NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami features top 2026 tri-state talent

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami features some of the top talent in the Cincinnati Tri-State area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of the 10 players are being counted on for kills. The big one is [player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Jenna' last='Kitchens']. Kitchens led Simon Kenton has a powerful swing having led the Pioneers with 375 kills last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams will not be able to focus on one player with a number of hitters from both sides of the Ohio River. The tallest player is Notre Dame's [player_tooltip player_id='312234' first='Audrey' last='Dyas'] at 6-2. Dyas made the Notre Dame rotation as a freshman making her presence felt at the net and helped the Pandas to a state championship with a team-high 67 assisted blocks and finished second with 15 solo denials to go with 164 kills. Dyas. Dyas played a bigger role as a sophomore with 174 kills, 62 assisted and eight solo blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Notre Dame player in Grace Portwood will make her presence on the roster. Portwood played a bigger role for the Pandas this past season becoming a strong hitter finishing second with 303 kills. Portwood is also expected to contribute at defensive specialist for Tsunami after performing similar roles for the Pandas in the fall finishing sixth with 122 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='594619' first='Emily' last='Helmers'] is one of four players listed at 6-0 and above. Helmers should have a bigger role hitting this fall for St. Henry with the graduation of several key hitters. Helmers still gave the Crusaders depth finishing second with eight solo and 43 assisted blocks. Helmers also finished fourth with 157 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='204230' first='Emma' last='Frietch'] from St. Ursula will also be heavily counted on in the Libero role. She finished eighth in the Girls Greater Catholic League with 274 digs. Seton's [player_tooltip player_id='227615' first='Callie' last='Combs'] will be also be counted on for defense after finishing fifth in the Girls GCL with 359 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seton's [player_tooltip player_id='368391' first='Kirsten' last='Kemper'] and Mason's [player_tooltip player_id='339082' first='Addy' last='Bianchini'] will be counted on in setting roles. Bianchini could have a bigger role setting this year as Mason's two leading setters graduate. Bianchini still led Mason with 236 kills - good for third in the Greater Miami Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two hitters from the Eastern Cincinnati Conference round out the roster in [player_tooltip player_id='227799' first='Sophia' last='Richardson'] from Kings and Turpin's [player_tooltip player_id='227798' first='Maddie' last='Steele']. Both finished fourth on their respective teams in kills this past fall. Steele recorded 172 and Richardson had 137 kills helping Kings to the Ohio Division I state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team won the 16 Open Gold championship over the weekend in the Central Zone Tournament in Indianapolis. The team next plays in the Triple Crown National Invitational Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri Feb. 17-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->