2024 Club Preview: Legacy 18-1/18-2 Adidas

<!-- 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">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like that, club season is upon us!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After another incredible high school season, this club season is proving to be another big one for Michigan-based club teams. In 2023, we saw national champions be crowned as well as many top finishes from all ages from these prestigious clubs. It's time to look to the future and see what these clubs have in store for us in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving on the list of top 18s teams in Michigan, we have to take a look at what Legacy has cooking up for the 2024 season. Looking at both 18-1 and 18-2 Adidas, these are teams you have to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">18-1 Adidas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='153672' first='Audrey' last='Geer'] - Frankenmuth</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110299' first='Kiley' last='Gallagher'] - Clarkston</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='176600' first='Kate' last='Maley'] - Ann Arbor Skyline</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Lucy' last='Mott'] - St. Ursula</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='239230' first='Olivia' last='Batch'] - St. Ursula</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110315' first='Avry' last='Nelson'] - Northville</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='153677' first='Taya' last='Nordmann'] - DeWitt</td><td><strong>Lillian Frias</strong> - Genoa</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110300' first='Ashlee' last='Gnau'] - Northville</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='500643' first='Mia' last='Cibor'] - Orchard Lake St. Mary's</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110286' first='Angie' last='Butler'] - Mercy</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HC: <strong>Bryan Lindstrom</strong>; AC: <strong>Sydney Mann</strong></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This has been a team that has typically been amongst the top of the group in this 2024 class. Last year saw them without two of their top players due to injury, but managing to find themselves with a top ten finish at AAU Nationals. This year, they'll be without both [player_tooltip player_id='110288' first='Cayla' last='Cogan'] (George Washington) and [player_tooltip player_id='110282' first='Mallory' last='Bohl'] (Notre Dame) due to early enrollment at their respective colleges. This team has a slightly different look than even last year's squad, too. Let's take a look.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Power on the Pins</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite losing one of their top pins, Legacy brings back a real deep bench of heavy hitters on the pins. Two of the top pins in this class, [player_tooltip player_id='153672' first='Audrey' last='Geer'] (Marshall) and [player_tooltip player_id='176600' first='Kate' last='Maley'] (Loyola-Chicago) return for one last go-around. Geer is coming off a program best season with Frankenmuth, leading the Eagles all the way to the Elite 8 in D2. She's the go-to six rotation player with a wicked arm and a defensive eye that can rival most liberos. Maley, on the other hand, is somewhat of a hitting utility. With the ability to crank it out of any position on the court, her bread and butter seems to be on the right side. She's an evolving player that could really do wonders for Loyola in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joining this crew of pins, we have both [player_tooltip player_id='239230' first='Olivia' last='Batch'] (Wheeling) and [player_tooltip player_id='110286' first='Angie' last='Butler'] (Hope). These two are both club transfers by way of Toledo VBC and Michigan Elite. Batch is a highly respected recruit in the Ohio scene, leading St. Ursula to a deep post-season run this past fall. As for Butler, she was too a main staple for her team. A team that on to win it all in Division I for Michigan, Butler was one of the top performers in that match. However, I am unsure how much of Butler we'll be able to see this club season due to some serious knee issues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Territory</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the middle, we see the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='110315' first='Avry' last='Nelson'] (Eckerd) and [player_tooltip player_id='153677' first='Taya' last='Nordmann'] (SIEU) return for one last go around. These two proved to be quite the combination last season for Legacy. With both middle blockers standing at 6'3, it was a constant force at the net with their blocking. Both are ever-improving attackers as well. Both Nelson and Nordmann really came into their own this past high school season for their respective teams as the go-to arms. Nelson hit .351 with 332 kills for Northville while Nordmann hit .332 with 390 kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creating a fun trio of middles in this group, 18-1 brings up 17-2's shining star from last year, <strong>Lillian Frias</strong> (Oakland). While a bit shorter than her counterparts, standing at 6'0, Frias is a speedy dynamo along the net. She's not only quick working laterally on the block, but she a fast arm onto the ball on offense as well. Her game is a bit different than both Nelson and Nordmann but should bring some fun nuance to the team's dynamic against opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Deadly Defense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has had one of the deadliest 1-2 punches in the back court than any other team in the state. With both [player_tooltip player_id='110299' first='Kiley' last='Gallagher'] (Oakland) and [player_tooltip player_id='110300' first='Ashlee' last='Gnau'] (Syracuse) in the back court, not much can fall. The two really compliment each other so well and it is what keeps