Division 3 game-changers for 2020

<p>Division 3 set the stage for the top championship match of the 2019 state finals.</p> <p>Known for power programs, Division 3 has a lot of familiar names looking to make a run at a state championship in 2020.</p> <p>Which players will be the difference makers this season?</p> <p><strong>Jaydin Nowak – Sr. L/DS SMCC</strong></p> <p>SMCC returns a lot from its D3 state championship squad in 2019, but one big piece the Kestrels are losing is libero <strong>Payton Osborne</strong>. Osborne was crucial in the state championship match, piling up 24 digs. With Osborne graduating, Nowak is an experienced back-row player that can fill in. She played in all five sets of the state final and had 12 digs of her own. With a lot of the SMCC offense returning, a solid defense is all the Kestrels need to claim another title.</p> <p><strong>Kayla Onken – Sr. S Schoolcraft</strong></p> <p>The Eagles had a great 2019 that resulted in a five-set classic in the Division 3 state final against SMCC. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49379" first="Andelyn" last="Simkins"] </strong>was the Miss Volleyball runner-up and about as dominant a player as you could find in the state. With her gone, along with fellow outside <strong>Madi Ballett</strong>, Schoolcraft needs to develop some new and reliable outsides for 2020. Onken is a great and experienced setter. Her skills will help those new hitters come along. She already has some reliable middles to work with. Onken’s leadership will be very important for Schoolcraft’s success this year.</p> <p><strong>Hannah Stearns – Jr. OH Beaverton</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_100530" align="alignright" width="257"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100530" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/Hannah-Stearns-257x300.jpg" alt="" width="257" height="300" /> Hannah Stearns[/caption] <p>Beaverton returns a majority of its 2019 squad that reached the Division 3 semifinals. The Beavers have a dominant player in <strong>Molly Gerow</strong>, but finding the overall balance of the team will be important in 2020. Stearns has a lot of length at the net and she showed her potential as a sophomore last fall. If Stearns can take a big step forward in 2020, it gives Beaverton an attack that will be hard for many in D3 to match.</p> <p><strong>Kya Belill – Sr. L/DS Valley Lutheran</strong></p> <p>The Chargers reached the D3 semifinals last fall and return the majority of their production from that squad. One missing piece will be in the back row, with <strong>Kelsy Vittitow </strong>graduating. She was a steady libero that Valley Lutheran could count on each match. Belill joined <strong>Lindsay Burk </strong>and <strong>Katie Wilson</strong> as other DS options for the Chargers last year. This season, Belill’s experience and leadership will be important in the back row. If she can help ease the loss of Vittitow, then the Chargers will make a deep playoff run again.</p> <p><strong>Karissa Gest – Jr. OH Bronson</strong></p> <p>Bronson still remains a top squad in the Division 3 race and the Vikings bring a lot back from their 2019 team. One piece Bronson is losing is dynamic outside hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49382" first="Keona" last="Salesman"]</strong>. Salesman could do it all and finish from the front or back row. With her gone, Gest is going to get an opportunity to raise her game for the Vikings. With the team locked in at setter, libero and the middle, Gest being able to step into the go-to outside position will keep Bronson in the D3 title picture.</p> <p><strong>Alisha Leffring – Sr. MH/OH Western Michigan Christian</strong></p> <p>Leffring was an All-State player in 2019 for the Warriors, but her role will need to be much greater this season. With a large senior class graduating, Leffring will need to take over a leadership role while elevating her play in the early stages of the season as new role players emerge. Leffring knows the level of play WMC needs to be a title contender.</p> <p><strong>Avery Ekkens – Sr. OH Kalamazoo Christian</strong></p> <p>Kalamazoo Christian was consistently around the top of the Division 3 rankings throughout 2019. The Comets graduated some great pieces in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49414" first="Carley" last="Broekhuizen"]</strong> (OH) and <strong>Karina Derring </strong>(L). That leaves Ekkens in an important role this fall. She will have to be the team leader on the floor and be prepared to shoulder the load while the Comets work in new pieces. Ekkens looks like a player that can handle that challenge.</p> <p><strong>Sarah Stauffer – Jr. OH Centreville</strong></p> <p>Centreville is another program that had a strong season in 2019, but graduated a large portion of the squad. One returning player is Stauffer. She was able to move around the court and play either end of the net. Stauffer showed flashes of being a go-to hitter last year and 2020 will be the chance for her to rise to the occasion. It’s a big opportunity for her to push herself up the Class of 2022 rankings.</p> <p><strong>Shelby Urquhart – Jr. S Charyl Stockwell Academy</strong></p> <p>The Sentinels were a talented, but small, group in 2019. Led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49384" first="Paige" last="Gallentine"]</strong>, who could play anywhere on the floor, CSA was a handful in Division 3. With Gallentine gone, CSA will be relying a lot on another dynamic talent in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="14204" first="Jenna" last="Vaske"]</strong>. Vaske is a proven commodity for the Sentinels, but it will be the play of Urquhart at setter that will really determine the 2020 season. She can help bring on new hitters and be the floor general the team will need right now.</p>