Ahead of the 2025 high school volleyball season, The Enquirer is previewing the top players by position in Greater Cincinnati.
The penultimate list highlights the top blockers in the city. A good block is one of the most exciting plays in the sport, and these players execute their duties to perfection.
In previous weeks, we featured the top defensive specialists and liberos, and top setters.
Remember to vote for the best blocker in the poll at the bottom of the story.
Jillian Forrest, Ursuline
Taking second place in blocks in the Girls Greater Catholic League as a sophomore isn’t easy. But Forrest did just that with 92 blocks to go with 195 kills and 38 digs. The Lions have been on a roller coaster since 2022 with a DI state championship and a DIII state runner-up sandwiching an 11-15 season. They lose a lot of production from last year, but Forrest will help ensure the roller coaster ride doesn’t take another dip. Even though recruiting opens up in the summer between a player’s sophomore and junior years, Forrest is already verbally committed to the University of Washington.
Sydney Geselbracht, Mount Notre Dame
She led the Cougars with 56 blocks and 215 kills last fall. Geselbracht will use every bit of her 116-inch approach touch this season as she will spend a lot of time in the air, both on the attack and the block. She is especially light on her feet, can get to either side of the net when needed, and can seemingly float in midair to track down any ball. She will play at Binghamton University.
Morgan Justice, Scott
With a super-talented group of seniors, Scott’s expectations for this season are sky-high. Justice will also be sky-high at the net. As a junior, she led the Eagles with 66 blocks while also logging 275 kills, 179 digs and 39 aces. She is committed to Thomas More University.
Violet Main, St. Henry
As a freshman, Main finished second on the team with 68 blocks and was one of four players with more than 200 kills. She also had 75 digs and 37 aces, and was named to the Ninth Region all-tournament team. The Crusaders graduated two linchpins at the net in Corinne Blackburn and Lizzie Casey but will have one of the most imposing net presences in Northern Kentucky this season.
Charley Moeddel, Seton
After breaking her left hand in the summer before her sophomore season, Moeddel made her first varsity appearance on Sept. 5 and finished the season with 54 blocks and 127 kills. She had multiple blocks in each of the Saints’ final 10 matches, including a career-high five against Lakota West. At 6-foot-1, she should only continue to dominate at the net.
Addy Nutley, Mason
Nutley led the Greater Miami Conference with 56 blocks in 2024, while also posting 164 kills, 56 digs, 23 aces. She had at least four blocks in a match five times last year, including five in the regional final. Her career-high is seven, which she did in back-to-back three-set matches as a sophomore. Nutley has also been used primarily as a hitter with her club team during the spring and summer, so look for her to potentially lead the Comets in blocks and attacks. She is committed to Hillsdale College.
Andrea Ptaszkiewicz, Fenwick
The Falcons will have some of the best net play in the city this season as they return the majority of their attacking and blocking production from 2024. As a freshman, Ptaszkiewicz played the most sets of any Fenwick player, logging 51 blocks and 96 kills. The skills are definitely there; once she develops additional aspects of her game, she could become an all-state caliber player.
Sophia Richardson, Kings
The last player to lead the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in blocks in three straight seasons was Kings’ Jules Fink from 2018 to 2020. Richardson has a solid chance to complete the feat this season. As a junior, she had 98 blocks to go with 276 kills and 49 aces. She has 219 blocks for her career.
Morgan Sunderman, Roger Bacon
She was one of two Spartans to record 42 blocks last season (Etellina Jackson was the other). She also had 130 kills. Roger Bacon led the Miami Valley Conference with 193 blocks as a team. With Mariah Gaines, Ally Hughes and Raegan Waller all graduated, Sunderman and Jackson will feature heavily at the net.
Lilly Tierney, McNicholas
Tierney really broke out for the Rockets last year. She led the Greater Catholic League-Coed with 101 blocks, was fourth in the league with 56 aces, and was fifth in the league with 201 kills. She also dug 86 attacks. McNicholas was ranked No. 1 in DIV for the majority of the 2024 season. With an incredibly talented group of juniors and seniors, the Rockets will be a frontrunner for the state title this fall.
Additional blockers to watch in Greater Cincinnati
Ella Allen, Edgewood; Kaylee Barker, Edgewood; Audrey Benkert, Taylor; Annika Berwanger, Conner; Miya Cornelius, Little Miami; Lauren Dorger, St. Ursula; Sadie Ellis, Sycamore; Grace Hamm, Milford; Emma Hartmann, Blanchester; Grace Herzog, Turpin; Etellina Jackson, Roger Bacon; Josie Mayfield, McNicholas; Abigail Pettyjohn, Deer Park; Callie Ritter, Bishop Brossart: Ava Schroeder, Kings; Lauren Sterbling, Bethel-Tate; Bella Thomas, Highlands; Jillian Turvey, CHCA; Layna Wilkinson, Ryle
Vote: Who is the top blocker in Greater Cincinnati in 2025?
Readers can vote once per hour per device. This poll will close at 4 p.m. on July 25.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top blockers in Greater Cincinnati girls high school volleyball ahead of 2025
Reporting by Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
