VOLLEYBALL: Take a look at SOSA’s All-Area team

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

Three district champions, a handful of sectional title winners and a number of instant classic games … needless to say, this volleyball season was as successful as they come.

Southern Ohio Sports Authority was right there every step of the way, covering individual milestones, improbable feats and wins that changed history.

After a fun-filled year, take a look at our All-Area team, which consists of 30 area players who were at their best throughout the fall season.

**Bold, italicized statistics recognize team leader

Lily Barnes | Senior | Setter | McClain

61 kills, 50 aces, 36 blocks, 262 digs, 579 assists

Four consecutive seasons where Barnes has gotten better each and every year. Her hard work continued to pay off and her numbers back it up. The Tigers’ leader posted team-highs of 50 aces, 262 digs and 579 assists, helping the program win 13 games. The all-district honoree ends an ultra-successful career with 167 aces, 743 digs and 1,720 assists. She’ll be missed.

Katelynn Boerger | Junior | Middle Hitter | North Adams

321 kills, 66 aces, 63 blocks, 204 digs, 33 assists

Last year, Boerger threw her coming out party. This season, she solidified herself as an elite talent. While the Devils won the SHAC with a 13-0 mark — finishing 18-6 overall — Boerger was a force at the net all year with 321 kills and 63 blocks. Add in 66 aces and 204 digs and you’ve got yourself an all-around player. There’s a reason she was the SHAC Player of the Year.

Kylee Bruce | Senior | Middle Hitter | Fairland

199 kills, 5 aces, 43 blocks, 62 digs, 22 assists

Is there anything that Bruce can’t do? The Dragons’ star basketball player got it done on the volleyball hardwood this fall, leading Fairland to yet another OVC championship and 18 wins. Her 199 kills and 43 blocks led the team, she caused opponents a constant headache at the net and she continuously lifted her team to victory in big moments. We didn’t expect anything else.

Addyson Butts | Junior | Middler Hitter | Miami Trace

330 kills, 42 aces, 36 blocks, 56 digs, 13 assists

Butts had her way at the net. The back-to-back FAC Player of the Year was magnificent as usual, posting a team-high 330 kills alongside 42 aces. Those numbers helped the Panthers go 16-6 overall with a 10-0 mark in conference play. Butts now enters her senior season with a chance to add to an already special legacy. She stands at 723 kills, 97 blocks and 106 aces.

Kaci Carroll | Junior | Outside Hitter | Huntington

298 kills, 30 aces, 5 blocks, 332 digs, 12 assists

Any time Carroll is around the volleyball, there’s potential for something special to happen. She was the leader of a team that turned a corner this season, finishing 14-9 overall and reaching a district semifinal game. Carroll logged 298 kills and 332 digs, both team-highs, and was always who the Huntsmen called on when times got tough. She’ll be back, and even better, next year.

Addi Claxon | Sophomore | Libero | South Webster

4 kills, 57 aces, 0 blocks, 427 digs, 94 assists

For the fourth straight year, South Webster added district championship hardware to the trophy case. But that wouldn’t have happened without Claxon, the team’s unquestioned defensive leader. Her team-leading 427 digs helped the Jeeps win 26 games. In 584 serve receptions, Claxon made just 35 errors. She’s as sure-handed as they come with 846 digs in two years.

Bella Claxon | Senior | Setter | South Webster

306 kills, 88 aces, 27 blocks, 312 digs, 618 assists

To put it in the simplest way possible, there isn’t much that Claxon hasn’t accomplished during her four years. The District 14, SOC II and SOSA POY was again magnificent as a senior, leading her team to a fourth straight district title. Her 306 kills, 88 aces and 618 assists were all team-highs. She ends her storied career with 784 kills, 276 aces, 1,005 digs and 2,651 assists.

Avery Cox | Senior | Setter | Chillicothe

42 kills, 38 aces, 14 blocks, 182 digs, 568 assists

Mark these words … in the next couple of seasons, Chillicothe’s volleyball program is going to seriously compete for a conference title. Cox may not be around to see it but she laid the foundation for the Cavaliers to make that charge. She led her teammates to 12 wins and an 8-2 mark in league play while tallying 182 digs and 568 assists — surpassing 1,000 career assists.

Ella Cutright | Senior | Outside Hitter | Unioto

241 kills, 46 aces, 30 blocks, 151 digs, 3 assists

The unquestioned leader of the SVC’s title team. That’s what Cutright meant to her teammates and the Shermans. Firing down a team-high 241 kills during a 21-win season, Ella gave opponents a bonafide problem to solve at the net. Often hitting with both hands, she had the unique ability to find open holes on the floor. She ends her career with 749 kills and 105 aces.

