Siefring among nation’s best

At any level of play, Kendra Siefring never tallied more than eight blocks in a match.

She surpassed that number Wednesday, solidifying her spot as one of the best in the country.

Siefring, a 2016 Fort Recovery High School graduate, had nine total blocks Wednesday, helping the University of Saint Francis volleyball team to a 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-11 victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene.

In setting a new career high for blocks, the junior pushed her season total to 94 for the year, which ranks 12th in all of NAIA. Her previous best collegiate total was six, and she tallied eight blocks as a senior in high school.

Siefring also led the No. 18 Cougars (22-5, 11-3 Crossroads League), who set a program record for conference wins in a season, with 14 kills while chipping in one dig.

On Saturday, she totaled six kills, a half dozen total blocks and five digs as USF knocked off the Taylor Trojans, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19.

Kiah Wendel

Fort Recovery – 2018

Posted a new career high in digs for the Owens Community College volleyball team Friday in a 3-2 win against Bob Jones University during the Valley Invitational on Saturday at Catawba Valley.

The freshman defensive specialist finished with 26 digs, besting her previous career-high by two, and also had three assists. Earlier that day she had 17 digs and an assist in a 3-1 loss to St. Johns River State before totaling nine digs and two assists in a sweep of Catawba Valley.

On Sunday, Wendel had 15 digs and an assist against Wallace State, a 3-1 loss, then tallied a dozen digs and an assist in a 3-0 setback to Pasco-Hernando State later that day.

Her 390 total digs ranks 13th in all of National Junior College Athletic Association.

Wes Wenning

Fort Recovery – 2016

Had his first catch of the season for the Ashland University football team Saturday in a 21-17 victory over previously unbeaten Saginaw Valley State.

The junior caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Austin Brenner for a first down on third-and-11 in the first quarter, one play before Brenner connected with Logan Bolin for a 57-yard score.

It was just the third catch of his career as a member of the Eagles (3-3) after grabbing two receptions as a sophomore. He has 27 yards for his career.

Ashton Klopp

South Adams – 2017

Competed for the University of Findlay women’s swim team Friday in a 1,135.5-933.5 loss to Northern Michigan.

She anchored the mixed 300-yard butterfly relay that was second in 2 minutes, 46.66 seconds, and was the third leg of the mixed 250 medley relay which was fourth in 2:11.43.

The sophomore kicked off the mixed 300 freestyle relay that placed fifth in 2:38.05, and was the third leg of the 800 medley relay that finished sixth in

8:43.72.

Individually she had a time of 1:03.12 to place sixth in the 100 individual medley.

Katy Smeltzer

Jay County – 2015

Began the final year of her swim career by helping the University of the Cumberlands women’s swim team defeat Lindsey Wilson 180-79 on Saturday.

The senior kicked off the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Mendy De Rooi, Leah Thomas and Houston Burgoon that finished first in 1 minute, 42.61 seconds.

Smeltzer was also third in the 50 freestyle (26.05 seconds), third in the 100 butterfly (1:05.32) and fifth in the 100 freestyle (58.29)

Madi Wurster

South Adams – 2018

Registered a new career high in kills for the Purdue Fort Wayne volleyball team Sunday in a 3-1 loss to North Dakota State.

The freshman finished with eight kills on 16 attacks for a .313 hitting percentage as the squad lost its fourth straight match.

Friday, the right side hitter tallied seven kills and assisted on a block for the Mastodons (11-9, 2-4 Summit League) in a 3-1 loss to Oral Roberts.

Cassidy Rammel

Fort Recovery – 2015

Contributed to a pair of victories for the University of Saint Francis volleyball team.

The senior collected seven kills Saturday in a four-set win over Taylor while also adding seven digs and an ace. She assisted on a pair of blocks as well.

Rammel notched seven kills, five digs and assisted on a block in a 3-1 triumph over Mount Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday.

Ava Kunkler

Jay County – 2016

Also played for the University of Saint Francis volleyball team in a pair of recent wins.

The former Patriot finished with six kills and a dig on Wednesday against Taylor before finishing with three kills, one dig and a block assist on Saturday in the Cougars’ victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene.

Zach Chaney

Jay County – 2017

Notched his second shutout for the Ancilla College men’s soccer team in a 4-0 victory over Lakeland on Sunday.

The sophomore turned away both shots he faced. 

The Chargers (9-4) scored four second-half goals for their sixth straight win.

On Saturday, Chaney faced five shots and stopped three in a 3-2 overtime victory.

Drew LeFever

South Adams – 2016

Played for the Taylor University football team in its 40-13 loss to Siena Heights University on Saturday.

The junior had eight carries for 23 yards, including four consecutive carries in the second quarter.

LeFever also had an 8-yard carry in the fourth quarter for the Trojans (2-3).

Gabbie Mann

Jay County – 2016

Logged a total of 64 minutes for the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer team in a pair of losses recently.

She came off the bench to play 24 minutes in a 2-0 setback to Omaha on Friday.

A day later the junior started against Oral Roberts, played 40 minutes and took one shot in a 1-0 defeat.

Kylie Osborne

Jay County – 2016

Shared the team high in kills for the Anderson University volleyball team Saturday in a 25-12, 25-18, 25-18 road loss to Transylvania. 

The junior had eight kills on 22 attacks, matching Kennedy Thomas for most kills on the team. She also added five digs for the Ravens (9-11, 1-2 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference).

Kirsten Jutte

FRHS – 2016

Totaled 10 kills over two games for the Capital University volleyball team as its losing streak reached 19 matches.

The junior tallied six kills to go with her two digs Tuesday in a five-set loss to Marietta.

Three days earlier, Jutte finished with four kills, three digs and assisted on a block for the Crusaders (0-19).

Chloe Trissel

Jay County – 2017

Played for the IU-Kokomo volleyball team Saturday in a sweep of Midway University.

The freshman posted a career-high six digs. She also finished with two assists and made two attacks but did not register a kill for the Cougars (19-4, 8-0 River States Conference). 

Kaelyn Weaver

Jay County – 2017

Tallied two kills in back-to-back games for the Saint Xavier University volleyball team. 

On Friday, the freshman had four attacks against Calumet St. Joseph, a 3-0 SXU victory. A day later against Olivet Nazarene, she also had four attacks and registered a dig while also assisting on a block as the Cougars (16-7) lost in five sets.

Collin Haines

Jay County – 2017

Contributed to the IU-South Bend men’s golf team as it competed in the Egypt Valley Championship at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada, Michigan.

The freshman was 72nd overall and fourth on the team for the Titans, who totaled 959 in the three-day tournament to place 14th out of 16 teams.

Haines shot 88 the first day, and improved by six strokes on day two. He shot 85 on the third day for a score of 255.