Club Preview: Top Cincy Area U17s

Tri State Elite 17 Blue With three top prospects committed to Division I schools, this group should compete well both in the region and on the national stage. Lucy Trump (Notre Dame) comes from nearby Ryle across the river in Kentucky. She is an athlete with great explosiveness in her lift and arm. Current club teammates Cammy Niesen Cammy Niesen 5'6" | DS/L Roger Bacon | 2022 State OH (Ole Miss)  and Tessa Jones Tessa Jones 6'1" | MB Seton | 2022 State OH (Ole Miss) will also compete together at the next level. Niesen is a stablizer with her ball control and defense while Jones brings great physicality in her movement patterns and arm in the middle. Gracie Reisman Gracie Reisman 5'10" | MB St. Ursula | 2022 State OH will also see time in the middle as she brings good power with her arm. She may also see time on the pins as she has good versatility on both sides of the ball. Kate Hafer Kate Hafer 5'11" | MB Bishop Fenwick | 2022 State OH is another standout middle from the area and brings good skills and experience in her ability to score and defend. Joining Trump on the left side is a trio of attackers. Lauren Otten Lauren Otten 6'0" | OH St. Ursula | 2022 State OH brings a high contact point and good range. Sara Bates Sara Bates 5'10" | OH Seton | 2022 State OH has good fluid mechanics in her footwork and arm and can score from a variety of attack points. Maggie Butkovich Maggie Butkovich 6'2" | RS Mount Notre Dame | 2022 State OH has good size and range in her reach with good mechanics as a primary passer to left side attacker. Her length makes her effective in all facets at the net. Sophia Hudepohl Sophia Hudepohl 5'8" | S St. Ursula | 2022 State OH is the primary setter and has great skills in her decision-making and delivery. With a heavy arsenal of attackers her biggest challenge may be getting them all enough opportunities. Rounding out the roster or McKenzie Johnson McKenzie Johnson 5'10" | S Miamisburg | 2022 State OH , a combo setter and attacker, and the lone 2023 prospect in defensive specialist Courtney Fitzgerald Courtney Fitzgerald 5'8" | DS/L Seton | 2023 State OH . Elevation 17 Crofton This group is led by the talent and athleticism of middle Lily Cropper Lily Cropper 6'3" | MB Lebanon | 2022 State OH (NC State). She can score through a variety of attack zones as she creates good space around the setter and has a quick arm in the air. The other committed athlete on this squad is opposite Mary Jones Mary Jones 5'10" | RS Cincinnati Hills Christian | 2022 State OH (Palm Beach Atlantic). The lefty opens well to the ball in the air, which allows her good torque action and helps her use pace and range. Also on the left side is Lily Plaugher, a 2021 prospect and an athletic and physical attacker. She builds good momentum that leads to good aggressiveness in the air. Payton Deidesheimer Payton Deidesheimer 5'11" | OH Bishop Fenwick | 2022 State OH can also bring good heat from the outside and has great versatility offensive to contribute point scoring anywhere between the pins. Shaye Wolf Shaye Wolf 5'10" | DS/L Mount Notre Dame | 2023 State OH is a 2023 prospect and adds depth on the left side as well as in the back row as a defensive specialist. Balancing the presence of Cropper in the middle will be Brooke Bultema Brooke Bultema 6'3" | MB Ursuline | 2023 State OH , 2023 prospect with high potential. At 6’3 she gets off the floor well and swings with good heat and movement while filling up great space above the net defensively. Iris Reigel rounds out their middle options while also skilled to swing at the pins if needed. Kaitlyn Brown Kaitlyn Brown 5'8" | S Springboro | 2022 State OH is the primary setter. The Springboro prospect has good mechanics to run a fast offense and can keep her team in system and on tempo in the pocket and when drawn off the net. Additional athletes include this team’s ball control and defensive leaders in Sami Deidesheimer Sami Deidesheimer 5'6" | DS/L Bishop Fenwick | 2022 State OH and Emily Morgan Emily Morgan 5'7" | DS/L Milford | 2022 State OH .