2021 Prep Preview: Questions for the four D3 semifinalists

<p>The Division 3 semifinals saw the same final four teams in 2020 that had advanced in 2019.</p> <p>Don’t expect that again in 2021.</p> <p>This year’s Division 3 title picture is wide open, as each of the four semifinal squads are dealing with a lot of graduation loss.</p> <p>That doesn’t mean that we should cast off these strong programs heading into a new year. They have big questions, but still could find the answers throughout the fall.</p> <p>Here’s what each of the four teams will be facing in 2021.</p> <h4><strong>SMCC</strong></h4> <p>The Kestrels repeating as the Division 3 state champions in 2020 was pretty predictable. They returned so much talent from the 2019 championship team that it was hard to imagine anyone topping them. Heading into 2021, it’s a whole new game. SMCC graduated seven seniors from that program-defining class, led by generational talent <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50288" first="Mikayla" last="Haut"] </strong>on the outside. She was the clear Player of the Year in D3 for 2020 and had been a staple of the SMCC program for four years. Add in other impactful seniors in <strong>Anna Dean</strong>, <strong>Abbie Costlow</strong>, <strong>Olivia Anderson</strong>, <strong>Grace Lipford</strong>, <strong>Jaydin Nowak</strong> and <strong>Kylie Barron</strong>, and that’s a championship team on its own. The question now is will SMCC be able to reload, or will it have to rebuild? <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24850" first="Kate" last="Collingsworth"] </strong>is a returning senior at the setter position to give SMCC something to build on. She will have a lot on her plate to raise the game of her fellow hitters, many of whom will be stepping up to a new role. <strong>Audrey Cousino</strong> will be a returning outside that contributed last year, but now has a chance to be a real difference maker and follow in the shoes of other great outsides in SMCC history. <strong>Ava Kuehnlein</strong> is a defender that also was in the rotation last season and can provide some experience to the back row. With the great coaching and poise that SMCC typically has, don’t rule out the Kestrels as a title contender in 2021 too quickly. <strong>Karen O’Brien </strong>will have her team ready.</p> <h4><strong>Schoolcraft</strong></h4> <p>The Eagles had an intriguing roster build in the 2020 season. They had seven seniors and seven sophomores mixed in with a single junior. So, Schoolcraft has a lot of big losses, but also a promising junior class to work with in 2021. Schoolcraft had a powerful offense last season behind setter <strong>Kayla Onken</strong> and top-level middles <strong>Maggie Morris </strong>and <strong>Anna Schuppel</strong>. All three have graduated, along with leading outside <strong>Allie Goldschmeding </strong>and libero <strong>Kelby Goldschmeding</strong>. That puts a lot on this junior class, and the question will be how they respond to such a challenge. <strong>Abbi Curtis </strong>and <strong>Camden Bruner </strong>are two outsides with some varsity experience from last season. Setter <strong>Paige Outman </strong>got a chance to learn from Onken and will have an opportunity to lead the offense in 2021. The lone returning senior will be <strong>Sophie Ridge</strong>, a DS that will be needed to help fill the starting hole left by Goldschmeding graduating.</p> <h4><strong>Beaverton</strong></h4> <p>The Beavers made a second consecutive semifinal appearance last year and have begun establishing themselves as a marquee program in Division 3. Five seniors graduate from the 2020 roster, led by outstanding outside <strong>Molly Gerow</strong> and setter <strong>Mady Pahl</strong>. Those two had an instinctive connection that played out so smoothly on the court. Senior <strong>Becca Wirt </strong>also graduates, leaving some big holes to fill on the offensive side of things. <strong>Hannah Stearns </strong>is an outside option that can step up for her senior year. <strong>Faith Danielak </strong>is a promising junior middle, while <strong>Leiyah Mungin</strong> is an OPP that has varsity experience coming into her junior season. Those three can be an offense by committee. At setter, <strong>Kaelyn Fischer </strong>was on the roster as a freshman, being groomed for a future role. That could payoff this fall. If she is able to handle starting duties as a sophomore, it provides a great foundation for years to come for Beaverton. Defensively, Beaverton looks pretty strong in the back row. <strong>Alexis Grove</strong> returns at libero for her senior year. She’s improved a lot in the last year and can be a calming presence for this roster. The question for Beaverton will be, can an offensive-driven squad shift to being defensive-led in 2021 and still find statewide success?</p> <h4><strong>Valley Lutheran</strong></h4> <p>The Chargers unfortunately didn’t get a chance to actually compete on the floor of Kellogg Arena last season due to COVID, but they were still back-to-back semifinalists no matter how you look at it. The 2020 squad graduated four seniors that were very impactful. Outside <strong>Peyton Bartnikowski </strong>was the kills leader, while setter <strong>Sydney Krause </strong>ran the offense and libero <strong>Kya Belill </strong>led the team in digs. Those are the key foundation pieces to any team. Still, Valley Lutheran has some nice offensive weapons back. <strong>Lexie Peplinski </strong>is a capable six-rotation outside option coming into her senior year, while senior middles <strong>Ashlyn Martin </strong>and <strong>Olivia Grimpo </strong>combined for nearly 500 kills last fall. <strong>Lindsay Burk </strong>also returns in the back row for her senior season, providing some experience for the defense. The question for the Chargers will be is if they are ready to establish themselves as a D3 power for the foreseeable future. A third straight trip to Battle Creek puts you in another class on the statewide picture. If the Chargers can do that, they will have truly arrived.</p>