The Power 5 Outside Hitters in 2021
It’s not hard to find powerful arms in the state of Michigan, especially in the Class of 2021. The state is filled with tremendous finishers and arms that can provide a noticeable “pop” that you don’t hear very often. Here’s…
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Continue ReadingIt’s not hard to find powerful arms in the state of Michigan, especially in the Class of 2021. The state is filled with tremendous finishers and arms that can provide a noticeable “pop” that you don’t hear very often.
Here’s the Power 5 outside hitting arms in the Class of 2021.
Jenna Reitsma Jenna Reitsma 5'11" | OH Lowell | 2021 State MI , Lowell/FaR Out
Reitsma really brought her game to another level in the last year and it was on full display in the fall of 2019 where she led Lowell to the Division 1 runner-up. Reitsma finished the prep season with 873 kills while hitting .342. Her ability to terminate from the front or back row has been really impressive. Reitsma finished her prep season with at least 20 kills in her last six matches. The Marquette commit was having a great 2020 club season before the season was stopped, and she is sure to have the Red Arrows as a top contender in the fall of 2020.
Addie VanderWeide Addie VanderWeide 6'1" | OH Grand Rapids Christian | 2021 State MI , Grand Rapids Christian/MVA
Part of a deep hitting roster for the two-time defending Division 2 champs, VanderWeide has managed to stand out above the rest at GRC. This past fall she put down 558 kills while hitting .315. Both numbers were tops for the Eagles. VanderWeide places with a lot of grace and has great footwork, but know exactly when to turn the dial up to 11. VanderWeide has the arm speed to create truly unstoppable shots and will be a handful for opponents in this state come the fall.
Mikayla Haut Mikayla Haut 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2021 State MI , SMCC/Michigan Elite
Haut has arguably been the most consistent player in the state over the last three years. A First Team All-State selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior, Haut has been the standard in Division 3 volleyball since 2017. It’s not hard to notice Haut on the floor, as she can jump out of the building. However, she has developed her all-around game in recent years to become a complete player. That doesn’t mean she can’t drop the hammer when she wants to. She showed that in the 2019 D3 state final when she put down 27 kills to lead the Kestrels past Schoolcraft in a five-set classic.
Ashley Nordmann Ashley Nordmann 6'0" | OH Lansing Christian | 2021 State MI , Lansing Christian/Michigan Elite
Nordmann is the arm that nobody wants to face, as she has been able to single-handedly take over matches at the high school and club level. While not competing with the same supporting cast at the high school level as her peers, Nordmann raises her game to prove she is among the best in the state. This past fall, she hit nearly .400 on her attacks. Taking on a spike from Nordmann has to be a fear-inducing moment for any opponent in the back row.
Sydney Palazollo, Utica Eisenhower/Legacy
Palazollo is another player that has been working tirelessly on her game over the years and the results are showing. A big-time finisher for Eisenhower and Legacy, Palazollo has the length (6’1”) to go with the power. She puts herself in good position to terminate at a high level and the future High Point player has become very consistent when her number is called. Last fall she put up a career-high in kills for Eisenhower, going over 500, while hitting a career-best .310.