17U Ohio: Top 3 Teams at Mid-Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#1 AVC CLE 17 Red</em></strong><em><br></em>The top prospect in the Ohio 2025 class is [player_tooltip player_id='152043' first='Belle' last='Groomes'] and she is the leader of this squad that is giving it a good run this club season so far. Their most recent result was a 5th place finish at a very tough MEQ event in 17 Open. They finished just out of qualifying position after pushing two eventual qualifiers to the brink through extra points and sets on the final day. An earlier 5th place finish in the Nike Classic among some of the midwest's top 18U and 17U teams set the tone for their season, which led to a very respectable 13th place result at the ultra competitive Triple Crown NIT event. Groomes, committed to national power San Diego, is supported by some other current Division I commits in pin <strong>Emma Parks</strong> (Marquette) and <strong>Lex Stutzman</strong> (Tennessee). Parks has good length at the pin while Stutzman is a solid option at the libero position. [player_tooltip player_id='152050' first='Aubrey' last='Anders'] (Colgate) is another viable option on the pin as she can bring good power and movement. [player_tooltip player_id='401366' first='Mi-Na' last='Diggs'] is another solid prospect in the first-touch areas as she has seen time at libero in some of their most competitive matches. In the middle are [player_tooltip player_id='152049' first='Kayla' last='Channell'] and B'Lise Bradley, a tandem that has length and big upside given their ability to play with good contact above the tape on both sides of the ball. This team has good depth as other key prospects include pins [player_tooltip player_id='289167' first='Madison' last='Miner'], [player_tooltip player_id='218156' first='Chloe' last='Smith'], and [player_tooltip player_id='289172' first='Natalya' last='Bergant'], along with middle [player_tooltip player_id='185348' first='Ava' last='Carney']. They earn the top spot also given their recent convincing win over #3 [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] (25-16, 25-23) on day three at MEQ. With their ball control and the floor direction that Groomes provides, expect them to be in the mix to earn a coveted 17 Open bid at the upcoming Windy City Qualifier in Chicago later this month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#2 [program_tooltip program_id='430852' first='Tri-State' last='Elite'] 17 Blue</em></strong><br>This team is competing primarily on the JVA circuit and we got a good glimpse of them at the recent Central Zone Invitational where they finished tied for 5th overall, including a two-set win over [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']. They followed that up with a top-20 finish at Triple Crown and a 3rd place finish at Bluegrass. Their next big event will be the World Challenge in Louisville mid-April. This team has some really good presence in all positions including one of the better middles with length in [player_tooltip player_id='152053' first='Ashley' last='Sess']. Sess, a Northern Kentucky commit, is 6'3 and makes a big impact on both sides of the ball, especially in the blocking phase with good reads and movement. She pairs very well with [player_tooltip player_id='151959' first='Olivia' last='Schmidt'] (Wright State) and [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones']. Jones ads some depth at 6'1 and ability to bring big pace off of her arm. The libero is [player_tooltip player_id='152052' first='Sakura' last='Codling'] (UCLA), the top DS/L in this Ohio 2025 class. Her contributions help their setter [player_tooltip player_id='482519' first='Addy' last='Franz'] (Louisiana) develop good balance of distribution and maximize the point scoring they can get from a variety of arms. Franz is a 6'0 setter that is a new addition to this team and a big upgrade with her size and skills. The pins on this team are high flyers on the left side. [player_tooltip player_id='176097' first='Luci' last='Heid'] (Northern Kentucky) and [player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'] are at 10' or above with their contact point that combines with big arm speed that can get the ball to the floor quickly. [player_tooltip player_id='152058' first='Caroline' last='Moore'] (Oakland) is their lefty opposite that commands respect of her own as an attacker that makes this team tough to defend when in system. Other key contributors are [player_tooltip player_id='152054' first='Daisy' last='Cluxton'] (DS/L) and Sydney Crowlely (DS/L). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#3 [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 17 Cabo</em></strong><br>This team has one of the top core groups of pin attackers in Ohio. Among our top-10 ranked prospects in the class of 2025 are both [player_tooltip player_id='176087' first='Katie' last='Gielas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='151958' first='Allie' last='Barrick'] (Lipscomb), both of whom can terminate at a high rate from anywhere on the floor. They upgraded some of their roster with pin [player_tooltip player_id='196364' first='Dakota' last='Spurrier'] (North Florida) and setter [player_tooltip player_id='152056' first='Ally' last='Hughes'] (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville), one of the best and most experienced distributors in the greater Cincy area. They have good athleticism and physicality in the middle that starts with [player_tooltip player_id='195856' first='Lindy' last='Radaszewski'] (Miami) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='524395' first='Katie' last='Helmes']</strong>. Helmes is just 5'7 but is very effective as she gets off the floor well and has good court vision and arm control to take advantage of space in the opponent's defense. Back row leadership comes from [player_tooltip player_id='176092' first='Rainey' last='Weidman'], a much improved libero prospect in her movement efficiency and overall impact. [player_tooltip player_id='151957' first='Malia' last='Brinkman'] adds good depth on the pins as she can create good lift and swings with a high elbow and fast arm. As they head to the Big South Qualifier next for a 17 Open event, look for them to be among the favorites at the upcoming OVR bid event in April in Columbus that would result in a 17 National bid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Others to Watch:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>OPVC 17 Day</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='179022' first='Mariah' last='Gaines'] (OH); Zari Gillisipie (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='151983' first='Raegan' last='Waller'] (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='152062' first='Kaylie' last='McIntosh'] (OH); [player_tooltip player_id='195854' first='Tori' last='Cravens'] (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Mintonette m.71</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='151970' first='Dylan' last='Hunt'] (OH); [player_tooltip player_id='151967' first='Larsen' last='Terrill'] (S); [player_tooltip player_id='400303' first='Jetta' last='Brenning'] (S); [player_tooltip player_id='232147' first='Isabelle' last='Thomas'] (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='289166' first='Finley' last='Sparks'] (OH); [player_tooltip player_id='152359' first='Keira' last='Steininger'] (L)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Black Swamp 171</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='176084' first='Lyndi' last='Wolf'] (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='289176' first='Parker' last='Vackert'] (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='523900' first='Lilly' last='Mullholand'] (RS)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Infinity 17 Green</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='176099' first='Abbey' last='Emch'] (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='523896' first='Reagan' last='Price'] (MB); [player_tooltip player_id='227277' first='Sianna' last='Dykes'] (OH)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Elite VBTC 17 Black</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='152037' first='Hailey' last='Campagna'] (OH); [player_tooltip player_id='152358' first='Gabrielle' last='Dials'] (RS); [player_tooltip player_id='176091' first='Maddie' last='Zechman'] (S)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->