Windy City National Qualifier Notables

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17 Open in the Windy City saw a number of teams from the Ohio Valley Region finish high. Mintonette m.71 rallied past [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 17 Chicas for a 2-1 (23-25, 25-23, 15-12) win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] Chicas is due to win a tournament before the end of the season. This marked a third straight runner-up finish in a tournament for the Chicas team. They've gone to three games in two of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Toledo Volleyball 17 Black club finished tied for fifth at 6-2. [program_tooltip program_id='481203' first='Northern' last='Kentucky Volleyball Club'] 17-1 Tsunami did beat Chicas in the Gold Medals Pool 4 as both teams along with the 1st Alliance 17 Gold went 1-1 in that pool play, but [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 17 Chicas advanced to the Gold Finals as the result of winning three out of the five sets while the other two won two. That left [program_tooltip program_id='430243' first='NKYVC' last=''] 17-1 at 8-1 with a tie for ninth place.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] Conner team finished 6-1 to tie for fifth in the 17 USA Division. The Greater Columbus 17 Silver team finished tied for fifth at 6-1 in the 17 Liberty Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three teams finished high in the 16 Open. [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 16 Goller finished 5-3 and the Mintonette m.61 team finished 6-2 for ties for the fifth place. The MidAmerica 16 Select team finished 5-3 in the 16 Open Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16 USA Division saw the [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] Renfro team finish 6-1 good for fifth overall. The Mintonette m.62 team also finished 6-1 good for ninth and the [program_tooltip program_id='430850' first='Toledo' last='Volleyball Club'] 16 Black team finished 7-2 overall with [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 16 KK finishing 5-3 overall in the 16 USA Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":769991,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='786144' first='Emma' last='Tharp']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"TopSpin Volleyball Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_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":"TopSpin 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-6805c237bceb3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tharp (pictured) does a good job taking sound swings at all six positions on the court making her a valuable weapon for the team. She adjusts in air to make soft hits when needed and is a sound passer. Tharp continues to find ways to better balls during club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212349"],"_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-6805c237bcf1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 17-1 Tsunami team has a number of reliable hitters and Kitchens is as reliable as any of them when it comes to finishing plays. She continues to find different ways to finish plays from all six spots on the court. Kitchens can rise up for big blocks and make reliable passes when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["227618"],"_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-6805c237bcf7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Long has tremendous character that shows on the court. She remains calm under duress. She's also very encouraging to her teammates and would make a great addition for a college program. Long may primarily play defense for this club team, but has shown she can come up with big kills when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["725537"],"_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-6805c47d57d18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Horsley has shown steady improvement for 16 Renfro during the club season. She stepped into the libero role for Kings this past fall and is playing it some during club season. Horsley has improved her range and passing during club season. She dives when needed, but stays under control. Horsley does a great job making things happen out of system setting balls as well as hitting them.</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. 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