this team in rhythm. Both 'bros are coming off huge high school seasons that saw both lead their teams to a Division I Final Four appearance. Gallagher was named to the All-State Third team as the libero for Clarkston with 414 digs. Meanwhile Gnau popped up over 390 digs in a primarily DS role for Northville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Setting the Pace</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And putting a bow onto this year's 18-1 Adidas roster, we have a pair of setters for Legacy. Returning to the crew, we have [player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Lucy' last='Mott'] (Boston College), and joining her, [player_tooltip player_id='500643' first='Mia' last='Cibor']. Mott has been the play runner for this team for the entirety of her club career. A very decorated one at that, Mott was alongside Batch with the St. Ursula team that saw themselves amongst the top teams in Ohio. For Cibor, she's an emerging talent out of the Orchard Lakes program. While a bit undersized at 5'6, Cibor offers up a really unique potential as not only a back-up setter, but a third DS, when needed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">18-2 Adidas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110309' first='Emery' last='Kuebler'] - Clarkston</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='473952' first='Adrianna' last='Kline'] - Grass Lake</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='274530' first='Riley' last='Lockhart'] - Detroit Country Day</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='274527' first='Rachel' last='Youngblood'] - Anchor Bay</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='153682' first='Kendall' last='Smith'] - Notre Dame Prep</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110329' first='Hannah' last='Tymitz'] - Romeo</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='473948' first='Sarah' last='Curtis'] - L'Anse Creuse North</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='473946' first='Natalie' last='Neubecker'] - Gabriel Richard</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='222363' first='Kaitlyn' last='Marsh'] - Henry Ford II</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='473945' first='Alise' last='Evans'] - Oak Park</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HC: <strong>Derek Ledwidge</strong>; AC: <strong>Kim Lockhart</strong></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another really strong group from this Legacy 18s class. Last year, this was one of the top 2s teams in the country. With multiple top ten finishes that included one at the AAU Nationals in June, this could be another top finishing season for the group. With nearly an entire roster of returners, they only build off the foundation that was laid last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Power on the Pins</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the pins, [player_tooltip player_id='274527' first='Rachel' last='Youngblood'] (Davenport), [player_tooltip player_id='110329' first='Hannah' last='Tymitz'] (Newman) and [player_tooltip player_id='473946' first='Natalie' last='Neubecker'] are all key returners from last years squad. Youngblood is coming off of an explosive fall with Anchor Bay as their leading scorer. Both Tymitz and Neubecker were both intrumental pieces in their respective schools' success as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the pins, Legacy brings on a new gun to the club from Grass Lake/L2, [player_tooltip player_id='473952' first='Adrianna' last='Kline'] (Saginaw Valley). Kline is a 6'1 lefty with a lot of upside given her fairly young club career. She'll make for a great piece to this puzzle as Tymitz will mix up time from the right pin and middle as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Territory</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the middle, Legacy returns [player_tooltip player_id='222363' first='Kaitlyn' last='Marsh'] (Davenport) and calls up [player_tooltip player_id='473945' first='Alise' last='Evans'] from last year's 17-1's team to hone in on the middle. Marsh was another one of those key pieces from last year's highly respected team. A quick player along the net, she'll be looked upon to pick up the baggage in her last go-around. As for Evans, this is another very athletic kid that could be an X Factor for this team. She spent a lot of time within the mix with last year 17-1s team on both the right pin and the middle. She's a strong blocker with a lot of promise offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Deadly Defense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amongst the returners, 18-2 Adidas returns their entire defensive trio from a season ago. This trio includes the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='274530' first='Riley' last='Lockhart'] (Lincoln Memorial), [player_tooltip player_id='473948' first='Sarah' last='Curtis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='153682' first='Kendall' last='Smith'] (West Liberty). The three proved to be an impenetrable tandem last club season with each of them getting some significant time in the jersey at one point or another. This season could look very similar with the three splitting jersey time and complimenting each other in their DS roles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Setting the Pace</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last, but not least, we have [player_tooltip player_id='110309' first='Emery' last='Kuebler'] (Frostburg State). Arguably one of the most crucial positions on the court, Kuebler proved just how valuable she was in 2023. Not only with 17-2s, but Kuebler proved to be a player on the floor that you just can't take out with Clarkston as well. While, a bit undersized to some standards, her mighty play speaks for itself. She'll be looked upon as the role operator of this groups offense, which has some heavy promises after a successful club season last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->