Team Profile: New Bremen Cardinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals are the top-ranked DVI team in 2025 with a 23-2 overall record. Back-to-back state champions in 2022 and 2023 in DIV before Ohio shifted to seven divisions, New Bremen bowed out of the DVI tournament in 2024 in the regional final round. The conclusion of the 2024 season meant the graduation of some key pieces of that New Bremen multi-year run with some big shoes to fill in the roles of setting, defense, and balancing their offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They compete in one of the toughest leagues in Ohio with the likes of St. Henry, Coldwater, and Parkway among some other good programs. New Bremen finished the regular season with an 8-1 Midwest Athletic Conference record as their lone league loss was back in September with a 3-2 result versus Parkway. As this team is led by a setting tandem in senior <strong>Allie Bornhorst </strong>(5.6 a/s; 5.1 d/m) and sophomore <strong>Charlotte Nelson</strong> (5.2 a/s; 5.0 d/m), they have good balance in what they do with their arms offensively and in the contributions made through the first-touch phase. Here are a few more key pieces from this season, including a versatile veteran arm and some young returners stepping up their effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227801' first='Mary' last='Rindler']</strong> - 2026 | MH/OH<br>Rindler is the top returning arm from 2024 with four years of key varsity experience that has set herself up well to lead this team in her senior season. The athletic and versatile attacker is earning a career best 3.9 k/s while impressively sustaining her 50% kill rate that is her career average. At 5'10, she is a savvy hitter with a lot of tools in her kit including control, range, and a ability to swing and score from anywhere on the court. Her efficiency makes her tough to slow down. The Morehead State commit also leads the Cardinals defensively at the net with 3.0 b/m. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MariAna Muether</strong> - 2028 | OH<br>Muether is the second best arm returning from the 2024 season in which she averaged 1.8 k/s. Her improved impact that includes 223 kills and a 3.0 k/s average this season is a product of her developing good movement patterns and returning with some key experience over the last cycle. She is a physical attacker with explosiveness of the ground and ability to put good heat on the ball at the peak of her lift. As has offered some of her best offensive output in the biggest matches this season while terminating on a .297 efficiency, she also contributes defensively with 6.2 d/m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashtyn Eilerman</strong> - 2028 | MH<br>A reserve member on the 2024 team, Eilerman has been making the most of her first season of regular varsity action. The sophomore middle has terminated over 200 kills this season for a 2.6 k/s average. She provides some of the best length for the Cardinals and utilizes her it well when attacking as she can create a high touch point and get on top of the ball to swing well through both sides of the court. She adds nearly two blocks per match as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maria Kramer</strong> - 2029 | DS/L<br>Just a freshman, Kramer may be the x-factor in the Cardinals effort to get to the top of the podium once again. She contributes effectively to their offensive arsenal as a good pin option through her opportunities to swing while also leading their defense from the back row. As she competes aggressively and with great composure as a freshman, Kramer contributed seven kills and nine digs in their most recent win over Colonel Crawford to advance them to the regional final round. Earlier establishing her career highs of 13 kills and 24 digs, Kramer has a very bright future for New Bremen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->