TC's Jenkins, Mohawk's Klopp strike fear into opponents

Kaela Jenkins and Biz Klopp are names that every volleyball coach in the area knows.They try to prepare their teams the best they can for the senior hitters, but no one can take down the tall middle hitters that can spike balls straight down into the gym floor. Jenkins and Klopp each moved to the top of their school's all-time kills list this season as both led their squads to league championships as well.For Jenkins, she moved to the Tiffin area when she was 11 years old. She started off doing school volleyball at first and then joined club volleyball. After moving to town, she knew she wanted to get involved in some sport, and volleyball happened to be the one that picked her."I didn't really like any sports before volleyball," Jenkins said. "I started in sixth grade through the schools. Then I tried out for the club, and really liked it. As I got more into it, I fell in love with it. Then I added more time to it, dedication to it, and it's how I have gotten to be so good at it."She still does club volleyball outside of Columbian; she attends Mintonette Sports in Columbus."It has helped me develop the skills I am known for on the court," Jenkins said. "They have high-level athletes and I learn from them, along with the coaches. I don't have a favorite as both are great programs and have helped me be a better player."Jenkins has noticed the growth over the years as she has played. She has read the shots better, including how hard to hit the ball on the infamous downward spikes she is known for."Hitting hard is good," Jenkins said, "but being able to place the ball too is really important, especially when playing high-level teams. Finding spots and being able to read the court is something I have been working on a lot."The challenges for Jenkins have been like any other athletes. She has had some injuries over her career and staying involved in the sport is a challenge when she wants to be in there playing."Looking in from the outside is hard to do," Jenkins admitted. "I think it also helps me take a step back and see it from a different light in terms of being able to see plays that could happen that I otherwise wouldn't see is important. It helps me learn more from the bench."Jenkins broke the school record for career kills in the first match of the season for the Tornadoes against Hopewell-Loudon. She admits that she didn't even know she was close to breaking it."It was the first kill of that game," Jenkins said. "I was very confused, didn't even know what was happening at first, but then got excited when I found out I broke the record."Jenkins hit her 1,000th career kill last year as a junior against the same team. With this being her senior year, her best memory from the team so far was beating Norwalk at districts last season, 3-2. She recalls TC winning one and losing one against them last season, and then tying for the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division title. "We wanted to win it so badly," recalls Jenkins of the match. "It was revenge, and it felt so good to win it, and I think that is what makes it so memorable."Jenkins will be attending Grand Canyon University, a Division I school. It's part of the Mountain West, as it left the Western Athletic Conference at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. She is playing volleyball for them and will more than likely play the same position. Jenkins is undecided as far as majors, but is thinking about going into the medical field.While Kaela will be graduating, there are two other sisters that are following in her footsteps. Her sister Sage, a freshman, currently plays on the freshmen and JV squads, while the youngest Jenkins sister is in the sixth grade volleyball program. Kaela knows that she is leaving behind a legacy, and that is something that she is excited about seeing where it goes."It's really exciting honestly," she said. "It takes me back to the beginning of the season, my high school career really being in that position. Seeing both of my sisters grow in the sport that got me into sports is so exciting."Klopp also knows a thing or two about having sisters thrive on the volleyball court.Every volleyball player that has come onto the court has taken pride in wearing the Warrior uniform, and it isn't just by the clothing.It's by practice, team bonding, every game, and high standards that have been upheld for the last 20-plus years.Klopp lives up to that standard as she set the school record in career kills and is looked to as the leader on the team.She started her volleyball legacy at Mohawk at a young age."Here at Mohawk, we start in fourth grade," Klopp said. "We are always told from a young age about the legacy and Mohawk pride and tradition. It's a pressure to uphold such tradition and pride."For those that aren't familiar with Mohawk athletics, each program has a long storied history of success. The volleyball program is no exception to that; the Warrior volleyball program has had a familiar face that has been a part of the program for 24 years now, coach Eric Hoover."If I recall correctly, we used to have a program where the Heidelberg University girls would come out for our first through fourth grade program. Coach (Jason) Miller had them doing community stuff, so just getting them at that point has helped."Klopp follows in her sister's footsteps. She is one of four children, and her older sisters played volleyball before her. She grew up watching them play on the court, and wanted to continue the Klopp legacy. Katherine is the oldest, followed