Elevation 16 Teams Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of the 16 team players made impacts on the varsity levels last season. Others might be heard from by the end of next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Goller</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two talented defensive specialists in McNicholas sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='435871' first='Ali' last='Strange'] and Oak Hills junior [player_tooltip player_id='487235' first='Lindsey' last='Curless'] start things off. Fenwick sophomore setter Abby Keller will then pass it to talented hitters such as Fenwick sophomore teammate [player_tooltip player_id='480794' first='Morgan' last='Meiring'] at outside/right side hitter. Mount Notre Dame multi-talented sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='480817' first='Kendall' last='Hubbard'] will set or hit from the outside and right sides.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four hitters stand at 6-0 and above giving the team solid size. The tallest two are 6-2 Ursuline sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='592218' first='Alex' last='Morris'] and sophomore Tippecanoe 6-1 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='592223' first='Lexi' last='Luginbuhl']. Loveland sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='480832' first='Kylie' last='George'] also gives the team swings in the middle along with Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='481208' first='Jillian' last='Turvey']. Turvey will also take swings from the right side. McNicholas standout sophomore 6-0 outside/right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='480801' first='Savanna' last='Stacey'] adds to that depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Renfro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad starts with two experienced sophomore Kings teammates in setter [player_tooltip player_id='608312' first='Anabelle' last='Seni'] and defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='725537' first='Kennady' last='Horsley']. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='536084' first='Grace' last='Ingle'] will also contribute at defensive specialist or libero. Mount Notre Dame sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='763906' first='Lyla' last='Cooper'] will also set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has some up and coming hitters starting with Kettering Fairmont 5-9 middle blocker/right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='662586' first='Daniella' last='Jones'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Mason sophomore teammates are in the mix with outside/right side hitter Mckenzie Meinberg and outside/middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='732857' first='Reaghan' last='Richardson']. Tippecanoe also has a pair of teammates in the hitting mix in sophomore middle blocker/right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='779070' first='Livia' last='Hiser'] and freshman right side/outside hitter Abby Mader. Rounding out the roster are Mount Notre Dame sophomore outside/right side hitter Leah Seeger along with CHCA sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='604612' first='Lily' last='Thornberry'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of these players are trying to prove themselves. Some saw limited varsity action this past season. Two are Springboro teammates [player_tooltip player_id='542132' first='Maggie' last='Teel'] and Taliyah Stevenson. Teel will play defensive specialist and outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest name out of this group is Carroll junior middle blocker/pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='694844' first='Grace' last='Dooley']. Mason sophomore Kendall Holt gives the team another option in the middle. Ursuline sophomore Kaitlyn Crable and Kettering Fairmont sophomore Allie Amstutz could set or play on the right side after receiving passes from Centerville libero Hadley Heil. The other hitter is Mason 5-7 defensive specialist/outside hitter Adalyn Barstow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three teams play in the club scrimmages on Jan. 11 and 12 before playing in the Nike Classic in Columbus on Jan. 18 through 20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480794"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676e13835792d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mering (pictured) is trying to turn into a solid all-around player for the Falcons. Meiring is a reliably accurate hitter for Fenwick. She puts a lot of power into balls starting from her legs up, sending them screaming to the floor. Meiring can hit and shove balls off blocks for big points. Meiring is also a sound defender for Fenwick. Meiring finished second in the GCL Co-Ed with 395 kills and third with 271 digs to go with 47 aces, helping Fenwick finish Division V state runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480801"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676e1383579bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stacey gives the Rockets a chance to win anytime she takes the court because of her size and athleticism. The coaching staff takes advantage of those skills well. She pounds balls down from the front and back rows a variety of ways from cutters across the court to sideline shots. Stacey finds openings well. The McNicholas balance helps her get a number of one-on-one opportunities at the net. Stacey has a solid serve. Stacey finished third in the Co-Ed GCL with 224 kills to go with 190 digs, 37 blocks and 31 aces with an astounding 2.39 passer rating good for second in the league, helping McNicholas go 22-5 overall, win a second straight outright GCL Co-Ed crown and finish Division IV region runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["487235"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676e138357a1c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Curless constantly goes toe-to-toe with sound hitters, diving to her knees to keep plays alive. Curless has learned great habits from her teammates being one of three Oak Hills players that finished in the top five in the Greater Miami Conference with a 2.07 passer rating on a three-point scale. Curless constantly squared her arms up with balls and passed them on point to setters. Curless also has a deceptive line drive serve. Curless had 180 digs and 58 aces helping the Highlanders go 17-7 and finish Division I district runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["662586"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676e16e8a1036"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones has such outstanding timing on her blocks that she turns back a number of them. She forms solid double blocks putting pressure on opposing hitters. Jones has the skills to become a solid hitter in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. It's a matter of the team improving the first contacts to help make that happen. Jones had 111 blocks and 85 kills for the Firebirds this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["694844"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676e1e6af34f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dooley has great form on her spike attempts. She can pound balls to the back row on one play, then hit balls off blockers for points on the next play. She does a good job seeing the floor and making things happen. Dooley can take things off balls to put them down when the team is out of system. Dooley's defense improved tremendously this past season. Dooley finished fourth in the GCL Co-Ed with 202 kills to go with 141 digs, helping the Patriots finish a respectable 16-8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly a year and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->