D3 Finals Underclassmen Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Division 3, the state champion Kalamazoo Christian proved to be an upperclassmen-led team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Comets utilized all juniors and seniors to collect the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the other three teams got contributions in Battle Creek from underclassmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still, there were some freshmen and sophomores in the mix to be excited about in the years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PrepDig is putting on the Michigan Top 250 Expo for Class of 2024-27 prospects on Dec. 9 in Pontiac.&nbsp;</em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/914/register/michigan-top-250-expo"><em>Click here</em></a><em>&nbsp;to sign up for the event. You can use promo code “EllisExpo2023” for $10 off your registration.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Traverse City St. Francis</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gladiators should be very excited about where the program is. The 2023 runner-up graduates just two players from the roster and they utilized multiple underclassmen to make a run to the final. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220968' first='Quinn' last='Yenshaw'] </strong>had been one of the offensive leaders as a sophomore. The outside hitters looked comfortable in pressure situations last weekend, as she had 15 kills, 19 digs and two aces in the final with Kalamazoo Christian. She added 16 kills, 12 digs and an ace in the semifinal win over Cass City. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226903' first='Reese' last='Jones'] </strong>is one of two setting options for St. Francis. The sophomore had 46 assists, five aces and 26 digs over the two matches at Kellogg Arena. Sophomore right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226902' first='Claire' last='Hurley'] </strong>was also a regular part of the offensive mix. She tallied 15 kills over the two matches in Battle Creek and also added in a handful of digs. In the middle, <strong>Reese Muma </strong>and <strong>Harper Nausadis</strong> were a pair of sophomore contributors. Nausadis had six kills over the two matches while Muma put down five kills in the final with Kalamazoo Christian. This shows that TCSF is going to keep getting stronger offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SMCC</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":482153,"width":"243px","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/5/2023/11/17-Madeline-Dettling-2.jpg?w=1013" alt="" class="wp-image-482153" style="width:243px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226889' first='Madeline' last='Dettling']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kestrels will return a lot for the 2024 season, as it has some high-production juniors coming back. They also have some underclassmen that were in the mix this year and be able to take a step forward next fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226889' first='Madeline' last='Dettling'] </strong>has been one of the primary hitters as a sophomore outside. The 6-footer had six kills in the semifinal with Kalamazoo Christian while adding two digs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226877' first='Olivia' last='Beaudrie'] </strong>is another sophomore contributor. She had two kills and four digs in the semifinal, but provides a lot of depth going forward. Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='456251' first='Alexa' last='Turner'] </strong>saw action in one set and came through with two digs for SMCC in the semifinal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cass City</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cass City is an interesting team, as it had just one senior on the roster this year, but is loaded with 10 juniors. However, there was one freshman in the mix as well in right side <strong>Shaylar McIntyre</strong>. She appeared in all four sets of the semifinal with St. Francis, recording one kill and five digs. Where she made a big impact was with her blocking, tallying four assisted blocks in the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->