Regional Bound: Top Teams Advance

<p><em><strong>Mount Notre Dame Stays Alive</strong></em><br /> The Cougars are the defending Ohio Division I state champion and have had a precarious season. Following a coaching change, MND experienced some adversity among their roster availability at various times during the season thus finding themselves in some challenging situations. This has amounted to a 5-3 record in the GGCL and 15-9 overall. However, when they are healthy and at full strength they are a huge test for any team. They recently dismantled the ECC champion in Lebanon in 3-0 fashion to claim the Liberty Township #2 district crown. Senior Florida commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114445" first="Carly" last="Hendrickson"]</strong> is averaging seven kills per set and has proven to be nearly unstoppable as she scores on 51% of her swings. Her overall numbers are down a bit as she was injured for a time but when available, watch out. She has seven matches this season in which she terminated over 30 kills with two of the those matches only going four sets. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114446" first="Maggie" last="Butkovich"]</strong> is their next most viable option. The pin attacker and Kennesaw State commit is averaging three kills per set and hitting .293. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="141722" first="Audrey" last="Armbruster"]</strong> transferred to MND from Turpin before the season began bringing with her setting leadership as well as good size and athleticism on the right side of the court. At 5’11, she is averaging 9.3 assists per set, most of the offense going through the two aforementioned arms. When your team has the #1 recruit in the country (by some national sources) on your side, things should bode well. MND has battled through a tough schedule, seeing some of the nation's top teams, and will certainly continue to see high quality opponents through regional play going forward. It is highly likely that they see fellow GGCL rivals ahead as well. The winner of the this regional could likely be the 2021 state champion as three teams still alive are currently ranked in the top four in the Ohio DI state poll, all from the GGCL (St. Ursula, Ursuline, MND). A fourth GGCL team, Seton, is still competing and is ranked #8.</p> <p><em><strong>Gilmour Academy Steamrolling</strong></em><br /> Top-seeded and #1 ranked (Division II) Gilmour took care of business relatively unchallenged versus Copley, winning 3-0 to earn the Northeast #5 district bracket. The defending Division II state champion has not dropped a set thus far in postseason play with only three frames seeing their opponent earning 12 points or more. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114450" first="Kathryn" last="Randorf"]</strong> is their senior superstar. The Northwestern commit is averaging four kills per set while terminating 56% of her attempts. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114460" first="Sabrina" last="Gremm"]</strong> averages 3.2 kills per set. She is an Eastern Michigan commit. It is 6’1 freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="152049" first="Kayla" last="Channell"]</strong> who is offering some big offense next as she is averaging 2.6 kills per set and scoring on a team best 62% of her kills. She continues to improve her aggressiveness and assert her arm and contact point in the middle. Channell also gets it done on the defensive side as she averages 3.5 blocks per match. Another freshman, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="151988" first="Ella" last="Jackson"]</strong>, is their offensive floor leader, stepping into a big role this season and doing a great job nearly averaging 10 assists per set with good distribution. This team is averaging 15 kills per set and hits at a .379 efficiency. Other very capable arms include 6'0 junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114550" first="Anna" last="Rarick"]</strong> at 2.1 kills per set. Don’t be surprised if this group does it again early November.</p> <p><em><strong>Adena Wins Waverly #1 District</strong></em><br /> With the 3-0 win over Northwest the Warriors advance to the regional bracket, improving to 23-2 overall. Currently ranked #3 in the Ohio Division III poll, Adena has a balanced offensive attack. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="152432" first="Jenna" last="Martin"]</strong> leads them offensively in total kills and with 2.9 kills per set. The senior middle is hitting over .300 and leads the team defensively at two blocks per match. Junior outside hitter <strong>Hannah Burns</strong> averages 2.6 kills per set while 6’0 junior middle <strong>Sydney Foglesong</strong> is the third member to average over two kills per set at 2.1. The Warriors have lost only seven total sets all season, including a tough 3-2 loss to #10 ranked Zane Trace earlier in the season. They avenged that loss earlier in October with a 3-0 sweep of Pioneers. This squad is a contender and look to advance past the regional final where they fell short in 2020.</p>