The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Volleyball players to watch
(in alphabetical order) OH Cameron Baker, Sr., Columbia:
The Raiders return a lot of production from last season, and their top attacker is back. As a junior, Baker averaged three kills per set and was recognized as a Division III All-Ohioan and district player of the year. Columbia has the talent to dethrone Firelands in the LC8, and she will play a big part if that happens.
L Addy Beggs, Sr., Bay: Beggs had a big junior season by doing the dirty work during Bay’s great run. She averaged 5.1 digs per set and made tough play after tough play. The Rockets look to do big things again in 2023, and she’ll be one of their players on whom to keep an eye.
S Shelby Bloor, Jr., Westlake:
While Westlake brings a couple of new hitters into the fold, it could be up to Bloor to hold things together until the chemistry is worked out. The Demons have talented returners, but it will be a different team this season. What will be the same, however, is Bloor
doing what she does best. As a sophomore, she averaged 10 kills per set.
MH Laura Fuehrer, Sr., Bay: Fuehrer is the other Bay Rocket to make the list, and she looks to build off an impressive junior season. Not only does she give opponents headaches with her blocking ability, but she packs a punch offensively, too. She’s heading to play college volleyball for a
reason. OH Aubrey Kirk, Sr., Avon Lake:
The Shoregals didn’t lose a single player from last year’s team, and Kirk will be one of the veterans this year who will be relied on heavily. Coming off of a solid junior season where she averaged 4.9 kills per set, Kirk will hands down be one of, if not the best, player in The Morning Journal coverage area.
L Danica McArthur, Jr., Avon Lake:
There’s no shortage of talent over in Avon Lake as McArthur is a spark plug who brings a defensive touch to a strong offense. Another player who has plenty of experience as a young player, she averaged 5.9 digs per set as a sophomore.
S Rachel Meyer, Jr., Avon Lake: How about a third Shoregal in a row? Avon Lake has a good collection of hitters, and there’s nobody better to set them up than Meyer. She averaged 10.6assists per set last season, and is another junior who’s on the rise. If she continues clicking with the team’s hitters, then there could be something special to watch in Avon Lake.
L Maggie Pfahl, Sr., Rocky River:
The Pirates’ top defender returns for 2023. Pfahl averaged 4.6digs set and will have a big role with a Rocky River team trying to take the next step.
OH Stephanie Smith, Sr., Avon Lake:
With Kirk and Smith, Avon Lake has the best duo of hitters around. The two combined for nearly eight kills per set as Smith contributed 3.9. With Meyer setting, Smith will have a huge presence with her
powerful spike. OH Londyn Stone, So., Avon:
Another team on the rise will be an older Avon team this year, and Stone broke out on the scenes with a huge freshman season. She averaged 3.6 kills and 2.2 digs per set and was the Eagles’ most impactful attacker as a rookie. That all happened despite the big transition to middle school to varsity, and she’s much more comfortable now.
S Grace Tansey, Sr., Firelands:
The best setter in the LC8, Tansey has had a big hand in the Falcons’ success in the conference. Firelands is in search of a three-peat, and her 8.6 assists per set return to the lineup. The Falcons need to fill some shoes from a hitter standpoint, but having their setter back is huge.
OH Lily Tomasheski, Sr., Midview:
Back for her senior season, Tomasheski will have a strong presence on this Midview team. She is a versatile player who averaged 3.4 kills and 2.9 digs per set last year. If the Middies can make an improvement, she will be a big reason why.
MH Cecily Waynar, Sr., Amherst: The Comets lost a lot of senior production from last season, but Waynar makes the hit seem a lot less. She makes an impact offensively and defensively and has the size in front of the net to completely change a game. Waynar averaged 3.5 kills and 1.2 blocks per set as a junior, and will have a lot more opportunity to improve those numbers.
OH Bianca Yakobchuk, Sr., Open Door:
Open Door’s prolific hitter is back for her senior season. The Patriots lose some key seniors, but their best hitters will be returning. It doesn’t get better than Yakobchuk, who averaged 4.2 kills per set on the way to winning Division IV District Player of the Year.
OH Samantha Young, Sr., Rocky River:
Coming into her senior year, Young is on a mission. She will be vying for the Morning Journal player of the year with a few others on this list. Young already has the most Rocky River career kills and single-game kills record, but now she’s going for the single-season record next. After averaging 5.2 kills and 3.9 digs per set as a junior, she’s poised to have a huge senior year on which to end her career.