All-Thumb: Third Team
The Thumb area has become a hot bed for high school volleyball as of late. This season saw five teams notch district titles, four making it to regional final matches and Unionville-Sebewaing reigned supreme this year, making it all the…
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Continue ReadingThe Thumb area has become a hot bed for high school volleyball as of late. This season saw five teams notch district titles, four making it to regional final matches and Unionville-Sebewaing reigned supreme this year, making it all the way to the Division 3 finals. With all of the top notch teams emerging from the area, come top notch players. All of these players brought their A-Game this year and lead their teams. Here is your All-Thumb: Third Team selections.
Kaitlyn Arebalo, Jr, OPP/S, Caro
Photo by Sports Finest MagazinePart of the reason the Tigers of Caro saw such an turn-around in successes this season was part in thanks to Kaitlyn Arebalo. The lefty opposite/setter brought her best to every game this season. Being relied upon for not only her prowess at the net but on her setting abilities, she succeeded in both. In her second season under Bob Tobey, Arebalo went from a timid blocker to a threat to be messed with. After this season, Arebalo moves up to 7th on Caro’s All-Time Blocks list with 205 blocks.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTW
Season Stats: 242 kills, 316 assists, 228 digs, 26 aces, and 81 blocks
Coach Bob Tobey: “Ashlin and Kaitlyn were my best two hitters this season. Together, they would put up a block that could be deadly. They both stepped up from last year to become dominating at their positions, and Kaitlyn accepted the responsibilities of becoming a setter with no prior experience and improved all season long.”
Grace Schlaud, Soph, OH, Brown City
Photo by Huron Daily TribuneOut goes one Schlaud, incomes another. Following in the footsteps of Grace Schlaud‘s older sister Ann, looks like sending rockets to the opposing team runs in the family. Only as a sophomore, Schlaud made her presence known. Building upon Brown City’s successful offense with Kendal Muxlow, the two became a deadly 1-2 punch on the pins. Surprising many in the area and not allowing her opponents to catch a breath led to successful season. She’d help the Green Devils run to their fourth Quarter-Finals appearance in five years.
Season Awards: 2nd Team All-GTE
Season Stats: 321 kills, .301 hitting percentage, 198 digs, 15 aces
Coach Jenna Welke: “Grace was a huge part of our offense this year. Everyone knew we had Kendal in the front row, but I think Grace surprised a lot of teams this year when she rotated around to the net. She never backed down and found ways around the block. She knew her job was to stay aggressive at the net and to not go soft, and she found a way to get the job done night after night. Her ability to shake off mistakes and stick with the game plan was exceptional.”
Grace Kowitz, Sr, MB, Millington
Photo by Huron Daily TribuneYou can’t look at Millington’s historic season without being met by Grace Kowitz‘s wall of a block. The program saw themselves as the biggest turnarounds of the season, going a dismal record to one of the best seasons in program history, tying the record for most wins in a season. Due in part to Kowitz. Shutting down 95 blocks, Kowitz also put down 338 kills to a tune of a .303 clip, while knocking 92 aces down.
Season Awards: 2nd Team All-TVE
Season Stats: 338 kills, .303 hitting percentage, 95 blocks, 92 aces and 179 digs
Coach Michelle Bouck: “Grace is fun to watch. She is an emotional leader with her excitement over good plays and confidence in her play and the play of her teammates. Grace is also a great hitter, capable of the big swing. She’s also humble and smart, sacrificing the glory of the big swing for the perfectly placed tip for a point.”
Nichole Schember, Sr, S, Unionville-Sebewaing
Photo by Huron Daily TribuneA part of USA’s phenomenal setter-hitter duo with Rylee Zimmer, Nichole Schember has been feeding the beast quite literally all season. Taking over main setting duties this year for the Lady Pats looked to be pretty successful, pacing her team all the way to a first-ever State Championship match. Along the way she made some huge waves, in the district semis, Schember would go to tie a state record for most assists in a match with 70. The most interesting part is that she threw up 70 assists in a 4-set match rather a 5-set like her counter part. During her two years for the Patriots, Nichole put up 2543 assists, huge part due to POY Zimmer putting down the balls with ease.
Season Awards: 2nd Team All-GTW
Season Stats: 1702 assists, 169 digs and 34 aces
Coach Teresa Rose: “Nichole has done a really good job as our setter this year she’s got great Soft hands. We stressed at the beginning of the season that we really needed our hitters to communicate with Nichole on how they like the ball and I feel like they all worked really good together. Nichole did a great job of moving the ball around. “
Hannah Bader, Sr, Libero, North Branch
Due to injury, North Branch looked to be in trouble with their winning ways. Need not to worry, Hannah Bader became the defense of the trifecta of North Branch with Allyson Severance and Autumn Deshetsky. In her first season donning the off colored jersey, Bader didn’t disappoint. She made big defensive strides. Putting up 416 digs and 694 service receptions, she had her hand in the offense chucking 107 aces her opponents’ way. All in aid to help the Lady Broncos make it to the Regional Finals.
Season Accolades: 1st Team All-BWAC, All-Region, Honorable Mention All-State (D2)
Season Stats: 416 digs, 694 service receptions, and 107 aces.
Coach Jim Fish: “Hannah is a tireless worker who competes at the highest level every day in practice. Hannah replaced Olivia Sweeney (Madonna) in the libero spot this year and our team did not miss a beat. She has a devastating jump serve and finished tied for 13th in the state (Allyson Severance) with 107 aces. She also led our team with digs (416) which was 93rd in the state.”
Addi Cooper, Sr, S, Millington
Photo by Sports Finest MagazineYou cannot have a breakout season without a good setter on your side of the court. Addi Cooper stepped up huge this year for the Lady Cards. Running the offense, she helped lead the team to tie for most wins in a single season for the program while making their way to a Regional Semi’s match. Before meeting with eventual State Runner-Ups, USA, Millington had a phenomenal season. In aid, Cooper put up over a 1000 assists and 200 digs. Her effort not only achieved a tie for a school record but she individually broke the record for most assists in a single season for the program.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-TVE, All-Region
Season Stats: 1102 assists, 226 digs, and 79 aces.
Coach Michelle Bouck: “Addi is very hard working. She broke the school assist record this year with the help of the whole team, especially Ill and Kowitz. Those two led the team in kills. She is an aggressive server. She served 15 points in a row against New Lothrop to close out set 1 of the district final. Cooper also has a deep understanding of our volleyball rotation. She not only knows where she needs to be but also knows where everyone else is and where the overlaps are. That knowledge is important to have on the floor.
Gabby Gough, Sr, OH/MB, Sandusky
Photo by Sports Finest MagazineA bright spot came out of the Redskin’s program in Gabby Gough. A stud on the basketball courts, she also shows off her prowess on the volleyball courts. Leading her team in kills, she led Sandusky to a district finals match against Brown City, taking off a set from the eventual Quarter-Finalists. In the conference season, Gough led the offense with 87 kills and 30 aces. Gabby will be taking her talents to Lawrence Tech next year for her talents on the basketball courts.
Conference Stats: 87 kills, 30 aces, 45 blocks, and 48 digs.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTE
Coach Alexandria Kranz: “Gabby is an incredibly hard worker and team leader. She moved from Outside to Middle early in the season because a teammate was injured. (Gough) never complained and worked hard to succeed in said spot. She can generate a contagious enthusiasm and put tough sets down. Coaching her has been an absolute pleasure.”