for three weeks straight. They sit on top of the league standings in the GGCL, which produced last year's DI state champion. Their offense features some of the best talent and point scoring in the greater Cincy area led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='114583' first='Alli' last='Kirch'] and her power on the pin along with [player_tooltip player_id='435227' first='Maddie' last='Lambers'] and her improved versatility around the setter. Both are top-10 offensively in the league and get some good support from some of their teammates to help alleviate focus and pressure coming thorough opposing defensive strategies. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='227615' first='Callie' last='Combs'] offers up over two kills per set while currently among league leaders defensively. She is also third overall in service aces. At 1.6 k/s, junior [player_tooltip player_id='152054' first='Daisy' last='Cluxton'] provides some depth, which is needed in order to make a deep run in the postseason. Seton has huge wins over DII #1 Mercy McAuley, twice taking down league rival and DI #2 St. Ursula, while also earning a 3-0 sweep of DII #5 Roger Bacon. Their remaining schedule does not let up as they take on ECC and DI #9 Kings on Saturday followed by Mercy McAuley again on Tuesday. Next Saturday they will see Gilmour Academy and the GWOC's league leader Centerville, undefeated and currently ranked #13 in Division I</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dublin Scioto</strong><br>Featuring our top-ranked prospect in Ohio's 2024 class, the Irish are 17-0 and alone atop the Ohio Capital-Capital league standings with a three-game lead over second place. The elite talent of senior middle [player_tooltip player_id='139280' first='Alec' last='Rothe'] leads their offense as she is over four kills per set for the third season in a row. Her 52% kill rate is the best of her varsity career as the Florida commit also averages nearly three blocks per match. The biggest support she gets offensively comes from 5'10 junior pin<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='482499' first='Kayden' last='Winbush']</strong>. She averages 3.1 k/s as she opens up well to the ball to create great opportunities for power and movement in her shot selection. She also adds over eight digs per match. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502138' first='Riley' last='Winbush']</strong> is terminating just over two kills per set, similar to her freshman season although she is much more effective with a big jump in her efficiency at .309 with a 47% kill rate. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='176091' first='Maddie' last='Zechman'] is their floor leader and looks more assertive, confident and deliberate in her distribution as there is good balance in the use of the arms available to her. She recently surpassed 1,900 total assists for her career and will likely earn her 2,000 assist in their coming matches. The Irish next face conference opponents Franklin Heights and Hayes this coming week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Division III</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Catholic</strong><br>Arguably the best team in all of Ohio high school volleyball, the defending DIII state champs are a juggernaut of a squad. The Cougars are 18-0 overall, have lost just one set, which came in their first match of the season, and boast marquee wins over traditional powers across all divisions with wins over SJA, Magnificat, Gilmour Academy, and Oletangy Orange. They have some of the best skilled players at all positions that make them tough to beat given the quality of play they get in all phases. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='169128' first='Hannah' last='Pattie'], a Campbell commit, is one of the best distributors and runs a varied and fast offense, which amounts to 12 assists and 13.4 kills per set. Wright State commit [player_tooltip player_id='169125' first='Katie' last='Sowko'] again is one of their most prolific arms and is leading the team offensively at 3.8 k/s while hitting at an impressive .402 efficiency. Three other attackers are at 2.5 k/s or better including senior <strong>Claire Duricky </strong>and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='289172' first='Natalya' last='Bergant'] and Ava Budryn Rini. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='321046' first='Julia' last='Oster'], a Colgate commit, leads the team defensively at nearly 10 digs per match. Ranked #1 in DIII, the Cougars take on Walsh Jesuit this week with their final regular season match ahead in their schedule that will see them take on Gilmour Academy for the third time this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Crestview (Columbiana)</strong><br>At 15-0 overall and 11-0 in Mahoning Valley-Grey league play, Crestview is currently ranked #4 in the most recent DIII poll. Offensively, they have some of the league's top kills producers led by the Auer duo. [player_tooltip player_id='139278' first='Grace' last='Auer'], a 6'0 pin is terminating 4.4 k/s, which is on average for her from a year ago. However, her efficiency is way up as she is scoring through a 60% kill rate and .555 clip, both career bests. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='227809' first='Alaina' last='Auer'] contributes 2.2 k/s, which is an increase from her freshman season as the 5'10 pin has a fundamental arm that can put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. The Auer duo also runs this team's offense as they are nearly equal as both are just ahead of a five assists per frame average. Add in junior [player_tooltip player_id='176099' first='Abbey' last='Emch'] and her significant presence in the middle among other areas of the game and Crestview has one of the best point scoring among this trio. She is at 4.5 k/s while also adding 2.9 blocks per match. Along with [player_tooltip player_id='139278' first='Grace' last='Auer']'s team high 10.5 digs per match, junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='482497' first='Julia' last='Blasko']</strong> adds 10.1 digs of her own. Crestview has three matches this week beginning with non-conference opponent Cardinal Mooney before taking league foes in Champion and Garfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->