Morgan Daniels | Senior | Libero | Unioto

1 kill, 61 aces, 0 blocks, 497 digs, 19 assists

During the offseason, Daniels earned the right to wear Unioto’s libero jersey. And during the season, she nailed that point home. Seemingly everywhere, Daniels logged a team-high 497 digs while also contributing to the offense with 61 aces. Her performance, rightfully so, earned her an SVC Defensive Player of the Year honor and a first-team all-district accolade. 

Kynedi Davis | Senior | Outside Hitter | Minford

241 kills, 65 aces, 29 blocks, 279 digs, 37 assists

Davis has springs attached … or it seems that way when you see her jump. She seems to hang in the air effortlessly with the ability to adjust to any set she’s given. It’s next-level stuff. She did a little bit of everything for the Falcons this fall, tallying 241 kills, 65 aces and 279 digs. Those numbers helped win 15 games. Her career ends with a solid 677 kills, 155 aces and 799 digs.

Addison Edgington | Freshman | Middle Hitter | Circleville

347 kills, 38 aces, 104 blocks, 66 digs, 8 assists

When Edgington reached the varsity level, the rich got richer. Circleville already had a cast of talented players. Edgington made the Tigers’ cups runneth over. The 6-foot-2 middle instantly made an impact with a team-high 347 kills, 38 aces and 104 blocks alongside a team-best .326 hitting percentage. Circleville will be dangerous again next year. That starts with Edgington.

Evelyn Hamman | Freshman | Outside Hitter | Chillicothe

250 kills, 59 aces, 53 blocks, 92 digs, 3 assists

If you go back through the years, there aren’t many that have made this list as freshmen. And, if they did, they were special. Evelyn Hamman is special. In her first year at the varsity level, Hamman led her team with 250 kills, a .292 hit percentage and 53 blocks while adding 59 aces to the mix. She was the FAC’s co-Player of the Year and has an ultra-bright future ahead of her.

Jobey Hattan | Junior | Outside Hitter | Fairfield

324 kills, 58 aces, 8 blocks, 463 digs, 29 assists

If Hattan’s career ended this very second, she’s already made quite the name for herself. Her 324 kills, 58 aces and 463 digs were all team-highs this fall as she led the Lions to 15 wins and a 12-1 mark in the SHAC. As she enters her senior year, she’ll be sitting on 603 kills and 849 digs, looking for 1,000 in both categories, while defending a co-SHAC Player of the Year honor.

Bree Hicks | Junior | Outside Hitter | Notre Dame

306 kills, 51 aces, 24 blocks, 311 digs, 18 assists

The last time the Titans lost an SOC match was on Sept. 4, 2018. Since, they’ve won 62 straight league games. Hicks, who entered the program in 2020, is a huge reason why. In fact, she’s never lost an SOC game. She was as advertised this fall, earning SOC I POY honors and posting a team-high 306 kills, 51 aces and 311 digs. The crazy part? She’ll be better in 2024.

Emma Hinshaw | Senior | Outside Hitter | Huntington

289 kills, 19 aces, 17 blocks, 270 digs, 34 assists

Throughout her tenure, Hinshaw seemed to always be under the radar. But if you’ve watched her play, you know just how dangerous she could be. While helping Huntington win 14 games, she posted career highs in kills and digs with 289 and 270, respectively. Huntington will miss her production but what it may miss the most is the way she led. The team rallied around her.

Claire King | Sophomore | Middle Hitter | Logan Elm

424 kills, 21 aces, 83 blocks, 102 digs, 15 assists

Night in and night out, King left everything she had on the court. After a stellar freshman year, she was even better in 2023, pacing the Braves’ attack with a team-high 424 kills alongside a team-leading 83 blocks — both career highs. Those numbers helped Logan Elm finish 16-8. She has the potential to hit multiple milestones as a junior with 732 career kills and 147 blocks.

Eva Kruger | Senior | Outside Hitter | Adena

225 kills, 54 aces, 14 blocks, 88 digs, 6 assists

Seemingly out of nowhere, Kruger hit the volleyball scene running as a junior. As a senior, she continued to bury opponents. During her two seasons at the varsity level, her teammates followed her lead as the Warriors went 42-11 overall and 25-3 in the SVC. Those numbers include a conference title and two district championships. Kruger was dominant throughout.

