CYVBC Surge 16 Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cincinnati Youth Volleyball Club Surge teams have put together some sound squads and it has shown early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top squad in this age group ventured to Columbus last weekend for the Nike Classic and brought home the gold in the 16 Premier class with a stellar 8-1 record. The team lost to [program_tooltip program_id='431555' first='Mintonette' last='Sports'] - m. 63 in pool play, but came back to win the rematch in the title game, 2-0 (25-22, 26-24).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team features three members of the two-time defending Cincinnati Hills League champion Taylor Yellowjackets. The biggest one is the dynamic CHL Player of the Year in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='717161' first='Kylie' last='Stutzman']. Stutzman will set and play pin hitter for this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore Taylor teammate Audrey Benkert brings size to the team at 6-1 as a middle blocker. She made CHL Honorable Mention this past fall. The third Taylor player is freshman Lizzy Hilvert. Hilvert will play pin hitter or defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seton also features three sophomores on this team. [player_tooltip player_id='589356' first='Lucy' last='Longworth'] will play libero or defensive specialist with Lucie Mandery playing middle blocker or pin hitter and [player_tooltip player_id='779073' first='Emma' last='Richie'] playing pin hitter or setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roger Bacon libero/defensive specialist Addi Schwartz dressed for the Ohio Division IV state champions. East Central sophomore Grace Duncan will play setter or defensive specialist and the 5-10 Colerain sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='746432' first='Jazmine' last='Robison'] plays middle blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tim Schloemer is the head coach of this team. The squad heads to Indianapolis on Saturday for the Central Zone Invitational and plays the first game in the 16 Premier Red Division at 1 p.m. on court 87 against Tennessee Peformance Volleyball 16-Paragon, which is located in Franklin, Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team is off to a 3-2 start after playing in the Ohio Valley Region WinterFest Tournament in Columbus Jan. 11 and 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Hills sophomore Gabi Lowe made the most significant contribution on varsity in the fall. Fellow Oak Hills sophomore teammate Taylor Jackson, a 6-1 middle blocker, joins her. East Central sophomore Harper Trossman joins them in the middle and will also play at pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Badin sophomore Holly Jung starts things off at defensive specialist or libero and Badin sophomore Elly Raines will set along with Ross sophomore Nora Haenning or Mercy McAuley sophomore Ava Thelen. If not setting, Haenning will play defensive specialist and Thelen will hit from the pin. Seton sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='780173' first='Leah' last='Nicholas'] and Mercy McAuley sophomore Liv Moeves round out the roster at pins or defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Katlyn Voelker is the head coach of the team. The next tournament on the schedule is the Ohio Valley Region President's Cup on Feb. 15 and 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grey</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team may have struggled not winning any of the four games in the OVR Winterfest Tournament in Columbus on Jan. 11 and 12, but the team hopes to put things together in upcoming tournaments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three Oak Hills sophomores grace this roster. Peyton Kilgore will play defensive specialist or libero along with Fairfield sophomore Julianna Weisbrod. The other two Highlanders are middle blocker Maddie Malay and pin/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='745189' first='Nora' last='Smith'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two players could set or play defensive specialist. They are [player_tooltip player_id='745461' first='Sophie' last='Davis'] and Summit Country Day sophomore Skye Cutter. East Central sophomore Ava Detlaff could also set or play pin hitter. Walnut Hills sophomore Yori Chamberlain and Ross sophomore Taylor Cain hope to contribute at middle blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olivia Langefeld is the head coach. The team next plays in the Nike River Rumble on Feb. 1 and 2 at Spooky Nook in Hamilton.</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":["717161"],"_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-67947521964e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When the team needs a clutch play, Stutzman consistently comes through. She does an outstanding job running the offense at the setter spot, mixing up her serves and involving a number of hitters. Stutzman (pictured) adds a great swing on offense and can make things happen at the net and passing on defense. Stutzman possesses an amazing jump serve. Stutzman won the Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year honors leading the league with 520 assists to go with 118 kills, 56 aces, 207 digs and 31 blocks, helping the Yellowjackets record an undefeated regular season and finish 21-1 overall.</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":745420,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Audrey Benkert","_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":"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":"Taylor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431819' first='CYVBC' last='Surge']","_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-67947c0feb08e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benkert takes full advantage of her size to control the net. Benkert puts a lot of power into balls and also mixes in shoves to the sides to catch defenses off-guard. Benkert also has good timing on blocks. She forms good double blocks, but can also block one-on-one when needed. Benkert finished tied for second in the CHL with 53 blocks to earn a spot on the league honorable mention squad.</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":745421,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Addi Schwartz","_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":"null","_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":"Roger Bacon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431819' first='CYVBC' last='Surge']","_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-67947c0feb14a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schwartz is looking to potentially step into a bigger role after dressing for the Division IV state champion Spartans this past fall. Schwartz gets her hands up quick to push balls forward to start the offensive attack. She goes hard after balls, making some amazing plays to keep plays alive. Schwartz squares up balls well on first touches and has a sound jump serve.</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":745452,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gabi Lowe","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Oak Hills","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431819' first='CYVBC' last='Surge']","_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-6794d38c92f1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lowe emerged as an offensive option for the Highlanders this past fall. Lowe beats teams a number of ways. She has a nice slide step directing balls to opposite corners. Lowe can also tap balls to lines giving opponents something extra to consider. Lowe had 117 kills and 20 blocks helping the Highlanders go 17-7, including a 7-2 mark in Greater Miami Conference play.</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 one 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 -->