Greater Cincinnati has certainly had its fair share of success on the volleyball court in recent seasons, including sending three teams to the state Final Four at Wright State University last fall.
Here are the area's topgirls volleyball players to watch heading into the 2020 season.
The following selections were made based on Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association picks, all-district and all-league selectionsfrom the previous year and input from coaches.
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Carly Hendrickson, junior,Mount Notre Dame— As a sophomore last season, Hendrickson led the Girls Greater Catholic League in kills (442). The outside hitterwas first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio after guiding the 25-3 Cougars to a regional championship and a berth in the state semifinals. She is committed to the University of Florida.
CammyNiesen, junior, Roger Bacon— In 2019, Niesen was first-team Greater Catholic League Coed and the only underclassmen in the area to be named first-team all-district in Division III. The libero was also named honorable mention All-Ohio after guiding the Spartans to a 23-4 record, a district championship and berth in the regional final.
Hailey Green, senior, Ursuline— Green led the GGCL in kill percentage (.540) and kill efficiency (.441) last season and was fourth in total kills (293) and sixth in kills-per-game (3.26) for the Lions. She was also second in blocks with 92. Greenwas named first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio after leading Ursuline to a 23-4 record, a district championship and a regional final berth.
Jules Fink, senior, Kings— Fink, a Utah Valley commit, led the state in kills with 432 and was named the Eastern Cincinnati Conference player of the year. She also notched an ECC-best 98 blocks (third in the state for Division I) and was named second-team all-district and third-team All-Ohio.
Emma Grome, senior, St. Ursula— Grome was fourth in the GGCL in assists last season (745) and was also top-10 in digs (224) and blocks (38). The setter/outside hitter added 135 kills and posted a .450 kill percentage. She was named first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio for the 20-6 Bulldogs. Grome is a University of Kentucky commit.
Julie Wittekind, senior, Turpin— As a junior last season, Wittekind was top-10 in the ECC in kills (217) and digs (284) and was fourth in aces with 54. She was named first-team ECC and first-team all-district after leading the 17-7 Spartans to a share of the ECC title.
Megan Wielonski, senior, Mount Notre Dame— Wielonski led the GGCL in assists last year with 998 and added 38 kills, 33 blocks and 173 digs. The setter was first-team GGCL and all-district and was named honorable mention All-Ohio after helping lead the Cougars to a regional championship. She is committed to Ball State University.
Katelyn Grimes, senior, and Rylie Wichmann, senior, CHCA— This duo was instrumental in CHCA making the state Final Four for the first time in school history. Grimes was named the Division III District 16 and Miami Valley Conference player of the year after leading the MVC in aces (107) and digs (425). The libero was named second-team All-Ohio. Wichmann, an outside hitter, was first-team MVC and all-district after registering 208 kills.
Caroline Clippard, senior, Mercy McAuley— The outside hitter was eighth in the GGCL in kills (218) and fourth in kills-per-game (3.46) last season to help Mercy McAuley capture a district championship. She added 59 digs and 15 blocks and was a first-team GGCL and all-district selection. She is committed to Ohio University.
Julia Marr, senior, Seton— In 2019, Marr was second in the GGCL in kills (319) and kills-per-game (4.31) for the Saints. She was also top-15 in both aces and digs and added 18 blocks. Marr was named first-team all-district and third-team All-Ohio. She is committed to Western Michigan University.
Honorable mention
Anderson: Sammie Engel (Sr.); Badin: Sarah Newberry (Soph.), Emma Trusock (Sr.); Batavia: Jordan Coperhaver (Jr.); Blanchester: Cali Baumann (Sr.); Cincinnati Country Day: Kamryn Jordan (Sr.), Daisy McClean (Jr.), Julia Recker (Jr.); Cincinnati Christian: Kate Oates (Soph.), Kaitlyn Uffman (Jr.);CHCA: Katie Gansle (Sr.), Annie Lockett (Sr.); Clinton-Massie: Cadin Reveal (Sr.); Colerain: Abbey McNally (Jr.); Edgewood: Bekah Klinedinst (Soph.); Fairfield: Emma Miller (Sr.); Fenwick: Kate Hafer (Jr.); Georgetown: Layla Elliott (Sr.); Goshen: Madison Hornsby (Jr.); Harrison: Emily Janszen (Sr.); Indian Hill: Piper Cowman (Sr.); Lakota West: Sydney Hilderbran (Sr.), Katie Schwarber (Jr.); Little Miami: Abbey Niemish (Sr.), Piper Ricketts (Jr.); Loveland: Diana Clark (Sr.), Audrey Planner (Jr.); Madeira: Carly Scott (Sr.), Marielle Thon (Sr.); Mason: Marilyn Popplewell (Sr.), Brooklyn Darby (Jr.), Chloe Pearce (Sr.), Kalli Wall (Jr.); McNicholas: Ashley Jarrold (Jr.), Lainey Doggett (Sr.); Mercy McAuley: Madison Merz (Sr.); Milford: Victoria Kapitula (Sr.), Emily Morgan (Jr.); MVCA: Isabella Akers (Sr.), Emma Givens (Sr.), Kiersten Kroger (Jr.); New Richmond: Hailey Collett (Jr.); Oak Hills: Riley Broughton (Jr.), Ellie Cox (Jr.); Reading: Kyla Hackman (Jr.); Roger Bacon: Grace Wilking (Sr.); Ross: Gretchen Chaney (Soph.); Seton: Maggie Jones (Sr.); Summit Country Day: Melina Traiforos (Sr.); Sycamore: Ashley Walker (Soph.); Taylor: Abby Mitchell (Sr.); Turpin: Audrey Armbruster (Soph.), Elena Dubuc (Jr.), Brooke Painter (Sr.); Walnut Hills: Sammie Wheatley (Sr.), Tori Zimmer (Sr.); West Clermont: Hannah Graves, Brooklyn Watson, Katelin Bechtol;Western Brown: Olivia Young (Jr.), Sophia Ernst (Jr.); Williamsburg: Paige Fisher (Sr.), Madi Ogden (Sr.); Wilmington: Harlie Bickett (Sr.); Wyoming: Ali Cordes (Soph.), Claire Craft (Sr.)
