Ohio Success at Summerfest Tourney

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was good Ohio representation on the podium at the 2026 Summerfest tournament in Columbus, OH. One of the final tune-up events before both AAU and USAV nationals take place in the coming weeks, this tournament draws some quality out-of-region competition to join some of the best teams in Ohio for two days of battle. Here are some highlights featuring Ohio-based athletes and teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>16 OPEN DIVISION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami powered through the weekend to the gold medal, finishing with an overall record of 6-1. Their championship win was earned over fellow 16 Open qualified foe to the upcoming GJNC in Legacy 16-1 Adidask highly considered the top club from Michigan. That final match was back and forth with NKYVC claiming a 2-1 win on a 15-10 score in the third frame. Made up of athletes from both the Cincy area and northern Kentucky, they feature a couple of high quality stars in different roles. The top-ranked 2029 Ohio prospect is [player_tooltip player_id='582200' first='Lucy' last='Waleskowski']. The St. Ursula product is a setter and hitter for this 16U team, with terrific skills in both phases of the game that match her aggressive and competitive approach to effort. Teammate [player_tooltip player_id='776441' first='Regan' last='Oaks'] is a 2028 outside hitter and a primary arm and point scorer from the left side. At 5'10, she has improved her arm speed and command during this club season that she more consistently displays with terminal power and range through the edges of the court. Her stock-rising effort has been a big part of this team's overall success and could be an x-factor for them at nationals especially if they can get other parts of their offense in flow consistently. The remainder of this roster hails from nothern Kentucky, with prospects representing KY state powers in Notre Dame Academy and St. Henry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finishing tied for 5th overall in this division were Elite VBTC 16 Black (4-1 record) and AVC CLE 16 Red (3-2). Elite VBTC is led by the athleticism and arm of [player_tooltip player_id='793158' first='Jana' last='Eglitis'] on the pins, a top 2028 Ohio prospect. AVC gets a lot of production through their rotation led by the six-rotation tools of [player_tooltip player_id='832169' first='Frankie' last='Brkic'] and the floor leadership of [player_tooltip player_id='563105' first='Kaylie' last='Liepins'] in sharing the setting role. In spite of a 1-4 overall record, [program_tooltip program_id='431555' first='Mintonette' last=''] m.61 also finished tied for 5th as they had an automatic spot in the gold bracket as part of the two power pools on day one. Their lone win was over CUVC 16 Open (2-0) in the first round of bracket play on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>17 OPEN DIVISION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami was a medal winner in this division also as they finished tied for third after dropping a tough semifinal match on Sunday to close the weekend with a 5-1 overall record. This team features several Ohio-based athletes including pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='480801' first='Savanna' last='Stacey'], middle [player_tooltip player_id='480823' first='Lilly' last='Tierney'], and setter [player_tooltip player_id='480835' first='Maria' last='Schulte'] from 2025 Division IV state champion McNicholas. Also brining point scoring is [player_tooltip player_id='480820' first='Lola' last='Waleskowski'] (*pictured). The 6'1 pin from St. Ursula, committed to Belmont, can be equally terminal from both sides of the court. A pair of King's products round out the Ohio connection in recently featured setter [player_tooltip player_id='608312' first='Anabelle' last='Seni'] along with DS/L product [player_tooltip player_id='725537' first='Kennady' last='Horsley']. Horsley has shared time in the libero jersey with good impact in the back row with whatever her desintation is for her team. She reads the court well and is efficient with her first step and the extension she can create with her platform. This team has a ticket to the GJNC in the 17 National division where they should compete well if they can sustain their ball control and minimize errors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>15 OPEN DIVISION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three Ohio area teams finished tied for 5th in this division, as all medal winning teams arrived from out of state:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Gold: Legacy 15-1 Adidas</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Silver: Triangle 15 Black</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Bronze (tie): Metro 15 Travel &amp; Top Select 15 Elite</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowing out of the gold bracket in the quarterfinal round are the followin teams with Ohio ties, including their overall record, nationals qualification, and some key athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>AVC CLE 15 Red</strong> (2-3); GJNC 15 Open<br>[player_tooltip player_id='774781' first='Mallory' last='Rosa'] | RS/MH | Padua Franciscan; [player_tooltip player_id='774778' first='Rachel' last='Jankowski'] | OH | Hoover; [player_tooltip player_id='774776' first='Ava' last='Anders'] | OH | Gilmour Academy; [player_tooltip player_id='774775' first='Mary' last='Clayton'] | MH | Magnificat</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='431555' first='Mintonette' last=''] m.51</strong> (2-3); GJNC 15 Open<br>[player_tooltip player_id='774809' first='Roxy' last='Rigo'] | S | Upper Arlington; [player_tooltip player_id='774819' first='Reagan' last='Sanders'] | MH | St. Francis DeSales; [player_tooltip player_id='619508' first='Sydney' last='Walburn'] | OH/RS | Olentangy; [player_tooltip player_id='774810' first='Tanley' last='Ryan'] | OH/DS | Centerville</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>NKVYC 15-1 Tsunami </strong>(1-4); GJNC 15 Open<br>[player_tooltip player_id='774812' first='Lydia' last='Berube'] | OH | Milford; [player_tooltip player_id='778092' first='Parker' last='Terrill'] | OH | St. Ursula; Sophia Lanham | MH | McNicholas; [player_tooltip player_id='935335' first='Sophie' last='Frietch'] | DS/L | Mason M.S</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->