2023 D4 Player And Coach Of the Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The battle for D4 Player of the Year was a close one. There were some very worthy candidates atop the discussion, but only one could emerge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's our selection for the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in Division 4 for the 2023 prep season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D4 Player Of The Year – [player_tooltip player_id='473915' first='Hannah' last='Baker'], Adrian Lenawee Christian</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":490792,"width":"188px","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/5/2023/12/D4-Semifinal-1-26.jpg?w=776" alt="" class="wp-image-490792" style="width:188px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='473915' first='Hannah' last='Baker']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lenawee Christian has been a program knocking on the door of a D4 title in recent years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2023, the Cougars got back to Kellogg Arena after being among the top-ranked teams in the division all year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big reason for the success of Lenawee Christian was the play of senior hitter [player_tooltip player_id='473915' first='Hannah' last='Baker'], who could finish from the outside or the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the year, Baker tallied 489 kills, 388 digs, 60 blocks and 38 aces. Not to mention she hit .480 on the season as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'11” Baker proved to be a difference-maker in all phases of the game and she held her own in a very competitive schedule that Lenawee Christian played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Because of that, Baker has been selected as our D4 Player of the Year in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley'], Clarkston Everest Collegiate; [player_tooltip player_id='254395' first='Fiona' last='Moord'], Leland; [player_tooltip player_id='462081' first='Jadyn' last='Samson'], Mendon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>D4 Coach Of The Year – Laurie Glass, Leland</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":480019,"width":"240px","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/D4-Semi-2-17.jpg?w=937" alt="" class="wp-image-480019" style="width:240px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Laurie Glass</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The great coaching career of Laurie Glass came to an end in 2023 after 29 seasons leading the Leland program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glass made sure her final season was one to remember and earned our Coach of the Year honor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Working with a roster of just seven players, Glass found a way to guide the Comets to a 41-17-2 record and a spot in the D4 final. While Leland came up short in a five-set final, it certainly was a memorable performance that Glass can be proud of her kids for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glass finishes her career with 1,124 victories with Leland and 1,259 altogether with stints at Kalamazoo Central and Traverse City Central. That ranks seventh in the MHSAA record book for coaching victories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glass was one of the most well-respected coaches in the state, as was seen by the support she had from her peers during finals weekend. She certainly got the most out of her talent year-after-year and treated her fellow coaches, players and peers with the utmost respect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enjoy retirement Laurie, you've definitely earned it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>Katherine Huffman, Hillsdale Academy; Tenille Marowelli, Lenawee Christian; Danielle Walker, Everest Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->