Tri-State Elite 16s Teams Seek More Big Victories

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group of players turned a number of heads as 15s in the spring. All three teams return at least seven players from those teams so familiarity with each other should not be an issue for the most part.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This roster stayed intact for all but one position from last season. The team received a huge addition when Ursuline sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='534194' first='Willow' last='Smith'] came over from another club after an outstanding season for the Lions. She'll play middle blocker along with Milford sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='582228' first='Lauren' last='Williams'] and Mount Notre Dame junior [player_tooltip player_id='875504' first='Aubrey' last='McDaniel'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seton sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='582218' first='Maggie' last='Timmerman'], [player_tooltip player_id='768410' first='Allison' last='MacPherson'], [player_tooltip player_id='582220' first='Lilly' last='Mollner'] and St. Ursula sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='582221' first='Kelsey' last='Bareswilt'] return as defensive specialists with Ross sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='582222' first='Mya' last='Bosse'] coming back at setter. Bosse can also set up two outside hitters in the dynamic Conner sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='579836' first='Charlotte' last='Patton'] and St. Ursula sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='510903' first='Lowe' last='Long'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The head coach is club director and Seton head coach Kelly Crowley. The first tournament is the Mideast Power League Jan. 3 and 4 at the KIVA Sports Complex in Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This roster sees eight players off last year's 15 White team return. The one player new to the club is Summit Country Day sophomore 5-11 middle blocker Kanai Gillispie. Milford sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='661888' first='Baechle' last='Mathes'] played on the TSE 15 Blue team last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive specialists are seton sophomore Samantha Schenke, St. Ursula sophomore Finley Santoro and Kings sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='728947' first='Mallory' last='Kirkendall']. The setters are St. Ursula sophomores Abigail Hodapp and Lakyn Shawger and the other middle is Seton sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='739590' first='Charlotte' last='Holm']. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy sophomore Sloan Swartz and Mason sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='733157' first='Preslie' last='Evans'] are two other options on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kasey Niesen is the team's head coach. The team also plays in the Mideast Power League Jan. 3 and 4 at the KIVA Sports Complex in Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gray</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has five new players as three Beechwood sophomores in outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='771298' first='Lynden' last='Davis'], Delilah Hendel and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='771296' first='Jayden' last='Fletcher'] joined the team. The other two newcomers are Cooper sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='751338' first='Bella' last='Taylor'] and Seton middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='734058' first='Viviane' last='Hulen'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The lone listed defensive specialist is Milford sophomore Anna Watson and the other middle blocker is Colerain sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='831698' first='Ella' last='White']. The three setters are Badin junior Gwendalyn Culley, Milford sophomore Sydney Mandel and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy sophomore Ava Hartje. Rounding out the roster are two outside hitters in Notre Dame sophomore Hollyn Harper and Seton sophomore Danielle Good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team's head coach is Sydney Morris. The team first plays in the Midwest Grand Prix on Jan. 24 and 25 at the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill 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":["534194"],"_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-694e019318d6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith should fit into the new club nicely coming off a solid season for the Lions. Smith makes things happen from both the pins and middles. Defenders have a hard time anticipating where she'll hit balls because balls fly off her hands to all six zones on the court. Smith takes quality out of system swings. Smith also does a great job with swing blocking making things difficult on opposing hitters. Smith had 256 kills good for sixth in the GGCL this past season to go with 61 blocks helping Ursuline go 19-8, finish second in the GGCL at 5-3 and drive to the Ohio Division III region title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["582221"],"_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-694e0afd26844"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bareswilt (pictured) saw action in 23 games for the Bulldogs in the fall. She hopes to make a bigger impact these next two years with the graduation of several key players in the back court. Bareswilt is a consistent, fundamentally sound defensive specialist, allowing her teams to get into solid offensive flows with those smooth two to three-point passes. She stays under control when lunging for balls. The lefty also has a tough serve and is a great teammate on and off the court. Bareswilt helped St. Ursula go 17-9 and drive to the Ohio Division I region title game.</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":"Kanai Gillispie","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_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":"Summit Country Day","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='430852' first='Tri-State' last='Elite']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-694e0afd2692b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gillispie turned into a nice option in the middle for the Silver Knights. Gillispie executes a number of gaps, ones and slides using a good wrist snap. Gillispie adds in great timing on her blocks. She had 130 kills good for ninth in the Miami Valley Conference and 40 blocks, helping Summit Country Day go 23-4, tie for first in the [program_tooltip program_id='431851' first='MVC' last=''] Scarlet Division and drive to the Ohio Division V semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728947"],"_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-694e110ba7ae1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kirkendall does a lot of little things that add up to big things fo both the club and high school teams. She has outstanding range to make the simple and tough passes under control. Kirkendall makes a lot of plays happen out of system. She makes quality sets to put hitters in good position to take big rips. A big club season could go a long way in making an impact for Kings these next two years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["771296"],"_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-694e13e91b0fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fletcher hopes to make an impact in the middle like she did last spring at her previous club. She impacts the net with her reach and vertical jump on defense. She does a great job popping balls into the air to give defensive specialists more time to track them down. Fletcher also takes solid swings at the net.</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 -->