Elevation 17 Teams Preview

The [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] Volleyball Squads tend to give the players the fast-paced experience they hope to see at the college level. This year's teams have reloaded for big seasons. Each of the three teams consists of 10 players.   Chicas   This team already has a number of college commits starting with Milford junior [player_tooltip player_id='195210' first='Rachel' last='Morgan'], a Miami (Ohio) commit. She'll be hoping to the setters in Loveland junior [player_tooltip player_id='227619' first='Makenna' last='Kirlin'] and Bellbrook senior [player_tooltip player_id='524607' first='Sophie' last='Davis'] so they can make solid passes to the powerful Penn State commit [player_tooltip player_id='403522' first='Kendall' last='Northern'], a Summit Country Day junior middle blocker, and University of Dayton commit [player_tooltip player_id='227628' first='Sidney' last='Sprada'] - a Brookville junior.   Outside of Northern, players might be seen in multiple positions. Morgan can also play some outside hitter and Kirlin could take swings from the right side with Davis also taking swings from the outside or right side spots. Sprada could also play some defensive specialist. Lebanon junior [player_tooltip player_id='227618' first='Ava' last='Long'] hopes to contribute at outside hitter and defensive specialist.   Four sound hitters round out the roster. Two are Mount Notre Dame junior middle blocker/outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='227617' first='Cara' last='Richter'], a Rhode Island commit, and [player_tooltip player_id='392780' first='Sydney' last='Geselbracht'], a Binghamton commit. The other two are Turpin junior [player_tooltip player_id='403521' first='Grace' last='Herzog'] at middle blocker and right side hitter along with Batesville (Indiana) junior outside hitter/middle blocker Reesa Zimmerman, a Florida International commit.   Conner   This team also has some of the best in the area. Ursuline junior defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='492656' first='Mackenzie' last='Higgins'] and Camryn Harris start things off with first contacts to the two setters in Notre Dame junior [player_tooltip player_id='379687' first='Lizzy' last='Larkins'] and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy senior [player_tooltip player_id='394126' first='Camille' last='Stark'].   They have power with the outside hitters with Loveland junior and Eastern Kentucky University commit [player_tooltip player_id='227616' first='Josie' last='Nichols'] and Tippecanoe junior [player_tooltip player_id='758071' first='Savannah' last='Clawson']. Mason junior [player_tooltip player_id='403520' first='Addison' last='Nutley'], Tippecanoe junior [player_tooltip player_id='759659' first='Courtney' last='Post'] and Centerville junior Abbie Moody can smack balls from the middle with Nutley playing some right side and Moody hitting from the pins. Post will also play outside hitter. The other hitter is Kings junior [player_tooltip player_id='222621' first='Ava' last='McIntyre'] at outside hitter and defensive specialist   Cabo   This team is filled with players hoping to fill in roles on the team as the result of graduation.   That includes Ursuline junior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='412615' first='Anna' last='Beerman'] and Elle Hudepohl. Two other outside hitters are Sprinboro junior Emma Bowman and Milford junior Kate Lavin. Beerman and Bowman could also hit from the right side along with Centerville junior [player_tooltip player_id='500344' first='Ellen' last='Erwin'] and Hudepohl will also play some defensive specialist.   Lily Clippinger will play defensive specialist with Franklin's Megan Rogers doing some setting and taking hits from the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='412612' first='Leah' last='Young'] played middle blocker at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Two listed middle blockers are Chaminade-Julienne junior [player_tooltip player_id='786167' first='Reese' last='Thomas'] and Purcell Marian junior [player_tooltip player_id='787984' first='Aliyah' last='Robinson'].   The club scrimmages take place Jan. 11 and 12 before the teams play in the Nike Classic in Columbus Jan. 18 through 20.   Players to Watch    Zimmerman packs a lot of punch with her swings. Zimmerman has great timing starting with the approach all the way to the follow-through. Zimmerman does a great job mixing in where she hits balls from both lines to the back rows. Even when opponents are in position, they often struggle to dig her because balls come in fast. Zimmerman also takes things off to land soft hits.     Sprada does a great job finding different ways to put balls down using her size from both the front and back row. Sprada uses her athleticism to time up sets well and put a lot of power into balls. Sprada can even hit balls off the hands of blockers and keep it on the other side for kills. Sprada transitions from defense to offense quickly after making sound passes. Sprada earned the Southwestern Buckeye League Player of the Year honors smacking a league-high 489 kills to go with 278 digs, helping Brookville go 24-2 including a 12-0 mark in SWBL Buckeye Division play and win a district championship in Division V.     Davis brings a diverse skill set to the table for [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']. Davis can take big swings one play and set up powerful hitters on the next play. She's trying to become a solid all-around player. She does a great job putting hitters in position to succeed and is reliable on first contacts at serve receive, serving and digging. Davis takes swings from the back row, often landing soft hits in the front row. Davis had 444 kills, 271 assists, 51 aces, 275 digs and 28 blocks, helping Bellbrook go 18-7, winning the SWBL Southwestern Division at 8-0.     McIntyre (pictured) makes a lot of things happen as a lefty. She has great approaches at the net and finishes things off with a variety of hits. She can even send soft ones to the back row. McIntyre pounds down overpassed balls. McIntyre is also a sound server and passer. She plays all six positions and produces at each of them. McIntyre won the East Cincinnati Conference's Offensive Player of the Year honors after finishing second with 369 kills and serving a conference-high 69 aces to go with 241 digs and 47 blocks, helping Kings go 19-5. McIntyre played a big role in the Kings Division I state championship run in 2023.     Beerman gave the Lions an offensive weapon this past fall and hopes to take on more responsibilities with the graduation of key hitters from last year's Division III state runner-up team. Beerman can take back sets in the middle and pound them down in addition to shoving balls to the side. Beerman can also tap balls off blockers for points. Beerman had 116 kills and 36 blocks, helping Ursuline go 21-7 overall and earn a share of the rugged GGCL title at 6-2.    Note from the Writer   Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly a year 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, 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.

The Elevation Volleyball Squads tend to give the players the fast-paced experience they hope to see at the college level. This year's teams have reloaded for big seasons. Each of the three teams consists of 10 players.