Chloe Lehman | Senior | Hitter | Nelsonville-York

405 kills, 38 aces, 24 blocks, 106 digs, 6 assists

It had been 11 years since Nelsonville-York won a district championship. Then Lehman showed up and ended that streak. The senior’s team-leading 405 kills led the Buckeyes to 23 wins, a TVC-Ohio championship and a regional semifinal appearance. Teams couldn’t prepare for her and couldn’t stop her if they did. She ends her decorated career with 1,073 kills and 180 blocks.

Jozy Lougheed | Junior | Hitter | Southeastern

423 kills, 45 aces, 12 blocks, 299 digs, 204 assists

Do. It. All. Lougheed is one of the area’s most complete players and she proved it night in and night out. The junior led her Panthers to a 19-5 mark and a district final appearance with triple-digit kills, digs and assists. She was the SVC Player of the Year — for good reason — a first-team all-district honoree and a third-team All-Ohioan. She’ll run it back next fall.

Gabby McConnell | Senior | Setter | Circleville

175 kills, 28 aces, 14 blocks, 264 digs, 388 assists

Another year that saw Gabby McConnell be dominant. At this point, it’s routine. Circleville made noise in the MSL-Buckeye title race and won 19 games in the process. McConnell was a huge part of that run with 175 kills, 388 assists and a team-high 264 digs. She ends her career with 644 kills, 1,034 digs and 1,415 assists. During her four years, the Tigers were 75-22.

Cara Miller | Senior | Libero | Fairfield Union

5 kills, 28 aces, 0 blocks, 653 digs, 65 assists

There’s a number that jumps off the page for Miller and that’s 653. That’s how many digs she posted this season — 26.1 per match — and it led Division II. In fact, those 653 digs were the second-most in the entire state, just 37 away from the top spot. No wonder why Fairfield Union reached a district championship game. Miller’s leadership in the back row speaks for itself.

Hallie Oyer | Senior | Middle Hitter | Waverly

314 kills, 30 aces, 62 blocks, 235 digs, 45 assists

On a team filled to the brim with young talent, Oyer was a leader that started to mold her teammates into varsity volleyball players. The senior led the team in kills, aces and blocks and added over 200 digs to her stat sheet as well. During her four years, she helped the Tigers win their first sectional championship since 2012 and set the school’s all-time blocks record.

Gracie Perkins | Junior | Middler Hitter | Wheelersburg

275 kills, 0 aces, 75 blocks, 29 digs, 14 assists

All year long, Perkins was an absolute menace She provided a dangerous weapon for the PIrates to use, both offensively and defensively. Her 275 kills and 75 blocks, both team-highs, prove that point. When Perkins was in the lineup, Wheelersburg took advantage of it, racking up 21 wins and a district final appearance. She’s got one year left. She’s worth the ticket price.

Brinlee Preston | Senior | Middle Hitter | Adena

274 kills, 18 aces, 76 blocks, 23 digs, 9 assists

Preston is an absolute elite middle in the state of Ohio. Her second-team All-Ohio nod will give that statement relevance. Or you can ask her opponents, who seemed to not have an answer for her all year long. While racking up 274 kills and 76 blocks, she helped her Warriors win 18 games and yet another district championship. Adena will surely miss her next season.

Natalie Ragan | Sophomore | Setter | North Adams

97 kills, 45 aces, 36 blocks, 219 digs, 551 assists

In just two seasons, Ragan has 1,295 assists. Need we say more? Sure, she’s had great hitters to get the ball to. But that doesn’t negate the fact that she puts the ball where it’s supposed to be on almost every single play. This season, she helped the Devils win another conference title with a team-leading 219 digs and 551 assists. You shouldn’t expect anything different in 2024.

Emma Sayre | Senior | Libero | West

1 kill, 56 aces, 0 blocks, 510 digs, 30 assists

If you needed a reason why Sayre is going to play at Division I Marshall, the way she kept the Senators in games defensively throughout the year is the perfect example. The SOC II’s Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-district honoree posted 510 digs this season, upping her career total to 1,791, alongside 56 aces. Her shoes are a humongous pair to fill.

Christian Thompson | Junior | Outside Hitter | Fairfield Union

590 kills, 48 aces, 48 blocks, 360 digs, 26 assists

If Thompson isn’t the most dynamic player in Southeast Ohio, the sky isn’t blue. “Fun to watch” doesn’t begin to describe seeing her play. The junior tallied 590 kills — 6.6 per set and the fourth-most in the state — and added a team-high 48 assists and 360 digs to her resume. She was the MSL-Buckeye and District Player of the Year as well as a first-team All-Ohioan. 

