Top Vote Getters For D3 Player Of The Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 prep season is right around the corner, with events less than a month away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week we opened up our preseason Player of the Year polls to the public to vote on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/07/vote-for-the-d3-player-of-the-year-in-2023/"><strong>Division 3</strong></a> had a lot of high caliber prospects to vote for, and over 60,000 votes were cast over a 7-day stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's the five that received the most votes in this year's D3 POY poll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'], SMCC OH (41.72%)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Costlow is certainly a worthy Player of the Year candidate. The third-year junior varsity starter has been a big contributor to the Kestrels since she was a freshman. She has helped lead SMCC to being one of the top teams in D3 the last two years and will certainly be motivated to lead them back toward a state championship in 2023. As a First Team All-State player in 2022, Costlow has added new dimensions to her game. Starting as a primary middle as a freshman, Costlow is now a six-rotation outside that has great defensive ability to go with an offensive game that features a wide variety of shot speeds and shot angles. It's easy to see why Costlow won this poll and received over 25,000 votes. She's a big reason SMCC is among the <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/07/the-five-top-contenders-in-d3-for-2023/">favorites to win the D3 title</a> this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222646' first='Kyden' last='Ehle'], Oscoda S (24.50%)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ehle is a junior setter that plays a very smooth, but deceptive game for the Owls. At 5'11”, Ehle is able to use her mix of size and athleticism to run a fast-paced offense while doing a good job of disguising when she will make an aggressive dump to finish off a point. She's shown the ability to make all the feeds you need in a high-level setter, while also having the leadership skills to earn the trust of her coach and teammates. Oscoda is certainly a team you have to keep an eye on in 2023, with Ehle being the catalyst to their success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Grace Chisek, Watervliet S (14.22%)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team that was able to get to 40 wins in 2022, Chisek is the one running the offense. The senior setter has complete control on the court and was able to run an offense that had opposing D3 defenses guessing all season. Chisek is an aggressive player that shows a lot of good instincts and will be relentless at the net for 50-50 balls. She's a consistent presence defensively and from the service line, while always trying to sharpen her setting skills. As a senior, expect a lot of smooth play from Chisek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172203' first='Taylor' last='Smith'], Pewamo-Westphalia S (6.91%)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 Player of the Year in Division 3 makes our top-5 vote getters list. Smith, an Eastern Michigan commit, is a 6'1” setter that led the Pirates to the state championship list fall. It's clear to see why she is a Division 1 college talent, as she's got the length and athleticism that many schools are striving for at the setter position. Smith can play a very up-tempo style and stay ahead of the blockers, but she's also able to dial up a fastball swing of her own and keep defenses dumbfounded. Smith plays with a lot of confidence and control. Given her performance record, there's no reason to doubt her abilities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242644' first='Natalie' last='Hart'], Watervliet OH (4.40%)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior outside for Watervliet can also shift to setter when needed, making her a dynamic threat when paired alongside Chisek. The left-handed Hart has a technically sound swing that can really dial up velocity when she gets a good set. She also has shown the ability to transition quickly from serve receive to attack, making her a complete player for the Panthers. As she enters her senior season, look for Hart to unleash everything she has to push her squad toward a run to Battle Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->