GGCL Preview: Teams spread out over largest four divisions

Volleyball powers may be spread out across the state, but no league has as many state championships in volleyball close to the 37 the current Girls Greater Catholic League teams have won.   Mercy McAuley captured the latest one winning Division II for the first state championship since Mercy and McAuley combined in 2018. Mercy McAuley was the lone school not in Division I last year. Three made it to the region tournament after Ursuline eliminated Mount Notre Dame in the district championship. Eventual state champion Kings bested defending state champion Ursuline in the region semifinals, then St. Ursula in the region championship after St. Ursula beat regular season champion Seton in a tight region semifinal game.   But this year, only one postseason matchup between the GGCL teams can take place with only St. Ursula and Mount Notre Dame in the same Division II with the Ohio High School Athletic Association's expansion from four to seven divisions. Seton remains in the largest Division I with Ursuline going to Division III and Mercy McAuley going to Division IV.   Seton (23-3, 7-1)   The Saints come into the season loaded with seven seniors and a total of eight players committed to playing at the next level.   They are especially loaded on defense led by senior libero and UCLA commit [player_tooltip player_id='152052' first='Sakura' last='Codling'], senior defensive specialist and Toledo commit [player_tooltip player_id='152060' first='Sydney' last='Crowley'] and junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='403526' first='Grace' last='Jones'], a Lipscomb University commit. Codling led the GGCL with 473 digs last year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='152054' first='Daisy' last='Cluxton'], a Northern Kentucky University commit, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='227615' first='Callie' last='Combs'], a North Carolina State commit give the Saints versatility at defensive specialist and outside hitter.   Senior Reagan Miller, a Georgetown College commit, is back as a four-year starter after recording 448 assists last year and junior [player_tooltip player_id='368391' first='Kirsten' last='Kemper'] will also set. Senior Maddie Albright, a Davenport (Michigan) commit is an option in the middle and outside and junior [player_tooltip player_id='379749' first='Nattie' last='Slusher'], an Eastern Michigan commit, gives the Saints another option outside.   Seton head coach Kelly Crowley said keys to success for the Saints come down to serve, pass and defensive excellence. He said winning consistently in the GGCL is tough so finding different ways to win is important.   The Saints open the season Aug. 16 at home against Turpin.   St. Ursula (18-8 last year, 4-4 GGCL)   Gretchen Krumdieck returns to lead her alma for a second season after guiding the Bulldogs one game away from state. St. Ursula did beat eventual Division I state champion Kings early in the season, but Kings won the rematch in the region title game, 3-1 (30-28, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23).   University of Tennessee commit [player_tooltip player_id='204230' first='Emma' last='Frietch'] leads the attack defensively for the Bulldogs. When senior setter and Florida Atlantic University commit [player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'] receives clean passes, she'll distribute the ball to a number of powerful hitters after breaking the school record for most assists in a season with 940 last year. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='227797' first='Gabby' last='Semona'] at 6-3 gives the Bulldogs size in the middle after recording 196 kills and blocking 78 balls last year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones'] gives the Bulldogs another weapon in the middle and senior [player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'], a Miami (Ohio) commit, will give the Bulldogs balance from the outside.   Krumdieck said the key to success for the Bulldogs has not changed this year. That's focusing on themselves and doing all the little things right. Krumdieck said wins come naturally when those pieces become habit.   St. Ursula hosts Mason on Tuesday to start the season.   Mount Notre Dame (16-9, 3-5)   The Cougars own the most state championships of not only the group, but the entire state with 10 with the last one coming in 2020.   The dynamic setter/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='480817' first='Kendall' last='Hubbard'] leads the Cougars after putting up 496 assists last year. Hubbard and senior setter Molly Smiddy have a number of options to set starting in the middle with 6-2 senior Bridget Scheeler and 6-1 junior [player_tooltip player_id='392780' first='Sydney' last='Geselbracht']. They can also go outside to the likes of senior [player_tooltip player_id='152059' first='Chiara' last='Brueggeman'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='227617' first='Cara' last='Richter'].   Cougars head coach Greg Ulland said serving tough, serve reception and blocking bad sets with be keys this season. Senior defensive specialist Liv Mahoney leads the way with first touches.   The Cougars host Badin on Tuesday to start the season.   Ursuline (11-15, 0-8)   The Lions may not have won a GGCL game coming off a state championship from the previous season, but they still made it back to the region semifinals, pushing eventual state champion Kings to the brink before losing 15-13 in the fifth set.   A lot of that had to do with inexperience at the varsity level. However, a lot of those players return this year and head coach Ali Butcher said the team hopes to continue to build off that and take advantage of their depth. Butcher also said the incoming freshman class brings a lot of energy into the gym making the coaching staff excited. Butcher said the team is continuing to refine the skill sets, compete in practice and work to stay healthy this year.   Senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='176092' first='Rainey' last='Weidman'] leads the Lions with first touches. Then senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='482519' first='Addy' last='Franz'] has a lot of options after recording 913 assists last year. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='176087' first='Katie' last='Gielas'] led the league with 384 kills last year with senior [player_tooltip player_id='195856' first='Lindy' last='Radaszewski'] finishing fifth with 266 to go with 84 blocks. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='434971' first='Jillian' last='Forrest'] also returns to give the Lions another option.   Ursuline starts the season Saturday against Bishop Wattsrson from Columbus.   Mercy McAuley (25-4, 6-2)   Matt Schardine takes over the program that graduated five seniors from the state championship team.   The Wolves have some size in the middle with 6-2 senior Northern Kentucky University commit [player_tooltip player_id='152053' first='Ashley' last='Sess'] and 5-11 right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='152058' first='Caroline' last='Moore']. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='403525' first='Emma' last='Adkins'] returns after recording 364 digs last year.   Mercy McAuley hosts Loveland on Saturday to start the season.   Players to Watch    You can tell how much work Codling has put into the defensive craft as she routinely digs up balls. Codling is a natural athlete that anticipates where balls are going well. She quickly squares her arms up with balls. Hard hit balls caron off her arms to setters. Codling led the Girls Greater Catholic League with 473 digs last year.     Frietch has great instincts as a libero consistently going down on her knees to dig up balls. She quickly dives different directions going after balls hard. Hard struck balls do not bother her as she squares her arms up with them and makes sound passes to her teammates.     Hubbard brings a dynamic skill set to the table primarily at setter. She knows her hitters well and sets them at many different angles so they can put the ball down. Hubbard can do cross court and back sets throwing a lot at opposing defenses. Hubbard can also go in the air and tip balls the other way for setter dumps.     Franz has a deceptively quick setter dump. She goes for it quick if she sees the opening. Franz also brings a lot to the table defensively consistently hustling after balls for the Lions. She does a great job reading hitters and quickly recovers to tipped balls.     Sess is not afraid to do whatever it takes to put balls down. She does the short sets and uses her size to jump over blockers. Sess does not mind moving closer to the pins to keep opponents guessing. Sess has a nice slide step.

Volleyball powers may be spread out across the state, but no league has as many state championships in volleyball close to the 37 the current Girls Greater Catholic League teams have won.