2023 MHSAA Division III All-Tournament Dream Team

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">Join us at the&nbsp;Prep Dig Top 250 Expo</a>!&nbsp;</em><em>Use code LShotVBExpo2023 for 10% off your registration fee.</em>&nbsp;(APPLICABLE TO ALL EXPOS)</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday marked the end of the 2023 season and man, did it go out with a BANG!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Division III, it was a weekend full of surprises and turbulence on the volleyball court. After toppling over last year's title winners in the Elite 8, Kalamazoo Christian just kept on keeping on. They'd sweep the no. 1 team in the state SMCC, before dismantling Traverse City St. Francis in the finals. For the third year in a row, we found ourselves crowning a first-ever champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the way for the Comets was one of the top rated outside hitters in the divison, [player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries']. In her second year leading the squad, she would not be stopped in winning the 'ship in her final game of her prep career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All-Tournament Dream Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>OH</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries']</td><td><strong>OH</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='226837' first='Garnet' last='Mullet']</td></tr><tr><td><strong>MB</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash']</td><td><strong>MB</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='261123' first='Analiese' last='Flint']</td></tr><tr><td><strong>OPP</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='446690' first='Anneliese' last='De Jong']</td><td><strong>S</strong> <strong>Lola Stecker</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>L</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance']</td><td><strong>MVP</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":480512,"width":"235px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/State-Finals-Part-3-22.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-480512" style="width:235px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='446690' first='Anneliese' last='De Jong']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pin Attackers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were plenty of top notch pin blockers on tap for this one. In the championship game alone, it was a slugfest from pin to pin back and forth across the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's overall MVP in Division III went to Kalamazoo Christian's [player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries']. The 6 rotation outside was a dynamo throughout theis weekend's matches. With a pair of double-double performances, DeVries offense was timely and consistent. But it was her defense that really shined the way to the end. With over 50 digs on the weekend to go along with her 30 kills, DeVries proved herself as one of the most well-rounded players in the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside DeVries, on the right side, was [player_tooltip player_id='446690' first='Anneliese' last='De Jong']. Arguably one of the biggest driving forces from the Final Four match against SMCC, De Jong had her hand in nearly every play. As an attacker, she hit well above .500 throughout the majority of the match. From the service line, she was dynamite with 5 aces in the sweep. De Jong would follow this up with another double-digit kill outing in the finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the net during the 'Ship, Sr. [player_tooltip player_id='226837' first='Garnet' last='Mullet']t was putting it all out on the line for the title. In the opening rounds versus Cass City, it was Mullett's efficiency and versatile play that lifted the Gladiators to the title match. Similarly in the title game, the six rotation outside was giving her all at the net and in the back court as well. On the weekend, Mullett finished with 31 kills and 37 digs throughout 8 sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":479494,"width":"191px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D3-Semifinal-2-13.jpg?w=818" alt="" class="wp-image-479494" style="width:191px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Blockers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time and time again, nobody shows up on the biggest stage better than [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash']. You would be hard-pressed to find a middle that is this dominant and can become so in control of the game. Ignash didn't come to play. In the four set match, the six rotation middle put up 17 kills and 8 blocks. While leading all scorers, it was the blocking number that stood out most. Had this game been in the championship, Ignash's 8 blocks would've placed her Top 3 All-Time for Most Blocks in a Championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For SMCC, it was rather difficult to find any sort of rhythm on their side of the net. But when they did and could find this player, they were in pretty good hands. [player_tooltip player_id='261123' first='Analiese' last='Flint'], in her final match as a Kestrel, was doing a lot with her limited opportunities. Hitting over .500 on 8 swings, Flint had a herself a respectable final outing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Setters and the 'Bros</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Behind every championship team, stands a top notch setter. For Kalamazoo Christian,<strong> Lola Stecker </strong>fits the bill perfectly. In the the two wins, Stecker was averaging nearly 10 assists per set and had the Comets operating around a .230 hit percentage. Along with her steady hand running the offense, Stecker proved to be a key defensive piece too, putting up 11 digs in the finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> There was some pretty high level libero's in this Final Four. Nobody shined quite as bright as [player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance'] however. Not only from a defensive stand point, but from a reception and overall composure stand point, Nance was crucial every step of the way. This 'bro was averaging 5.5 digs per set throughout the weekend. To add on to that, Nance put up nearly an assist and an ace per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->