Top offensive teams in Division 4

<p>Though it’s the smallest division, D4 isn’t lacking in powerful hitters.</p> <p>Each year it seems Division 4 is able to produce high-level talent on offense and 2020 should be no different.</p> <p>Here’s a look at some of the explosive offensive teams you can expect this fall.</p> <p><strong>Mendon</strong></p> <p>The two-time defending state champions will have some question marks heading into the 2020 season, but they still will have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50300" first="Anna" last="Smith"] </strong>on the roster. Smith has been the top player in Division 4 the last two years and having her on the court gives the Hornets a chance against anyone. Mendon will have to replace its setter and loses its top middle, but <strong>Andrea Hoffman </strong>looks ready to step up in her senior year and <strong>Alexis Ames </strong>showed some promise as a freshman outside. The Hornets should still be tough to compete with in terms of fire power.</p> <p><strong>Leland</strong></p> <p>The 2019 D4 runner-up has a lot to be excited about for 2020. Leland graduated just one player from its roster last year, which means the offense should remain very strong. The Comets showed a lot of balance with their attack last year. <strong>Jana Molby </strong>did a great job of running the offense at setter and mixing up the hitting options. <strong>Tatum Kareck </strong>is a talented outside that can play six rotations. <strong>Olivia Lowe </strong>is right there with her, making for a great 1-2 punch on the outsides. In the middle, <strong>Sarah Elwell</strong> returns as a senior and finishes at a high rate.</p> <p><strong>Rudyard</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_101985" align="alignright" width="248"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-101985" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/Sara-Beelen-248x300.jpg" alt="" width="248" height="300" /> Sara Beelen[/caption] <p>The Bulldogs reached Battle Creek with just two seniors on the roster last fall. <strong>Nina Alpers </strong>was a great middle that will be hard to replace, but <strong>Brooklyn Besteman </strong>is ready for an increased role after a solid sophomore season in 2019. <strong>Sara Beelen </strong>was the team’s go-to outside and is back for her senior season. <strong>Chesney Molina </strong>is back at setter for her senior year as well. Molina is a great on-court leader and will help raise the game of new hitters for 2020.</p> <p><strong>Ubly</strong></p> <p>The Bearcats made a run to the D4 quarterfinals in 2019 and have the roster makeup to be a top contender again. Ubly had just one senior on the roster, so the majority of the offense is back. <strong>Allison Lautner </strong>was a captain and All-State selection in 2019. She led the team in kills and finishes at a high rate, while being able to play well around the floor. <strong>Lindsey Guza </strong>is another talented returner that patrols the middle of the net. <strong>Kylee Brandt </strong>also showed some potential on the outside and returns for her senior season. <strong>Samantha Souva </strong>ran the offense at setter and knows these hitters well. The senior plays with a lot of excitement and will have Ubly ready to compete with the best.</p> <p><strong>Carney-Nadeau</strong></p> <p>The Wolves almost made a return trip to Battle Creek in 2019, but came up shy in the quarterfinals. However, a run to the semifinals may be possible in 2020 behind a strong returning offense. <strong>Taylor Kedsch </strong>is a top-level outside hitter that shined as a junior. She has a great pairing with senior middle <strong>Liana Blahnik</strong>, who also finished at a high rate in 2019. <strong>Haley Ernest </strong>also returns at setter for her senior season this fall. She knows the offense and will have the Wolves clicking.</p> <p><strong>Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes</strong></p> <p>The Lakers claimed a Division 4 district championship in 2019 without a senior on the roster. That means the WOLL offense should be even stronger in 2020. <strong>Brooklyn Robak </strong>returns as a senior setter that plays with a lot of fire. She’s got a lot of hitting options to work with, led by outside <strong>Alexis Koenig</strong>. Koenig is explosive and athletic, and has the ability to take over games in Division 4. <strong>Quinn Robak </strong>showed a lot of promise as a freshman on the outside as well and will make for a great partnership with Koenig. <strong>Maya Lafnear </strong>was also a consistent finisher for the Lakers in the middle as a sophomore last fall.</p> <p><strong>Oakland Christian</strong></p> <p>The Lancers have been without a senior in 2018 and 2019, meaning this offense has been together for three years and set to shine in 2020. <strong>Katie Hopkins </strong>has been running the offense for four years and has a lot of leadership qualities to rely on. She also sets a great ball and does a good job of mixing up the hitting options. <strong>Kaylee Page </strong>is a strong outside that plays above her 5’6” frame. The same can be said for <strong>Micah Tison</strong>, a junior outside that stands 5’5”. With all the chemistry the team has from the past two years, Oakland Christian should be able to hit the ground running to start 2020.</p> <p><strong>Lansing Christian</strong></p> <p>When it comes to the Pilgrims, they have a lot of question marks for 2020. However, one thing they have is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50291" first="Ashley" last="Nordmann"]</strong>. Nordmann is an outstanding outside hitter that can really do it all. Like Smith at Mendon, it’s hard for anyone to compete with her in Division 4. Last fall, Nordmann hit nearly .400 on her attacks while continuing to improve on her passing, blocking and serving. She is going to make Lansing Catholic a tough opponent just on her own. She can also raise the game of her teammates, which will include a new setter. <strong>Grace Leavett </strong>and <strong>Mikayla Tolan </strong>were a pair of freshman that saw some time at the net in 2019 and could be in line for much larger rolls this fall.</p>