6 Defensive Duos to Watch in the 2023 MHSAA Tournament

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With the conclusion of some last minute tune up tournaments this Saturday, it is officially post season!

October 30th marks the day we’ve been all waiting for since the start of the season in August. The Road to Kellogg Begins NOW!

Let’s take a look at some of the best defensive dandies in Michigan. They’re the duos keeping the hopes alive in the back court.

Gianna Bender Gianna Bender 5'6" | DS/L Hudsonville | 2024 State MI and Hayley Carr Hayley Carr 5'4" | DS/L Hudsonville | 2024 State MI – Hudsonville

This team may have one of the best defensive lines in all of Michigan volleyball. It is to no wonder why Hudsonville is ranked the No. 1 team in Division I volleyball going into the post-season. Led by the Miss Volleyball candidate, Gianna Bender Gianna Bender 5'6" | DS/L Hudsonville | 2024 State MI (San Diego State) in her second year in the jersey, this player has been a dynamic defender her whole career as an eagle. With nearly 600 digs on the season, Bender has amassed over 1800 career digs. Alongside Bender, Hayley Carr Hayley Carr 5'4" | DS/L Hudsonville | 2024 State MI (Davenport) adds a really nice sense of depth and support in the back row. Carr is a 2-year starter on this squad and has done really solid work. With nearly 300 digs in her final season, Carr is quickly approaching 600 in her career.

Greta McKee Greta McKee 5'5" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI and Ashlee Gnau Ashlee Gnau 5'8" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI – Northville

It’s hard to say on any given day which one of these players is going to don the off-colored jersey or not. Talk about every coaches’ dream problem! Northville has been having to ride off of the grit that their back court provides all season long. Greta McKee Greta McKee 5'5" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI (Wright State) and Ashlee Gnau Ashlee Gnau 5'8" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI (Syracuse) are huge reasons for the Mustangs No. 2 ranking going into Districts week. The duo is an undeniable presence on the court. Whichever one is in the jersey, it doesn’t matter. It’s neck and neck between the two defensively, both averaging 3.0 digs per set! Funny enough, the duo is also even split on attempted receptions with 311 each!

Ashley Ruhlig and Olivia Beaudrie Olivia Beaudrie 5'7" | OH SMCC | 2026 State MI – SMCC

Talk about some major depth in the pass and defense sector! While SMCC may be equipped with one of the top liberos in Michigan right now, McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #107 Nation MI (Utah), the Kestrels had to tout Payne for other duties on the team. Needless to say however, the defenders behind her aren’t too shabby themselves! Ashley Ruhlig has stepped into the jersey and has ran off with the position. She’s a solid defender with great moves in reception. Opposing Ruhlig. So. Olivia Beaudrie Olivia Beaudrie 5'7" | OH SMCC | 2026 State MI has wasted little time getting acclimated to the big lights of this top five ranked team. After a shoulder injury had Beaudrie sidelined during the winter of her freshman year, Beaudrie has shown a lot of resiliency and provides a lot of defensive depth for the Kestrels.

Brooke Moore and Lynsey Biller – Morley Stanwood

Morley Stanwood may be the dark horse of the Division III race. Why may that be? Look no further than this duo of defensive dandies in the back court! Brooke Moore at Libero and Lynsey Biller at DS are absolute dynamite! With the two combining for nearly 720 digs, there is not much that falls on the Mohawks’ side of the net. This crew will have their hands full on their way to the promise land of Kellogg Arena with some of the best hitters the division has to offer. If Moore and Biller can continue their stout defense and relentless pursuit, no hitter will to be too big to overcome.

Kiley Gallagher Kiley Gallagher 5'5" | DS/L Clarkston | 2024 State MI and Addison Newblatt Addison Newblatt 5'9" | OH Clarkston | 2025 State MI – Clarkston

This may very well be the year the Clarkston Wolves make the breakthrough. Two big reasons for this is the defensive play of both L Kiley Gallagher Kiley Gallagher 5'5" | DS/L Clarkston | 2024 State MI (Oakland) and Addison Newblatt Addison Newblatt 5'9" | OH Clarkston | 2025 State MI (Fordham). With Gallagher holding down the reigns once again at the libero’s position, she seemingly continues to get better with time. With over 320 digs on the season, Gallagher is posting over 4 digs every set. Alongside Gallagher, Newblatt has not only found herself in an increased role defensively this season, but playing six rotations too! No, not a second libero, but she might as well be. Newblatt has given Clarkston all the answers when it comes to constant side out options. Gallagher and Newblatt create an impenetrable reception line, but then Newblatt can follow it up with a booming swing on the left pin.

Taygan Corstange Taygan Corstange 5'4" | DS/L Gull Lake | 2025 State MI and Josie Trim – Gull Lake

Gull Lake found themselves within the mix deep into last post-season due to some serious scrappy defensive. They return the major pieces to that incredible defense, could they pull it off again? As I mentioned, Taygan Corstange Taygan Corstange 5'4" | DS/L Gull Lake | 2025 State MI was a revelation for this team last year with her tenacious ways in the libero jersey. She’s only gotten better. Corstange is averaging nearly a half dig per set more than a season ago, marking her second straight season with over 500 digs in a season. Backing her up, Josie Trim has monumental in Gull Lake’s beefed up defense in 2023. Trim, too, has picked up the pace with her numbers and it has payed off quite nicely.