Previewing Cincinnati's top defensive specialists, liberos in 2026
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Southwest Ohio saw two volleyball teams take home gold trophies in 2025 (Seton and McNicholas). It figures to be another ultra-successful season on the court from the first serve in August until the state tournaments in November.
In advance of the season, The Enquirer is previewing the top 10 players at each position, starting with the defensive specialists and liberos.
Make sure to vote for the top player in the poll at the bottom of the story, which will be open until 4 p.m. on Friday, July 17.
Grace Frommeyer, Bishop Brossart
The Lady 'Stangs should be favored to win their first 10th Region title since 2022, returning the vast majority of their production from 2025. As a sophomore, Frommeyer was in the top 20 in Kentucky with 533 digs to go with 40 aces and 34 assists.
Ella George, Loveland
The Tigers are well-positioned to compete for another Eastern Cincinnati Conference crown, one year after making their first state tournament appearance. George, a second-team all-conference selection as a sophomore, will be in the running for the conference's defensive player of the year award. In 2025, she registered 464 digs, 102 assists and 45 aces.
Dara Jackson, Notre Dame
While the Pandas will once again have a deep senior class, Jackson will be one of the stars of the show as a junior. She is the ninth-ranked player and fourth-ranked libero in Kentucky's class of 2028, according to PrepDig, and has already attracted a healthy amount of college offers. After contributing 516 digs, 85 assists and 47 aces, she was named to the 35th District, Ninth Region and state all-tournament teams.
Emme Moser, Fenwick
Moser has been a lynchpin for Fenwick's success over the last two seasons, which saw the Falcons finish as state runner-up in 2024 and regional runner-up in 2025. The University of Toledo commit was named to the Greater Catholic League-Coed and all-district first teams as a junior.
She led the GCL-Coed with 532 digs to go with 65 aces and 60 assists.
Karly Otto, Anderson
Can Anderson take home its second ECC title in three years?
Otto, an all-conference second-team selection as a junior, is one of seven seniors this season. She helped the Raptors to a district title in 2025 by compiling 419 digs, 112 assists and 19 aces.
Kenadi Sieg, St. Henry
Sieg is coming off a sophomore season in which she was named to the second-team all-state and ranked in the top 20 in the state with 527 digs, prompting announcers to yell "Sieg dig!" whenever she made a spectacular play. She also had 82 assists and 24 aces as the Crusaders finished as the Ninth Region runner-up. She is ranked eighth in Kentucky in the class of 2028 according to PrepDig and recently announced her commitment to the University of Cincinnati.
Ali Strange, McNicholas
The Xavier University commit brings the energy for the Rockets on every point, whether she's diving for a ball destined for the floor or setting up the offense for an attack. She is one of three McNick seniors currently committed to a Division I program. As a junior, she was named to the GCL-Coed, all-district and All-Ohio first teams, contributing 389 digs, 100 assists and 47 aces for the season.
Emory Sullivan, Scott
The daughter of head coach Andrea Sullivan will take on an increased workload after the Eagles graduated a sextet of superb seniors who led them to back-to-back state tournament appearances. Sullivan led Scott in 2025 with 486 digs (she was one of four players with more than 275 digs) and also had 44 aces and 41 kills. Along with Jacinda Campbell, Shelby White and Kinley Dunford, she will be charged with leading the Eagles to a 10th Region three-peat.
Maggie Timmerman, Seton
Timmerman was one of two sophomores to appear in every match for the Saints in 2025. Not only did she provide a great defensive option behind Grace Jones, she provided steadiness for the Saints' serve-receive efforts in the latter portion of the postseason. She had 225 digs, 34 aces and 15 assists last year, numbers that will surely increase in her junior campaign.
Addyson Wolfer, Mount Notre Dame
It should be an exciting season for the Cougars, who are coming off their first state tournament appearance since 2021 and have a new head coach in Dani Szczepanski.
Along with Cami Reisert, Wolfer will feature as one of two liberos for MND as the Cougars look to contend in the Girls Greater Catholic League. As a sophomore, she posted 250 digs and 24 assists.
Additional defensive specialists and liberos to watch in 2026
Savannah Chun, Goshen; Francesca Hansel, Ryle; Kennady Horsley, Kings; Rylee Jewell, Summit Country Day; Lucy Longworth, Harrison; Makena Marks, Conner; Sophia Ober, Ross; Cami Reisert, Mount Notre Dame; Ellyse Shealy, Lawrenceburg; Peyton Smith, Fairfield; Lainey Tilton, Sycamore
Vote: Who is the top defensive specialist/ libero in Greater Cincinnati girls volleyball?
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Untitled PollThis article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Previewing Cincinnati's top defensive specialists, liberos in 2026