There are fewer than two weeks until the start of the 2026 high school volleyball season in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. The excitement for another action-packed year truly is palpable.
Over the last month, The Enquirer has previewed the top players at each position and in each class. It’s time to wrap up those previews, highlighting players who are looking to make the most of their final high school season.
Here are Cincinnati’s top seniors heading into the 2026 season.
Macy Armstrong, Beechwood
Don’t be surprised if the Tigers put together another stellar campaign this season. After a 58-15 record over the last two years and their first Ninth Region tournament win since 2017, Matt Long’s squad is back for more. In 2025, Armstrong lived up to her name as she was one of two players with 225-plus kills and 55-plus blocks. (Yes, the other player is on this list, too.)
Kennedy Baker, Lakota East
The Thunderhawks are set up to have a senior lead them in assists for the third season in a row. Baker posted 379 assists as a junior, just 10 fewer that Emma Sweeten. She also had 137 digs and 30 aces.
Abby Beach, Deer Park
A fourth-year starting setter for the Wildcats, Beach has over 1,000 career assists and 500 career digs. She is coming off a junior year where she posted 572 assists, 216 digs and 38 aces.
Lexi Braddock, Anderson
One of seven seniors for the Raptors, she was a true six-rotation player in 2025 with 117 kills, 323 assists, 243 digs, 41 blocks and 23 aces. She can attack both sides of the net, and while she didn’t post double-digit kills in a match last year, she was incredibly consistent for Anderson.
Jenna Brown, Clermont Northeastern
The defending Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference-National Division Player of the Year could lead the Rockets to their first league title since 2014. She led the National Division with 557 assists and was among the division leaders with 282 digs and 51 aces.
Gabbi Ciotti, Loveland
She is the top returning blocker in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and was at her best at the end of the 2025 season. Ciotti had five kills and eight blocks in a reverse sweep of St. Ursula in the regional finals. For her junior season, she posted 72 kills and 74 blocks.
Kenna Farris, Harrison
Farris is in her third year as the Wildcats’ starting setter and will have help in the form of Carsyn Easter. They will allow Harrison to run a 6-2 system if it wants. Farris is nearing 1,000 career assists and also posted 145 digs and 19 aces as a junior.
Jillian Forrest, Ursuline
A University of Washington commit and one of the best seniors in Ohio, Forrest also is one of the top net players in the Girls Greater Catholic League. Last year, she ranked second in the league with 319 kills and fourth with 76 blocks. She will be at the center of what should be another deep postseason run for the Lions.
Kylie George, Loveland
She was a key role player for the Tigers’ first ever state tournament team, racking up 175 kills and 57 blocks. She’ll be counted on as the team’s lead hitter this season, but can produce points at any position on the front line.
Francesca Hansel, Ryle
Hansel appeared in every set of her junior season, posting 222 digs with 43 aces. This fall, she’ll be the Raiders’ primary libero as they return the majority of their production and chase a seventh straight district title.
Kennady Horsley, Kings
It’s shaping up to be another superb season for the Knights as they have excellent senior leadership in Horsley and Anabelle Seni, an excellent group of net players and a fair batch of young players. Horsley led Kings with 320 digs last year and was one of five players with at least 40 aces.
Kendall Hubbard, Mount Notre Dame
While her primary role in 2025 was as the Cougars’ setter, and it will be again this season, she will still show traces of her abilities as a six-rotation player. The Miami RedHawks pledge led the GGCL with 909 assists last year to go with 265 digs, 105 kills, 34 aces and 27 blocks.
Rylee Jewell, Summit Country Day
A Dartmouth College commit, Jewell made an immediate impact in her first varsity season with the Silver Knights. Her 371 digs were second in the Miami Valley Conference. She displayed overall excellence in the back row with 89 assists, a passing average of 2.06 per set and 36 aces.
Maisie Jones, St. Ursula
Based on returning talent, the Bulldogs arguably have the top front line in the GGCL. Jones’s older sister, Nia, posted 181 kills in 2024 to help SUA win a state title. Maisie followed it up with 183 terminations to go with 55 digs and 40 blocks in 2025.
Abby Keller, Fenwick
The Falcons had three juniors lead the Greater Catholic League-Coed in three different categories in 2025. Keller topped the league with 558 assists and has a real chance to do the same this season with a talented front line. She also had 157 digs and 32 aces as a junior.
