Team Profile: Lake Catholic Cougars

One of Ohio's most prolific teams in recent seasons regarding wins and rates of success, Lake Catholic is the two-time state champion having earned 3-0 victories in the state finals in both 2022 and 2023. Last season they ran the table to an unbeaten record and in convincing fashion as they dropped on three sets across their entire schedule. The Cougars are now in Division 5 earning the top nod among voters to be the favorite to once again get to the final weekend of the season. The OHSAA poll agrees as they have been ranked #1 all season. Here are the key prospects that have helped the Cougars state unbeaten in conference play and 14-3 overall.    The senior Bergant returns as their top offensive option and is leading the Cougars this season at 3.3 k/s, a slight uptick from 2023 as she is seeing a higher rate of opportunities to swing. She has remained consistent defensively at the net with 1.6 b/m and is providing more by way of 4.6 digs per frame. She's a veteran and seasoned attacker as a lefty and is capable of putting the ball down from both sides of the floor with good control and movement of her shots. She is committed to Nova Southeastern University.     The Colgate commit has been a steady factor for the Cougars as a DS/L prospect for fours seasons. Recently surpassing the 1,000 career digs mark, Oster has a career average at nearly 10 digs per match, which includes a career best effort of 16.6 d/m this season in the libero jersey. Three times she has amassed 26 total digs in a match this season alone. Oster competes with an ease in her reaction and movement to the ball and creates good angles upon contact to get the ball into good position for their offense to go to work.     The second best offensive option for the Cougars, Rini provides 2.6 k/s, which is also an increase from 2023. The 6'0 middle scores through a .331 efficiency while also adding 2.1 b/m. Her value comes by way of versatility to be able to score anywhere across the net along with court awareness and and ability to finesse the ball into open space. A mainstay in the Cougars' lineup for four seasons, she is approaching 600 total career kills. She is committed to Walsh.     Bergant is the most significant underclassman contributing this season for the Cougars. Although just a sophomore, she saw a lot of court time in 2023. She is garnering attention as one of the better prospects in this Ohio 2027 class as, at 6'1, she has good physicality and an aggressive arm, which is producing 2.6 k/s this season on a .230 efficiency. Bergant can score on the left side and in the middle, using her length to her advantage to overpower opposing net defense. She is on a stretch of double-digit kills performances including consecutive back-to-back career bests of 16 total kills.     Starr (*pictured) may have had the toughest task of anyone on this team entering the 2023 season as she assumed the setting role, one occupied by one of Ohio's best prep setters over the past couple of seasons. The junior has been great as she has earned over 500 total assists so far this season while averaging 10.1 a/s. She is seemingly finding more confidence and a groove in distributing this offense as she gone over 40 assists in a match in their three most recent contests, including a career best 47 assists in a 3-2 win over CVCA and then 43 assists and a 14.1 a/s average in their most recent 3-0 victory over the Beaumont School.     Seeing the most significant opportunity of her high school career this season, Rini is contributing well to help fill some of the offensive gap created by graduation from 2023. She is earning 2.3 k/s while showing ability to swing with purpose from a variety of attack options. She opened up the season with a career best 13 kills and most recently earned back-to-back double digit kills efforts in the Cougars most recent two wins.

One of Ohio's most prolific teams in recent seasons regarding wins and rates of success, Lake Catholic is the two-time state champion having earned 3-0 victories in the state finals in both 2022 and 2023. Last season they ran the table to an unbeaten record and in convincing fashion as they dropped on three sets across their entire schedule. The Cougars are now in Division 5 earning the top nod among voters to be the favorite to once again get to the final weekend of the season. The OHSAA poll agrees as they have been ranked #1 all season. Here are the key prospects that have helped the Cougars state unbeaten in conference play and 14-3 overall.