by Emily, then Biz, then Chris, the younger brother. "I'm definitely following in their footsteps," said Klopp regarding her sisters."Honestly, I feel like I am going above and beyond their footsteps."The Klopps are a very competitive family in nature. When she hit the 1,000 mark, she was able to say that she surpassed her sisters."Both of my sisters were close, but never got there." Klopp said.Klopp has 411 kills on the season, and is in second place for the Northern 10 Athletic Conference for league leaders and has an average of 5.07 kills per set. She is also second place in blocks with 70, just behind Abbi Seager from Carey. Her career kills, as of October 6th, is 1,563 and counting.She broke the all-time school record at the Colonel Crawford match that was at Mohawk on Sept. 25th, with 1,493 kills."Honestly, I didn't even know," said Klopp about the record. "I knew I was close, but I didn't know that I was going to get it that game. I was confused when everyone was going crazy but it felt really good to pass that record."The last athlete at Mohawk to break the kills record was Sarah Parker in 2018."I just want to go above and beyond," Klopp said. "Especially for the little kids that look up to us. It's a big achievement."Being a part of a storied history athletic program is something that Klopp thinks about a lot."We are told from a young age that when you see it, it will make you want to continue it. We saw the older players play, and in middle school, it pushes you to work hard and be good," she said. "When you get to high school, it becomes something big we push. It's different then other schools; we know that we have to continue on the legacy here at Mohawk."The upperclassmen remind each player that every practice and every game that they need to work hard. Even Klopp has done that at practice with actions more than words."Follow in my footsteps," said Klopp of her actions. "Do as I do."As the younger generations of girls have come up through the programs, Hoover knows that Klopp has been a big part of it. After they won at Upper Sandusky, Klopp became a part of the group that has won The Northern 10 Athletic Conference, whether shared or outright, since she was in seventh grade.The growth Klopp has seen in herself is something that she chuckled at."In middle school, I was a hot mess," Klopp said. "I was growing into my body and being tall, I was uncoordinated. Hoover was on me my eighth grade year about my footwork. Freshman year rolled in and that's where the 'stupid freshmen' mistakes happened."Her one sister was a senior that year; the sister and the rest of the seniors helped her grow into her own. Sophomore year was her standout year, and the one that brings back the best memories."My sophomore year was my favorite," Klopp said. "We went to Faith Miller's house and we watched a scary movie, and the team was talking about it the entire week. Just the atmosphere of the team that year with us being so close is probably my best memory. I think back to those times when I think about how the season isn't going well. I remind myself that I need to be that positive influence for the underclassmen."Klopp has faced challenges in the sport, especially in the mental game. This year, she describes the atmosphere as different with people and it's been hard on her to step up and take the lead. Her being the oldest member on the team has had its challenge too with having to be there every game and her being confident. "You can have all the physical advantages," Klopp said. "You can be the tallest, but then see someone taller than you. You can have the athletic ability, but if you don't have the mental part down, then you are going to fail. You see so many good players out there but they hate the sport or lack confidence. You have to have a strong mental game in order to have a good physical game."The growth that Hoover has seen in Klopp throughout the years is something that makes him happy as a coach."Seeing her add new dimensions to her game,the growth, the maturity," Hoover said. "It's been what we have seen from the beginning to now. She had the benefit of being the youngest sister, so being around it constantly, she got the benefit of it and took steps beyond that. They all support each other."Katherine went on to play volleyball at Mount Union, while Emily is playing volleyball at Division II Clarion University, which is part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Biz will be playing closer to home: she is committed to play at the University of Findlay. She is thinking about business, but isn't sure if she wants to go to management or finance.Her final message to the younger Mohawk players:While there will be a hole coming into next year, Hoover knows that there is always a way to make it work."She will be irreplaceable," Hoover said. "It's not someone that you can replace. You can find other ways to win and or other people are going to have to step up and take her place program wise. I am not asking anyone to be Biz next year, but I think we will do it successfully. We graduate five to seven seniors every year."The message from Hoover as Klopp gets ready to move onto the next chapter of her life: "I just want to say thank you Biz," Hoover said. "It will be a long lasting legacy that you won't understand. When you come back in 10 years and see the younger ones now being on the court, you will understand that you had a part in making them better. She knows she has more to give in the tank, and remember everything you have learned here. Hard work, getting confident and continuing to learn."