Grace Townsend | Junior | Setter | Adena

75 kills, 63 aces, 23 blocks, 235 digs, 737 assists

In just two seasons, Townsend has quickly solidified herself as one of the state’s best setters. WIth her on the court, the Warriors are 42-11 overall and have won back-to-back district championships. She led the team this fall with 63 aces and 737 assists while adding 235 digs to the mix. She’ll enter her senior year with big goals in mind, standing at 1,564 career assists.

Lynsay Vanhoose | Senior | Libero | Logan Elm

8 kills, 37 aces, 0 blocks, 490 digs, 64 assists

No matter what, LE could always rely on one thing: Vanhoose. The sure-handed libero showed the ability to keep the Braves’ offense afloat in the back row, receiving the serve and making the necessary pass without flaw. Her 490 digs led the team, as did her 37 aces. She ends her career with 1,056 career digs, 80 aces and just 116 reception errors in 1,107 attempts.

Morgan Ware | Senior | Outside Hitter | Southeastern

2023 statistics: 265 kills, 38 aces, 9 blocks, 325 digs, 30 assists

For quite some time now, Ware has been severely undervalued by everyone that’s not in Southeastern’s locker room. She simply gets the job done, puts her nose back to the grind and goes back to work. Nothing changed during her senior year as she helped the Panthers go 10-4 in league play with 265 kills and 325 digs. But her leadership is what SE will miss the most.

Jaylyn Wippel | Senior | Setter | Westfall

26 kills, 69 aces, 16 blocks, 179 digs, 778 assists

The Mustangs won 15 games this year and Wippel led them to each with her superb play at the setter position. The senior passed out a career high 778 assists while registering a team-leading 69 aces en route to all-conference and all-district honors. She ended her career with 117 aces and 1,216 assists. During her four years, Westfall won 62 games. That’s no coincidence.

Grace Woodward | Sophomore | Outside Hitter | Wheelersburg

272 kills, 50 aces, 8 blocks, 217 digs, 33 assists

Just a sophomore, Woodward is already special. She played a role in Wheelersburg’s success as a freshman and took the next step in her development this past season, posting 272 kills, 50 aces and 217 digs. Next year? She’ll be an unquestioned leader on a team that returns a ton of talent. If you’re looking for an early SOC Player of the Year candidate, look no further.

Kylie Yeazel | Freshman | Setter | Miami Trace

64 kills, 63 aces, 28 blocks, 220 digs, 732 assists

Very few freshmen experience the success Yeazel had this fall. So to say that her varsity volleyball career started off on the right foot is a massive understatement. She was one of the best setters in the area. Her team-leading 732 assists and 63 aces helped Miami Trace win 16 games and a conference title. She budded into a star this year. Next year, she’ll be established.

Skylar Zimmerman | Senior | Outside Hitter | South Webster

187 kills, 42 aces, 6 blocks, 229 digs, 40 assists

The amount of talent that South Webster has possessed in the recent past has been well-documented. Zimmerman should always — always — be mentioned in that group. You could honestly say that about any sport she’s tried her hand at. Success follows her. With a fourth straight district title in hand, she ends her career with 496 kills, 117 aces and 860 digs.

Honorable Mention Selections

Jade Stewart, Unioto; Abbie Marshall, Unioto; Katie Burns, Adena; Kendra Detillion, Zane Trace; Madelyn Wetzel, Unioto; Meredith Hirsch, Huntington; Brooke Bossert, Adena; Carleigh Furniss, Paint Valley; Aubrey Clark, Westfall; Jessie Higley, Southeastern; Lauren Farrens, Miami Trace; Brianna Hill, Whiteoak; Aulbrea Meade, North Adams; Caydence Carroll, Peebles; Megan Booth, Nelsonville-York; Kyleigh Warren, Nelsonville-York; Maddie Blakeman, Circleville; Mia Crum, South Webster; Alyssa Mullins, Wheelersburg; Addy Conaway, Valley; Emily Moore, West; Lindsee Williams, Minford; Megan Nickell, Eastern; Finley May, Western; Addy Brewster, Western; Gracie Ashley, Notre Dame; Camille Hall, South Point; Dakota Cameron, Chesapeake; Chloe Mayo, Fairland; Jalyn Short, Gallia Academy

SPONSORED BY HOMELAND CREDIT UNION