The 5 Back Row Queens in 2021

<p>In the chess game of volleyball, the back row plays a vital part to victory.</p> <p>Liberos and defensive specialists don’t get much of the praise for success, but a team wouldn’t be able to win championships without them.</p> <p>The state of Michigan has produced top-level talent in the back row and the state currently has outstanding liberos throughout each class.</p> <p>Here’s a look at five of the standouts in the Class of 2021.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50290" first="Rachel" last="Jennings"], Novi/Michigan Elite</strong></p> <p>Jennings was given a chance to cut her teeth as a freshman with the Class A state champs, Novi, in 2017. Since then, she has emerged as the top libero in the state for the Class of 2021. Her consistent play in the back row has been a big asset for the Wildcats and for Michigan Elite. Jennings is calm, cool and collected on the floor. Her focus and footwork sets her apart from the rest.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="14165" first="Abby" last="Boyle"], Byron Center/FaR Out</strong></p> <p>Boyle put together had a great 12-month run for Byron Center and FaR Out. Her play last fall led her to earning Second Team All-State honors and that carried over to strong play for FaR Out 18 Gold, getting a chance to face some older competition. Boyle is already a Valparaiso commit and it’s easy to see why when you watch the effort she plays with on the court. Boyle has instincts and dedication to succeed at the next level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50305" first="Hannah" last="Blaney"], Saline/Legacy</strong></p> <p>Blaney is a standout defender for Legacy 17-1 Adidas and was part of a strong Saline team. Blaney has seen varsity action each of her first three years with Saline. That was capped off last fall with an outstanding year. Blaney has taken big strides each year and her improving serve is rounding out her value to her team. It should be a big 2020-21 year for Blaney.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50302" first="Olivia" last="Kowalkowski"], Notre Dame Prep/Michigan Elite</strong></p> <p>Kowalkowski brings a lot of pep and energy to her team and has a smile on her face often, but she is still a fierce competitor with a lot of big-match experience. Her time with the Irish has put her up against tough hitters throughout the season and in practice and that carried over to her moving up the club ranks at Michigan Elite. Coming from a family of athletes, Kowalkowski has all the intangibles to succeed in college.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50317" first="Gracie" last="Danziger"], East Lansing/Michigan Elite</strong></p> <p>Danziger is another top defensive player in the Michigan Elite program. The Michigan State commit made a big jump up our 2021 rankings since the fall. Danziger goes the extra mile to keep her team in plays and can make a real difference in a match. Speed and effort are her signatures and it has led her to landing a spot with a Big Ten program. Danziger could make some even bigger strides over the next 12 months.</p>