This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Vote for the top blocker in Greater Cincinnati girls volleyball in 2026
The block, or stuff, is one of the most exciting plays in volleyball. Just when it looks like one team could win a point, the opposition ends it in an instant.
Blocks can shift momentum and the best players know that while it's worth celebrating, they have to get right back to the match at hand.
Without further ado, here are the best players in Greater Cincinnati at that position.
Make sure to vote for the top blocker in the city in the poll at the bottom of the story. The poll will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 31. The USA Today Co. network is debuting a new polling service that allows readers to vote more often while protecting against fraudulent voting methods. User experience feedback can be sent to [email protected].
Audrey Benkert, Taylor
The Yellowjackets had the top two blockers in the Cincinnati Hills League in 2025 in Benkert and Kylie Stutzman, but Benkert's 101 rejections led the way by a sizeable gap. She also had 229 kills, 213 digs and 43 aces on her way to being named to the all-league first team and all-district second team.
Sadie Ellis, Sycamore
The Aviators return the vast majority of their roster and can contend for their first Greater Miami Conference title since 2002. Ellis was a force at the net with 45 blocks, a team-leading 162 kills and 137 digs. She was named to the All-GMC second team.
Violet Main, St. Henry
The junior is morphing into a five-rotation player for the Crusaders but her presence at the net can't be understated. As a sophomore, she led St. Henry with 80 blocks and 299 kills, and also had 108 digs, 48 assists and 26 aces. While the Crusaders graduated five seniors from 2025, Main is part of a six-player junior class that will lead one of the top teams in the region in 2026 and 2027.
Charlie Moeddel, Seton
Moeddel burst onto the scene with 54 blocks as a sophomore before turning into one of the best two-way players in the city in 2025. While she never had more than seven blocks in a match last year, she was incredibly consistent in helping the Saints to an undefeated state championship. The Xavier commit and No. 7 player in Ohio in the class of 2027 posted 94 kills, 315 blocks and 21 aces, and was named to the Girls Greater Catholic League first team, all-district third team and all-state second team.
Andrea Ptaszkiewicz, Fenwick
In terms of her defense, she experienced a bit of a sophomore slump with only 36 blocks compared to 51 as a freshman. That could be due to the emergence of senior Caroline Hinker or teams setting the ball away from her after that dominant 2024 season. She also spent more time on the attack, putting away 183 kills. According to Fenwick head coach Tyler Conley, she has grown by leaps and bounds during the club season and has a Division I career in her future.
Makayla Roose, Notre Dame
Roose is coming off a strong finish to her sophomore season, averaging 2.8 blocks in the Pandas' nine postseason matches, including seven each in the Ninth Region final and state championship. She is one of four juniors that will play a big part in Notre Dame's success this year. Ranked as the No. 3 player in Kentucky for the class of 2028, she finished the season with 86 blocks and 170 kills.
Willow Smith, Ursuline
The Lions are back in Division I for the first time since 2023 and have expectations to advance deep into the postseason. Smith is one of the top returning blockers in the GGCL, posting 61 rejections to go with 256 kills, 62 digs and 37 aces. She was named an all-league honorable mention, an all-district first teamer and recently committed to Xavier.
Lilly Tierney, McNicholas
The Appalachian State commit is entering her fourth year as a starter and has led the Greater Catholic League-Coed in blocks each of the last two years. As a junior, she rejected 97 attacks while putting away 236 kills and serving up 48 aces. She was named to the GCL-Coed second team, all-district first team and All-Ohio third team.
Jillian Turvey, CHCA
The Eagles will have one of the best at-the-net defenses in the Miami Valley Conference with Turvey and Olivia Mack combining for 105 blocks last year. A first-team All-MVC and second-team all-district honoree, Turvey had 52 blocks, 148 kills and 36 digs.
Adelyn Twyman, Lakota West
She is one of the top returning blockers in the GMC, knocking down 59 attacks as a junior, including a career-high nine against Lakota East. She was named to the all-conference second team after also contributing 227 kills, 73 digs and 65 aces.
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