Division 2 Player And Coach Of The Year
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Division 2 may have been the division with the toughest choice for Player of the Year. This season featured a lot of top contenders, including many from the championship squad of North Branch. Ultimately, defense wins championships. D2 Player Of…
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Continue ReadingDivision 2 may have been the division with the toughest choice for Player of the Year.
This season featured a lot of top contenders, including many from the championship squad of North Branch.
Ultimately, defense wins championships.
D2 Player Of The Year: Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI , North Branch Jr. Libero
North Branch had a number of players that could be candidates for this honor, but it was Green that really allowed the Broncos to utilize their tremendous depth all season.
The junior libero was one of the best players in the state collectively this season, making the toughest digs look quite easy.
That allowed the North Branch offense to stay in-system in big matches and get the ball to their array of talented hitters.
On the season, Green tallied 663 digs with 52 aces. She’s approaching 2,000 digs in her prep career with the Broncos.
In Battle Creek, Green tallied 19 digs in North Branch’s semifinal win over South Christian, then 25 digs in the final win over Cadillac.
Other finalists: Carissa Musta Carissa Musta 6'3" | MB Cadillac | 2024 State MI , Cadillac; Adrienne Greschaw Adrienne Greschaw 5'9" | S North Branch | 2024 State MI , North Branch; Grace Wenaas Grace Wenaas 6'0" | MB Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State MI , Notre Dame Prep
D2 Coach Of The Year: Jim Pender, Mt. Morris
Division 2 had a lot of the prominent coaches have another strong season, but we are giving this year’s honor to Pender.
Mt. Morris won its first regional championship this season before falling to the eventual champion, North Branch, in the quarterfinals.
The Panthers also did so with just a roster of eight players which included four sophomores.
Pender was able to find the right formula with a small team to make a deep playoff run that included a regional final win over Frankenmuth.
Not only did Mt. Morris have postseason success, but it totaled over 50 wins on the year.
Other finalists: Jim Fish, North Branch; Betty Wroubel, Notre Dame Prep; Michelle Brines, Cadillac