District final standout performers

District championship matches tend to bring the best out of players.   This week Michigan has seen some great championship performances with a title on the line.   Here's a look at some of the best individual performances around the state in district finals.   *Performers listed were from teams with stats available online   D1: [player_tooltip player_id='66303' first='Paige' last='Giehtbrock'], Sr. OH No. 9 Clarkston   Trailing 2 sets to 1 to No. 12 Lake Orion, Clarkston needed someone to step up. That was where Giehtbrock came in. She put up eight kills in the fourth set and led the Wolves to taking the final two sets and the win over the Dragons. Giehtbrock had 18 kills, 11 digs and two aces on the night.   D1: [player_tooltip player_id='110332' first='Avery' last='Weslow'], Jr. OH No. 4 Forest Hills Central   Up against No. 17 Caledonia, Weslow had one of her best showings of the season. She put down 23 kills while hitting .333 to lead the Rangers to a four-set victory. Weslow was also one of the defensive leaders on the night with 13 digs.   D1: Olivia McMath, Sr. S/MH Midland   Midland went five sets with Bay City Western and did so while losing other setter/hitter combo player Jenna Rekeweg during the match. McMath stepped up with 23 assists, 11 kills and 13 digs to lead the Chemics to their first district title in five years.   D1: Alison Pignataro, Sr. S No. 16 Okemos   Pignataro had Okemos' offense playing a dominant game in a sweep of Howell. She recorded 37 assists while leading her hitters to hitting .357 collectively in the victory.   D2: [player_tooltip player_id='140493' first='Grace' last='Wenaas'], Sr. MH No. 3 Notre Dame Prep   We've already mentioned Wenaas being arguably the most improved player in the state. She proved it again on Thursday, posting 19 kills while hitting .500, and also adding in nine blocks in a sweep of No. 4 Detroit Country Day. Wenaas is approaching 600 kills on the year while hitting .520 on the season. Special mention to senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='66295' first='Allison' last='Berent'] as well, who had 23 digs and three aces against a powerful DCD offense.   D2: Avery Huisman, Sr. MH No. 11 Holland Christian   Huisman had nine kills while hitting .500, but also had five blocks and 22 digs to help lead the Maroons to a four-set victory over Hamilton   D2: Cassie Jenema, So. S No. 15 Cadillac   Jenema had big shoes to fill this season as Cadillac's setter, but she really shined in a sweep of Reed City with 30 assists, 12 digs and two aces. She had the Vikings offense running like a well-oiled machine.   D3: [player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier'], So. OH No. 7 Shelby   The sophomore continued her dominant season by putting down 29 kills in a sweep of Hesperia in a district final. She also added 20 digs in the match. Gauthier is over 840 kills on the season.   D3: [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'], So. MH No. 11 Cass City   Ignash put together a complete match to lead Cass City to a very competitive sweep of No. 20 Bad Axe. She had 18 kills with 18 digs and two blocks to get the Red Hawks onto regional play.   D3: Brealyn Lasky, Jr. S No. 24 Bronson   The Vikings needed a boost from a veteran to get past Centreville in four sets and that boost came from Lasky. She had 30 assists, four kills and six digs to push the Bronson offense to the victory.   D3: [player_tooltip player_id='66307' first='Keely' last='Hinzman'], Sr. RS/S Hudson   In a five-set battle with Napoleon, Hinzman put up a very impressive stat line of 34 kills, 25 assists, 25 digs, nine blocks and three aces to lead the Tigers to the victory.   D3: Jordyn Smith, Jr. S Ithaca   Smith had an impressive 37 assists to lead Ithaca to its first-ever district championship with a sweep of Sanford-Meridian. The Yellow Jackets dominated with its high-powered offense.   D4: Alexis Luce, Sr. S No. 2 Leland   Leland got all it could handle in a five-set battle with Glen Lake, but Luce kept the offense moving throughout the night with 41 assists and five aces. She also added 12 digs on the defensive effort.   D4: [player_tooltip player_id='888976' first='Madison' last='Smith'], Sr. OH Mackinaw City   Smith put up a career-best 29 kills to go with 13 digs and three blocks to help lead Mackinaw City to its first district championship, a four-set victory over Cedarville.   D4: Ava Schultz, Sr. OH Gaylord St. Mary   Schultz was making plays all over the court for the Snowbirds in their sweep of Central Lake. She had 21 kills, 13 digs, five aces and two blocks.

District championship matches tend to bring the best out of players.