Northern Kentucky Volleyball Club 18s Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group fielded two teams comprised of a number of seniors looking to make the most of their final months in high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18-1 Tsunami</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many of these players are headed off to college once the season is over. The majority of the team is back together after a solid campaign last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with solid first passes. Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='210634' first='Julia' last='Grace'] from Notre Dame, Notre Dame teammate [player_tooltip player_id='477121' first='Lacey' last='Hostetler'] and Boone County senior [player_tooltip player_id='159391' first='Azaria' last='Sweet'] will handle those duties for the most part and St. Ursula senior [player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'] will set up the dynamic hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has size in the middle and right side with 6-4 [player_tooltip player_id='159378' first='Corrine' last='Blackburn'] from St. Henry, Loveland 6-1 senior Sophia Loomis and 6-0 Villa Madonna senior [player_tooltip player_id='210638' first='Maya' last='Kondik']. Three Notre Dame seniors pack power from the outside in [player_tooltip player_id='159327' first='Riley' last='McCloskey'], [player_tooltip player_id='231876' first='Ella' last='Goetz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='210633' first='Ava' last='Tilden']. Goetz and Tilden will also play some defensive specialist and McCloskey will play on the right side after missing most of last season with an injury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18-2 Tide</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a number of seniors looking to finish their high school careers strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame senior [player_tooltip player_id='253867' first='Hannah' last='Dannenberg'] will be a defensive specialist with Ursuline's [player_tooltip player_id='305615' first='Liliana' last='Gentes'] playing defensive specialist or setting. Lawrenceburg's Sophia Fassold and Saint Ursula senior Gracie Turner could set or play right side hitter. Bishop Brossart senior [player_tooltip player_id='159379' first='Kate' last='Neltner'] along with two Lawrenceburg players Bryleigh Boyd and Natalie Knigga could outside hitter or defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two other players round out the roster at either middle or outside hitter. They are East Central senior Isabelle Leurck or Lawrenceburg's Azley Vertz.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams play in the Early Bird Shootout in Indianapolis on Jan. 12 to start the season.</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":["159327"],"_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-6768ea3c308f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McCloskey missed the majority of the club season last year and all but two games during the high school season as the result of an injury. She hopes to come back real strong. She's shown the propensity to put balls down fast from the time she hit the high school scene as an eighth grader. McCloskey can go to the sides of hitters to put balls down and is a sound blocker.</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":"Sophia Loomis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Loveland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='481203' first='Northern' last='Kentucky Volleyball Club']","_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-6768ea3c309ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Loomis played a big role in the balanced Loveland offense this past season. Loomis takes a variety of short and long sets, then places them to different parts of the court. Loomis hits from the middle and creases effectively. Loomis uses her height well to record timely blocks. Loomis had 180 kills and 75 blocks last season, helping Loveland go 22-5 overall, driving to the Division II region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477121"],"_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-6768ea3c309fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hostetler helps her high school and club teams form solid back lines. She does a great job squaring her arms up to balls and starting the potent attacks. Hostetler had 259 digs, helping the Pandas go 34-4 with another 35th District and 9th Region title along with a state semifinal finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159379"],"_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-6768ea3c30a44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Neltner (pictured) had a solid career for the Mustangs and hopes to finish on a powerful note. Neltner is a six-rotation player that brings everything she has every play. Neltner also made a number o key digs last season. Neltner had 449 kills, 430 digs, 31 assisted blocks and 45 aces, helping Bishop Brossart go 26-12 finishing 10th Region runner-up last season.</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 -->