2024 Rankings Update: Top Outside Hitters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our latest <a href="https://prepdig.com/michigan/rankings/2024-rankings/">Class of 2024 Player Rankings</a> came out this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a big update after getting a full year to evaluate these players and see many of them take on increased roles on their prep teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the latest top 10 outside hitters from our new 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110288' first='Cayla' last='Cogan'], Clarkston/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cogan was a player that always showed a lot of potential, but she really took her game up another level at the end of the 2022 season. The George Washington commit delivers as powerful a swing as anyone in the class. This fall she had 360 kills while hitting .337. She also added 41 blocks and 105 digs. As she adds more to her defensive play, Cogan is going to be an unstoppable force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172198' first='Isabelle' last='Swiercz'], Hudsonville/FaR Out</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swiercz had to step up for a Hudsonville team that graduated a lot from its 2021 squad. She did just that by recording 570 kills while hitting .283. She also had 473 digs, 101 aces and 39 blocks. Swiercz helped keep Hudsonville among the top-ranked teams in Division 1 and is likely to do the same in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson'], FH Northern/FaR Out</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":276089,"width":174,"height":265,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/12-Elana-Erickson-2.jpg?w=672" alt="" class="wp-image-276089" width="174" height="265" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Erickson was part of a powerful FH Northern offense this fall and she was a consistent finisher for the Huskies. Erickson tallied 429 kills while hitting over .310 on the season. She also had 322 digs with 64 aces. Next fall, Erickson will be taking on an even bigger role, so her ceiling is still quite high.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153663' first='Allison' last='Pilat'], Plymouth Christian/Michigan Elite</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pilat is a 6'2” athletic hitter that can play any location across the net and finish at a high rate. Her athleticism and form allow her to deliver a powerful attack at a variety of angles. She's got great body control and vision. She's clearly the force for PCA and is going to be a dominant player next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>5. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153672' first='Audrey' last='Geer'], Frankenmuth/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Geer is definitely one of the most valuable players to her squad in the state. She started to breakout in 2021 and really took off in 2022. Geer is a complete player that has a lot of explosiveness. She can go toe-to-toe with any hitter in terms of swing speed and power. Geer also is a player that has worked hard to develop her defensive game. The Marshall commit is driven to be great and seems to get better with each match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>6. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110333' first='Izzy' last='Whittaker'], Grand Haven/MVA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whittaker plays in a highly-competitive area with a lot of talented hitters, but Whittaker didn't have to back down to any of them. The 6'1” hitter has consistent form and patience, but delivers the same powerful attack time and again. Whittaker is able to attack some challenging angles and power through blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>7. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110332' first='Avery' last='Weslow'], FH Central/FaR Out</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weslow was another 2024 player that really broke out in the last year. She nearly doubled her kills during the prep season, putting up 503 this fall for the Rangers. However, her game went much beyond her attacks, as she also had 416 digs and 99 aces. Weslow's quickness is up there with anyone and she's got the drive and work ethic to be great.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>8. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153662' first='Catherine' last='Flaharty'], Saline/L2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":265853,"width":196,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/13-Catherine-Flaharty.jpg?w=782" alt="" class="wp-image-265853" width="196" height="256" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='153662' first='Catherine' last='Flaharty']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flaharty was part of a deep bench of hitters for Saline, a Division 1 semifinalist. However, she really raised her game during the postseason. She had 262 kills on the year, but a 17-kill performance against Gull Lake, while hitting .350, really showed how dominant she can be. Flaharty keeps adding to her shot selection, but also is showing improved blocking instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>9. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110304' first='Cameron' last='Herman'], Hartland/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Herman has a big arm as well. The near 6-footer plays longer and is able to hang in the air with an impressive vertical. She hit close to .300 this fall with over 250 kills. Her athleticism allows her to make a lot of tough plays defensively as well. This next year is a big opportunity for her to add to her defensive play and become a dominant six-rotation outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>10. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110291' first='Alana' last='Deshetsky'], North Branch/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deshetsky has been the consistent presence for North Branch in all areas of the game. She's a gritty player that is heavily driven and motivated. This fall, Deshetsky helped guide the Broncos to a D2 state title and quietly put together another stellar year with 332 kills, 397 digs and 99 aces. For her prep career, she's putting up quite a stat line of 998 kills, 1,150 digs and 275 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->