Shylyn Koerber, Conner
She has been on the varsity roster since eighth grade but is entering her second season as the Cougars’ primary setter. Her 326 assists as a sophomore provided a glimpse of her talent at that position, while her 258 kills that same year are evidence that she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team. As a junior, Koerber posted 441 assists, 265 kills, 282 digs, 58 aces and 43 blocks.
Teagan Kondik, Notre Dame
The University of Cincinnati commit almost quietly finished second on the team with 310 kills. She’ll be the Pandas’ primary attacker this season but will have plenty of help at the net in Makayla Roose and Leah Bowman.
Rachel Lewandowski, Beechwood
With Lewandowski, Armstrong and Teegan Becker all returning, the Tigers will set up a brick wall at the net on every point. As a junior, Lewandowski contributed 236 kills while leading Beechwood with 71 blocks. It was her third year in a row leading the team in blocks and her second straight season with 230-plus kills.
Lila McCarty, Western Brown
McCarty was second in the SBAAC with 588 assists last year to go with 237 digs, 91 kills and 53 aces. She has exceptional footwork and court vision, and can get her hands above the net for a block.
Makenna Meibers, Seton
Meibers, a consistent part of the Saints’ offense in 2025, will be featured on the front line this fall. Last fall, the Northern Kentucky commit posted 136 kills, including 10 in a win over Anderson, as well as 47 blocks and 41 digs.
Morgan Meiring, Fenwick
The GCL-Coed Player of the Year and first-team All-Ohio member is an extremely athletic hitter with a powerful arm. She led the league with 343 kills and had 258 digs, 21 aces and 19 blocks.
Charley Moeddel, Seton
It appears that Moeddel and Forrest will go toe-to-toe, or kill-for-kill and block-for-block, for GGCL Player of the Year honors. Moeddel, a Xavier University commit, ranked third in the league with 315 kills and second with 94 blocks.
Emme Moser, Fenwick
While the Falcons pushed McNicholas at the top of Division IV in 2025, their senior class undoubtedly makes them one of the top teams again this year. Moser, a University of Toledo commit, led the GCL-Coed with 532 digs last year while also posting 65 aces and 60 assists.
Paige Murray, Anderson
Murray, a Northern Kentucky University commit, led the Raptors with 280 kills in 2025. While the next closest returning hitter was Lucy Redman with 144, Anderson should be more balanced at the net this year. Murray doesn’t always need a full swing to produce a kill, as she can roll the ball over the net or off the block.
Miya Nance, Wilmington
While injuries have limited her time on the basketball court, she has excelled on the volleyball court for the Hurricane. Nance led them in digs in 2025 and has led them in kills each of the last two seasons. Tying for the team lead in sets played last year, she had 208 kills, 395 digs, 37 aces and 23 blocks.
Isabel O’Brien, Beechwood
As a junior, the Bellarmine University commit led the Tigers with 314 kills and was second with 296 digs. She could lead the team in both categories this season, a somewhat rare feat for a hitter.
Aubrey Rebholz, Bishop Brossart
While the Lady ‘Stangs went 24-11 in 2025, they fell short of the 10th Region tournament, something that is most definitely at the forefront of their seven seniors’ minds. Rebholz will slot in as the starting setter. As a junior, she posted 610 assists (an average of 10 per set), 185 digs, 25 kills and 20 aces.
Callie Ritter, Bishop Brossart
Ritter was one of the most reliable hitters in the 10th Region in 2025, leading the Lady ‘Stangs with 335 kills. She also led the team in blocks wile contributing 67 digs and 34 aces.
Evie Schiller, Madeira
Another four-year starter in the Cincinnati Hills League, Schiller is approaching 1,000 career kills. In her three previous seasons, the Amazons have had a third-place finish and a pair of fourth-place finishes in the CHL; she will help them contend for the title. She can take over a match with her attacks, and she posted double-digit kills 12 times in a 14-match stretch during her junior season.
Maria Schulte, McNicholas
The Rockets will have an incredibly deep senior class, but Schulte will truly take on the role of lead setter after Allie Runte graduated. She provided 537 assists as a junior while also digging 176 attacks and serving 54 aces.
