Ohio Teams and Athletes Among Windy City’s Best
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A lot of success was achieved for Ohio teams and athletes over the past three days in Chicago. Here are some of the highlights. Mintonette m.51 Wins 15 Open GoldThis is a juggernaut of a team at this age level.…
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Continue ReadingA lot of success was achieved for Ohio teams and athletes over the past three days in Chicago. Here are some of the highlights.
Mintonette m.51 Wins 15 Open Gold
This is a juggernaut of a team at this age level. They have a complete package in their various offensive tools, great ball control and defense, and one of the smoothest 15U setters in the country. With a perfect 9-0 record, they lost just two sets on their way to a 2-1 title match win over Austin Skyline, their toughest contest on the weekend. Setter
Mallory Matheny
Mallory
Matheny
5'11" | S
Bishop Hartley | 2026
State
OH
(*pictured) is a 5’11 setter that has all the tools to be elite and creates a very challenging offensive display given the range of attackers this team can deploy. At 6’1,
Mackenzie Palumbo
Mackenzie
Palumbo
6'1" | OH
Dublin Jerome | 2026
State
OH
is a big factor on both pins.
Alia Schoonover
Alia
Schoonover
6'0" | MB
Buckeye Valley | 2026
State
OH
is an active middle and makes herself available and relevant often in the transition game, and she is especially dynamic overhead off of one foot.
Sara Snowbarger
Sara
Snowbarger
6'0" | OH
Wooster | 2026
State
OH
is 5’11 and has really good shot selection that scores and keeps the defense off balance. The defense and ball control is anchored by
Emma Cugino
Emma
Cugino
5'7" | DS/L
Oletangy Orange | 2026
State
OH
who plays with a lot of grit and confidence in her role to initiate their offensive opportunities. This team also won the Sunshine Qualifier while finishing 5th at MEQ.
AVC CLE Qualifies Two at Open Level
AVC’s 17U and 15U teams both scrapped their way into trickle down position earning the club two open-level bids on the weekend. Playing in the final bid playoff match of the weekend, their 17 Red squad dismantled HJV 17 Elite 2-0 to earn the third available bid among a handful of teams already qualified and among the gold pools on day three.
Sydney Waller
Sydney
Waller
6'2" | RS
Hudson | 2024
State
OH
, a 6’2 opposite, is a big factor as she has point scoring ability and can contribute defensively with a big block. Middle
Emily Ragon
Emily
Ragon
5'11" | MB
Magnificat | 2024
State
OH
competes through an aggressive offensive style and is effective at each contact point around the setter.
With two Silver Bracket wins on day three, AVC’s 15 Red team earned a trickle down bid as they finished in 8th place overall with six previously qualified teams finishing 1st through 6th ahead of them. They lost their final match to Michio, who also earned an open-level bid. D’Aira Whitner is an athletic and physical middle that can do big things when they can get her involved. Pins
Londyn Stone
Londyn
Stone
5'9" | OH
Avon | 2026
State
OH
and Sydney Bowory provide a lot of offense around the floor as they see a lot of opportunities between the two of them. Stone can generate big pace as Bowory has good contact point. This team is next in action at the end of April in Cleveland.
NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami Double Qualifies with Bronze Medal
This team continues to compete well following their silver medal one weekend following their Atlanta finish. With a similar record at 8-1 in Chicago to earn the bronze podium finish, they had some good wins early over fellow day-three power pool competitors in FC Elite and MAVS KC. MAVS finished strong and tied for third with NKYVC earning their open-level bid. The most significant win of the weekend for NKYVC though may have been against fellow Cincy area rival
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‘ last=”]’ last=”] as NKYVC earned a statement 2-1 win with a 19-17 third set victory to eliminate
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‘ last=”]’ last=”] from the advancing to bid contention on the final day. These teams battle well every time they are on the court together and
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‘ last=”]’ last=”]’s star
Elise Marchal
Elise
Marchal
6'0" | MB
Kings | 2024
State
#118
Nation
OH
(Appalachian State), who produced the majority of their offense, did all she could to keep this team close but her final swing was dug cleanly by NKYVC’s star libero
Elizabeth Tabeling
Elizabeth
Tabeling
5'7" | DS/L
St. Henry | 2024
State
#127
Nation
KY
(Ball State). Setter
Macy Lentz
Macy
Lentz
5'10" | S
St. Henry | 2024
State
KY
(uncommitted) dished another dime to pin hitter
Alivia Skidmore
Alivia
Skidmore
OH
St. Henry | 2024
State
#64
Nation
KY
(Western Kentucky) who delivered one of several bombs off her arm that
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‘ last=”]’ last=”]’s defense could not handle. Skidmore earned the final two kills of the match with big authority as the previous attempt found the floor untouched to set up match point. This win sent NKYVC to the semifinal round where they battled well against Rockwood Thunder (who earned their open-level bid at this event), which ended with a tough 2-1 loss at 15-13 in the third set. With a 42-5 match record for NKYVC stemming back to their NIT gold medal in February, Rockwood has now beaten NKYVC twice during that stretch. Also doing big things for NKYVC was outside hitter
Sydney Barrett
Sydney
Barrett
6'0" | OH
Kings | 2024
State
#119
Nation
OH
who has a complete arsenal of skills including her ability to score with her arm both at the net and from the service line. Barrett recently reopened her recruiting and is garnering a lot of attention as one of the elite prospects remaining in the 2024 class. Also uncommitted are Lentz and middle
Lilly Hamburg
Lilly
Hamburg
6'0" | MB
Conner | 2024
State
KY
, both with skills to contribute well at the next level. Lentz with her well-rounded tools and competitive drive and Hamburg primarily through her contributions as a great defender at the net followed by her improving offensive quality around the setter. Indy Cup in May is the next event for NKYVC.
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‘ last=”]’ last=”] will next take the court at the OVR Bid event later this month where they should be among the favorites along with Rock City and Mintonette m.71 in the 17 National division. Keep an eye on libero
Kenzie Cogan
Kenzie
Cogan
5'5" | DS/L
MND | 2024
State
OH
and middles
Dakota Spurrier
Dakota
Spurrier
6'1" | OH
Indian Hill | 2024
State
OH
and
Kate Noschang
Kate
Noschang
5'11" | MB
Mount Notre Dame | 2024
State
OH
for
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‘ last=”]’ last=”]. Cogan can make big plays in the back row as Spurrier and Noschang showed signs of scoring capabilities over the Chicago weekend perhaps will see more opportunities going forward to help create a more balanced attack for this team.