Team Profile: Avon Lake

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 12-0, the Shoregals have a dynamic core group of athletes that provide great experience and are playing some high quality ball putting up some big numbers. Currently alone atop the Southwestern league standings, Avon Lake has dropped just three total sets over their 12 matches. Here are some of their key prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196505' first='Aubrey' last='Kirk']</strong> - OH | 2024<br>With just over 900 kills, Kirk has been a key factor for the Shoregals for the past few seasons. She earned a career high 381 kills in 2022 and is on average to earn similar numbers once again at 4.9 k/s. She is swinging with her best efficiency at .363 as she is scoring on over 50% of her opportunities. She has a very live arm in that she can produce through varied attack points at the net and from the service line with great movement and pressure. She gets big lift and can develop good pace at the top of her jump. A 1st team all-SWC selection in 2022, she was recently named the league's Player of the Week for her big output overall including 86 kills, 37 digs, and 11 aces while terminating at a 52% rated over recent matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='194683' first='Stephanie' last='Smith']</strong> - OH | 2024<br>Another 1st team SWC honoree from 2022, Smith elevates well and gets on top of the ball, which makes a big statement when space is created through the fast tempo offense delivered when they are in system. Her high contact point is a challenge for average blockers to slow down. She complements Kirk well at 4.1 k/s as the 5'9 outside hitter has increased her output and effectiveness so far in 2023 earning more kills per set along with increased kill percentage at 47% and a hitting efficiency of .339. She makes an impact on the defensive side as well at 2.1 blocks per contest. She had a season high 23 kills in their recent 3-2 conference win over Olmsted Falls, an important victory in their effort towards a league title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176103' first='Rachel' last='Meyer']</strong> - S | 2025<br>The junior setter has already dished over 2,000 career assists and is on pace to finish 2023 with her best numbers yet. With a career best 11.1 a/s average this season, she is guiding this offense with location that creates great opportunities for her pins. With two of the biggest arms in the league on the left side of their attacking strategy, Meyer is a savvy distributor with high quality touch and tempo that puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses to get in front of her hitters effectively. On the defensive side she adds 8.8 d/m. She was a 2nd team SWC selection last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danica McArthur</strong> - DS/L | 2025<br>McArthur stabilizes this team's ball control and defense well from the back row. Another 2nd team league selection from last season, she earned 478 digs in 2022 with an average of 19.9 digs per match. As her average is down a bit this season, she is still producing at a high rate with an average of 5.3 d/s. She was a huge factor in their recent 3-2 win over league foe Olmsted Falls with 39 digs to help keep their offense moving and effective in developing good opportunities with her first-touch work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Izzy Loeffler</strong> - MH | 2025<br>Loeffler, a 6'0 junior middle, has good tools and provides a competitive presence on both sides of the ball. When she gets her opportunities offensively, with good spacing she can put some pace on the ball, which has her contributing her best offensive output of her career and nearly two kills per set. She is the best on the team in efficiency as her numbers are way up from the 2022 season as she is hitting at a .438 clip. Defensively, she leads the Shoregals at the net with a 2.8 b/m average as she has good mechanics to make a dynamic move to defend opposing pin attackers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->