Leah Seeger, Mount Notre Dame
She saw an expanded role from her sophomore to junior seasons and will now be a key piece for the Cougars. Seeger appeared in every match for MND in 2025 and was one of five players to appear in more than 90 sets throughout the season. She totaled 161 kills, 82 digs and 20 blocks.
Elle Seichter, Mariemont
She is part of a stellar unit of juniors and seniors for the Warriors. She’s led Mariemont in assists each of the last two years and is coming off a 2025 season when she had 731 assists, 251 digs, 60 aces and 58 kills.
Anabelle Seni, Kings
One of the top setters in the city, Seni racked up 827 assists to help Kings reach its second regional tournament in three seasons. She had 40 or more assists in six matches, including a career-high 59 against Dublin Scioto in the regional semifinals. She also posted 146 digs, 96 kills and 57 blocks for the season.
Savanna Stacey, McNicholas
McNicholas has been blessed with a multitude of seniors who have been starters since their freshman season. Stacey more than proved herself as a freshman in 2023, posting 339 kills. While she didn’t match that number as a sophomore or junior, she has become a more efficient hitter, posting a hitting percentage of .312 as a junior. As a whole last year, she had 278 kills, 254 digs, 41 aces and 30 blocks.
Macee Steele, Goshen
A three-sport star for the Warriors, Steele led Goshen to its first SBAAC-American title since 2018. She led the entire conference with 657 assists while adding 280 digs, 72 kills and 69 aces.
Ali Strange, McNicholas
Strange isn’t just one of the top liberos in the city, she’s one of the highest-energy players every night. Her skills on the back line have translated to profound success for the Rockets over the last three seasons and she is a major reason they will once again be a top team in the state, regardless of division. As a junior, she posted 389 digs, 100 assists and 47 aces.
Kylie Stutzman, Taylor
Arguably the top six-rotation player in the city, Stutzman has done it all for the Yellowjackets since she first stepped on the court in 2023. She has been a key player in Taylor’s 61-11 record (41-1 CHL) over the last three years. Committed to the University of Findlay as a setter, she already has over 1,600 career assists, 600 career kills, 600 career digs and 150 career aces.
Emma Tharp, Oak Hills
She is set up to lead the Greater Miami Conference in kills this season after posting the second-most kills in 2025 (372). She took 1,010 total swings as a junior, thanks in part to her relentless energy during long points. Last year, she also dug 276 attacks and served 47 aces.
Ava Thelen, Mercy McAuley
She is the Wolves’ top returner as they continue to rebuild to regional champion and state contender form. While she had 506 assists in 2025, she is also the top returning blocker after posting 37 rejections as a junior.
Lily Thornberry, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
The Eagles’ top hitter in 2025, Thornberry is an expert at finding holes in the defense. Her 258 kills were second in the MVC last year and she could lead the conference this season. Thronberry also posted 225 digs and 34 aces as a junior.
Lilly Tierney, McNicholas
With Tierney and Josie Mayfield at the net, the first question is how many blocks they’ll combine for this fall. Last year they had 170 rejections with Tierney accounting for 97. She tied her career high of nine blocks as McNick defeated Buckeye Valley in the state championship and would certainly like to see a similar performance on the same stage in November.
Lainey Tilton, Sycamore
One of the best defensive specialists in the GMC, Tilton posted 322 digs and served 32 aces as a junior. Her main strengths are keeping the ball in front of her and having an exceptional feel for the lines, never taking chances when an attack has a 50/50 chance of being in or out.
Jillian Turvey, CHCA
Thornberry’s running mate on the front line, Turvey is a lethal hitter out of the middle while her second-favorite play is the slide kill. She posted 148 kills and her 52 blocks were also second in the MVC in 2025.
Adelyn Twyman, Lakota West
She gives the Firebirds a strong middle presence but can attack out of any of the three front-line spots. She posted 227 kills but was also third in the GMC with 59 blocks. On defense, she elevates in the blink of an eye but also has the hangtime to adjust to any attack, no matter the speed.
Lola Waleskowski, St. Ursula
The Belmont University commit was a pure hitter for the Bulldogs in 2025, leading them with 244 kills and 30 blocks. More often than not, she was set up by her younger sister, Lucy, and that connection should be a focal point for SUA this year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top seniors in 2026 Cincinnati girls volleyball preseason
Reporting by Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
