Division 4 Player And Coach Of The Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 prep season wrapped up in mid-November and we have seen the release of All-State teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now it is time to name our prep Player and Coach of the Year for each of the four divisions. The PrepDig Michigan panel discussed and came to a collective decision on each of this year's selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we get started with Division 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>D4 Player Of The Year: Alaina Brubaker, Athens Sr. Setter</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":257405,"width":202,"height":303,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-Alaina-Brubaker-4.jpg?w=684" alt="" class="wp-image-257405" width="202" height="303" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alaina Brubaker</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brubaker led Athens to its first-ever MHSAA finals appearance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though Athens suffered a five-set loss to Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, it was still a great showing by the on-court leader. Brubaker put up 56 assists in the final while adding 19 digs and an ace. The 56 assists ranks 20^th in MHSAA history for an individual match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She added another 29 assists and 14 digs in the semifinal sweep of a talented Lansing Christian team as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the season, Brubaker tallied over 1,100 assists and 350 digs while approaching 100 aces. She had the Indians in the mix in Division 4 throughout the season and then proceeded to play her best volleyball in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athens was a very balanced offense and Brubaker was the big reason why. She had a great feel for her teammates and the offense. She was the glue that kept everyone else on the court together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other finalists: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='257627' first='Lillie' last='Laney'], MP Sacred Heart; [player_tooltip player_id='173609' first='Isabelle' last='Kirkendall'], Adrian Lenawee Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>D4 Coach Of The Year: Krista Davis, MP Sacred Heart</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":257407,"width":204,"height":320,"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/DSC_1572.jpg?w=651" alt="" class="wp-image-257407" width="204" height="320" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Krista Davis</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down two sets in the Division 4 final to Athens, Krista Davis never changed her approach with her Irish volleyball team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She smiled, she stayed positive and she embraced her players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What resulted was one of the greatest comebacks in MHSAA finals history, earning SHA its first-ever state championship in volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis is now 289-117-38 over her nine seasons with the Irish, including a 44-7-6 record in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though Sacred Heart reached the semifinals in 2021, the Irish had to work in some new pieces and lost a powerful hitter. Davis created a culture of success, but also confidence in her players that they could be the best in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other finalists: </strong>Jacy Cole, Athens; Sarah Rottman, Lansing Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->