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Assist aficionados: Here are the top 10 setters in Greater Cincinnati girls volleyball

By Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer,

15 hours ago

With another high school volleyball season just weeks away, The Enquirer is once again running down the best players by position in Greater Cincinnati.

The reveals began with the best defensive specialists and liberos . Now it's time to list the best setters in the city.

They are the offensive coordinators on the court, yet can read the defense like none other while distributing the ball to their attackers.

Here they are in alphabetical order.

Remember to vote for the best player in the poll at the end of the story. Voting for the top setter will end on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 4 p.m. EST.

Skylr Estep, Beechwood

A young core propelled the Tigers to a 25-13 record and a Ninth Region tournament appearance in 2023.

As a freshman, Estep contributed 899 assists, 211 digs, 53 aces, 37 kills, 31 blocks. She was so reliable that the rest of the team totaled just 153 assists. She has intricate knowledge of the Tigers' system and can be counted on to set to the net or the back line, both behind her and in front.

Addy Franz, Ursuline

As a junior, she dished out 913 assists and was named a Girls Greater Catholic League first-team member in her first varsity season. The Lions had multiple bright spots as they went through a rebuilding year after winning the 2022 state title. Franz was one of them and will be a key factor as Ursuline hunts for another league, district, regional and state title.

Ryann Grigsby, Scott

The Grigsbys are becoming a household name in the Scott High School volleyball community. Ryann, KaLeigh and Payton are triplets who are entering their junior season. Their mom played at Scott and is a member of Thomas More's 2024 Hall of Fame.

In her first season as a varsity starter, Ryann made her presence known with 1,051 assists, 317 digs, 54 aces, 46 kills and 20 blocks. A number of those assists went to Payton, who had 94 kills last year. A lot has been said about the Eagles' defense, but Grigsby is the one who ignites the offense. Her expert passing allowed four teammates to register over 100 kills in 2023.

Hope Hamilton, Campbell County

Hamilton was a big part of the Camels' first 10th Region championship since 2019. What made her so valuable was her contributions to every aspect of the game.

As a sophomore, she dished out 489 assists to go with 229 digs, 68 kills, 52 blocks and 12 aces. What stands out about her as a setter is her ability to use one hand at the net, whether she's saving an over-pass or dumping the ball over the net.

Ally Hughes, Roger Bacon

Hughes led the Miami Valley Conference with 751 assists as a junior and was one of three Spartans named to the MVC first team. She can also serve up an ace on command; she posted four or more aces eight times last season and had 59 in total. She is committed to SIU-Edwardsville.

As a sophomore, Hughes broke the program record with 974 assists in a single season.

Lauren Leurck, Harrison

Leurck led the Southwest Ohio Conference by a wide margin in 2023 with 711 assists. Many of those went to SWOC Player of the Year Faith Young, who put away 436 attacks. Now that Young has graduated, Leurck will have a new partner on offense.

She has an affinity for the jump set, which not only helps her set up teammates across the court but can also throw off the defense's timing. When Leurck isn't setting up her attackers, she always seems to be in the right place to dig an attack. Leurck was also in the top five of the SWOC in digs (172), aces (48) and blocks (29).

Kennedy Ostendorf, Fairfield

She is the top returning setter in the Greater Miami Conference, having assisted on 567 kills in 2023. She also dug 193 attacks, put away 141 kills and served up 57 aces.

Ostendorf was a second-team All-GMC selection last year as the Indians finished fifth in the standings. They are losing a good amount of production from 2023, so Ostendorf will be a major factor if they want to continue their run of finishes in the top half of the league.

Lauren Ott, Notre Dame

The Pandas are blessed with not one, but two of the best setters in Northern Kentucky. Ott led NDA with 710 assists in 2023, but Lizzy Larkins added 566 of her own. It just speaks to the depth that could carry the Pandas to a second state championship in three years.

With so many options on the attack, Ott has no problem reading the defense and distributing it to the right player. Sometimes, though, she wants the point for herself. She only had 10 kills last year, but has worked on dumping the ball into the open floor while playing for the Northern Kentucky Volleyball Club this summer. Ott also had 216 digs and 38 aces last year.

Emsley Venard, St. Ursula

After appearing in just six matches as a sophomore, she played every set in the Bulldogs' 2023 campaign that resulted in a regional final appearance. With 940 assists, 243 digs, 39 kills, 32 aces and 29 blocks, she was named a DI all-state honorable mention. She is committed to Florida Atlantic University.

Brookelyn Zeuch, Fenwick

Zeuch enters her senior season as the Greater Catholic League-Coed active assists leader with 2,291. She contributed 753 assists, 196 digs, 51 aces and 24 kills in 2023.

For as skilled as Zeuch is on the court, her most important role is as a leader. Fenwick will have five seniors on this year's roster, but their ability to mentor and lead the younger players will determine the Falcons' success.

The Falcons most recently won the GCL-Coed in 2021 but have been in the top half of the league standings since it formed in 2023. That trend should continue as they will contend with Badin and McNicholas for the league title.

On the radar

Ella Cox , Highlands; Dakota Fackey , Ross; Morgan Heater , Ryle; Kendall Hubbard , Mount Notre Dame; Gracie Messmore , South Dearborn; Reagan Miller , Seton; Abby Noga , Talawanda; Kennedy Peake , Lakota West; Macee Steele , Goshen; Kylie Stutzman , Taylor; Aidynne Tippett , Wilmington