Rule of Thumb: Top Liberos in 2022

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 2023 on the horizon, and 2022 nearing a close, it's time to take a look at some of the best this past year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting off in the Thumb of the Mitten state. Producing two teams to make it all the way to Kellogg and the second straight year having a team return as state champions is impressive. And there's a lot more where that came from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breaking down some of the best of the best from the Thumb area. Here were some of the top liberos in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green'] - 5'1 L - North Branch/Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She was the poster child of the Thumb Volleyball scene and beyond, racking up virtually every Player of the Year nod she could. It was the year of [player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green']. Long noted as one of the best defensive players in the state, her luxury in talent paid off with a state title this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>[player_tooltip player_id='226941' first='Jaidyn' last='Vanochten'] - 5'3 L - Reese</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top freshman in the area to step onto the scene. With huge shoes to fill from the season prior that saw then libero <strong>Josie Johnson</strong> lead Reese to a state title in Division 3, [player_tooltip player_id='226941' first='Jaidyn' last='Vanochten'] filled them quite well. Alongside her older sister, [player_tooltip player_id='172190' first='Jerzie' last='Vanochten'], the two were an impressive duo. Jaidyn ended the season with a 46 dig performance against long-time District Rival, Valley Lutheran.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong>Hannah Rapson</strong> - 5'1 L - Bad Axe</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year this 'bro saw a majority of her time as a part time DS. Going into this senior year, <strong>Hannah Rapson</strong> had evolved into one of the best defenders in the area. Scrappy and relentless in her play, Rapson makes up for her small stature with explosive reactions and big ups. Rapson was instrumental in ending the Hatchet's 10 year drought, earning a share of the Greater Thumb West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Karlee Guza - 5'6 L - Harbor Beach</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since her sophomore year, Karlee Guza has cemented herself as top dog in the Greater Thumb East with her incredible defensive abilities. Keeping Harbor Beach in constant conversation. Guza's play kept the Pirates as a fixture in the Top 3 of the GTE. For her second consecutive season, Guza managed to put up over 600 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->