Tri-State Elite 15s Teams Assemble Solid Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leap into high school ball may not come without bumps, but playing for quality clubs such as this one often makes that road less bumpy. These freshman players are trying to find different ways to improve with three years of high school remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Half of this team made an impact on the varsity teams in the fall. Notre Dame defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='774790' first='Elise' last='Grout'] made an impact helping the Pandas go on another deep postseason run with [player_tooltip player_id='774789' first='Madison' last='Meibers'] at middle blocker and [player_tooltip player_id='774793' first='Aubrey' last='Templin'] on the outside taking huge cuts at Harrison. [player_tooltip player_id='774791' first='Ellie' last='Distler'] did the same for the Ross Rams and [player_tooltip player_id='774786' first='Clare' last='Holtzapfel'] more than filled in when needed at setter for Ryle in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other five play for GGCL schools. [player_tooltip player_id='774785' first='Lucy' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774792' first='Emma' last='Bianco'] are defensive specialists from two-time Ohio Division I state champion Seton. The other three played on the junior varsity teams. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='774784' first='Hannah' last='Williams'] and defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='774797' first='Natalie' last='Preyss'] did so at Ursuline and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='774788' first='Jean' last='DeBow'] did it at St. Ursula.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rob Courtney and Briana Rosen are the team's coaches. The team plays in the Mideast Power League on Jan. 3 and 4 to open the season at the KIVA Sports Center in Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a few players that did dress for varsity seeing minimal action, but that could change as sophomores. Those two are Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy middle blocker Finley Swartz and Alter defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='774787' first='Maya' last='Regalla'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another CHCA player is defensive specialist Milan Hamilton and [player_tooltip player_id='877607' first='Lilah' last='Comer'] comes from McNicholas. The other six come from the GGCL. The other middle is St. Ursula's Ella Grome and the one listed outside is St. Ursula's Maeve Leonard. The team has two setters in St. Ursula's [player_tooltip player_id='909675' first='Lexi' last='Carle'] and Seton's [player_tooltip player_id='907657' first='Zoey' last='Seaton']. Seton defensive specialists Dolly Guidugli and Emily Timmerman round out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matthew Friday is the team's coach. The team also plays in the Mideast Power League on Jan. 3 and 4 to open the season at the KIVA Sports Center in Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gray</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team could have some hidden gems on it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two defensive specialists are Roger Bacon's Ella Otto and Charlotte Gibbs from St. Ursula. The three setters are Colerain's Yasirah Wooten, Wyoming's Emily Cordes and Mount Notre Dame's Ariah Halcomb. St. Ursula's Madeline Johns hopes to make things happen in the middle with Mount Notre Dame's Divinity Barrett, Olivia Hillman and Badin's Harper Heid taking rips on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kylee Fitzgerald is the team's coach. The team's first tournament is Jan. 24 and 25 in the Midwest Grand Prix at Spooky Nook in Hamilton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774786"],"_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-69508c961f074"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Holtzapfel (pictured) showed she can be another great setter to come through the Ryle program. She took full advantage of her opportunity to set and ran a sound offense. Holtzapfel can nail marks with jump sets and performs back sets. She does a solid job trying to make the most of balls if the Raiders are out of system. Her versatility shows with quality outside swings. Holtzapfel also has tough serves and makes quality first touches. Holtzapfel had 264 assists, 51 kills and 90 digs in the fall, helping Ryle go 22-14, win a sixth straight 33rd District crown and go back to the 9th Region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774797"],"_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-69508c961f126"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Preyss was one of three freshmen to play on Ursuline's junior varsity team. Her time on varsity may come with the graduation of six seniors this spring. Preyss has great reaction time popping up hard-hit balls for quality two to three-point passes. She anticipates balls well, stopping her feet in the right places. Preyss uses her range to lunge forward to dig up tips. Her play will only improve playing in the Open Division during club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774789"],"_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-69508c961f178"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Meibers is tough when balls hit the top of her peak. Meibers has a quick arm swing and smacks balls hard to all six zones on the court from the pins and middle. Meibers puts the right amount of heat on balls to veer them away from defensive specialists. Meibers can hit balls off blocks for big points. Meibers also slides down lines well to record big blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774787"],"_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-6950a867e5fc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Regalla showed some potential in the fall. She has a nose for balls. Regalla can veer to her sides to track down balls headed into seams. Regalla also has a deceptive jump serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["877607"],"_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-6950a9907f52b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Comer learned some ropes of high school ball on the junior varsity this fall, but showed potential on a deeply talented team that brought home the first state championship in program history. Comer hustles hard after balls using a good platform to keep plays alive. She also takes sound swings on the outside.</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 two years 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 or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, 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 -->