Northern Kentucky Junior Volleyball 16s Teams Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are three teams in this category for NKJV this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are made of some notable names from the northern three counties in Kentucky with some coming over the river from Ohio. There about half a dozen players that made an impact on the varsity levels this year and the others are trying to hone their skills to do that this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top team has four solid players to build around, starting with Anderson libero [player_tooltip player_id='730707' first='Karly' last='Otto'], who helped guide the Raptors to 18 straight wins and an Eastern Cincinnati Conference crown. The other listed libero on the team is St. Ursula freshman Lilliana Costantini.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conner sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='757885' first='Sophie' last='Dieruf'] primarily played defensive specialist in the fall, but she'll move to a setter or right side hitter role for club. Highlands sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='776644' first='Hailey' last='Ryan'] could also set or play defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They'll have a number of dynamic hitters to set up starting with Bishop Brossart sophomore 6-2 [player_tooltip player_id='515259' first='Callie' last='Ritter'] and Walton-Verona sophomore hitter [player_tooltip player_id='468553' first='Chloe' last='McIntosh']. McIntosh led Walton-Verona in kills and Ritter finished third, helping the Mustangs to district and region runner-up finishes. Ritter primarily played middle in high school and will do that or play an outside hitter spot for the club with McIntosh playing the middle or right side along with Newport Central Catholic sophomore Maura Franzen, who dominated the junior varsity scene this past fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the roster are St. Henry sophomore Kate Wells at right side/outside hitter and Ryle's [player_tooltip player_id='781286' first='Bridget' last='Burns'] at outside/middle hitter. Burns saw limited varsity action for the Raiders this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anna Ficker is the head coach and Patricia Kreinbrink is the assistant. The first tournament for the team takes place Jan. 18 through 20 in the Nike Classic in Columbus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Brossart sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='569742' first='Josie' last='Reckner'] and Walton-Verona sophomore Annie Allen headline this group after nice seasons on varsity this past fall. Reckner will play a similar defensive specialist role or set some with Allen playing a similar defensive specialist role or hitting from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conner sophomore Makenna Marks will play a true defensive specialist role with Highlands sophomore Olivia Raaker doing that or setting to six different hitters. Newport Central Catholic sophomore Alexa Combs, Highlands sophomore Meredith Hicks or Conner sophomore Aurora Sandfoss could play middle or outside hitter with Highlands sophomore teammates Ava Ireland, Taylor Janosick or NewCath sophomore Isabella Schaber hitting from the outside or the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are former Highlands assistants Beth Pelgen and Molly Maxwell. The first tournament is the Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis on Jan. 25 and 26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group comes into the season hoping to find ways to show their coaches they can help the teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame sophomore Claire Cardenas is the libero with three players vying to set the ball in Ryle sophomore Bryia Duncan, Notre Dame sophomore Giada Frambes and Campbell County sophomore Kendyl Hartman. Duncan and Frambes could play on the right side and Hartman could play on the outside if not setting. Highlands sophomore Lyla Shaffer will play defensive specialist if she's not hitting on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four hitters round out the roster. Notre Dame sophomore Lily Garner and St. Ursula sophomore Elizabeth Karp will play middle hitter or right side. Highlands sophomore Ava Gwisdalla and Conner sophomore Olivia McConnell will hit from the outside. Gwisdalla could hit in the middle and McConnell could also take swings from the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madi Hollis is the coach. The first tournament is also the Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis on Jan. 25 and 26.</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":["515259"],"_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-67575aa7661f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ritter took steps to becoming a more complete six-rotation player this season. Ritter has great net awareness, consistently recording solo and double blocks. Brossart head coach Danielle French agreed she tracks balls well and is a very consistent, reliable server. French also agreed she'd like to see Ritter take more aggressive swings considering she's the tallest player in the 10th Region. Ritter had 223 kills, 30 solo blocks, 48 assisted blocks and 62 aces, helping Brossart go 26-12, win another All "A" 10th Region crown and finish 37th District and 10th Region Tournament runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["730707"],"_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-67575aa76626b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Otto (pictured) took the back row by storm for Anderson this past fall, constantly diving after balls to keep plays alive. Otto has great work habits and they translate onto the court. She consistently made solid two to three-point passes to start up the solid Anderson attack. Her 1.99 passing average on a three-point scale will only increase these next two years with her work ethic. Otto finished sixth in the East Cincinnati Conference with 305 digs this past season, helping Anderson go 19-4, winning 18 in a row to claim the first ECC crown since claiming a share of it in 2014.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='757885' first='Sophie' last='Dieruf']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Conner","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='430241' first='Northern' last='Kentucky Junior Volleyball']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67575ef008bcd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dieruf stepped in and became a valuable defender for the Cougars this past fall. She does a great job watching hitters then lining up her body to make crisp passes forward. Dieruf is not afraid to dive after balls when needed. Dieruf hopes to expand her game during club season to more setting and right side hitting. Dieruf had 151 digs, helping Conner to a 20-17 record this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Annie Allen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Walton-Verona","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='430241' first='Northern' last='Kentucky Junior Volleyball']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-675762d63c95c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allen has given Walton-Verona a nice presence in the back row for three years starting as an eighth grader. She does a good job running under balls then using sound techniques to push them forward to setters. She extends her arms to keep plays alive. Allen had 157 digs for the Bearcats this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->