2024 Club Preview: Rise Academy 81

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things are changing up a little bit in the 2024 club season for MVA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Grand Rapids-based club has now partnered with the newly-formed Grand Rapids Rise professional women's team to create Rise Academy for its top teams in each age group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's get a closer look at its veteran squad that makes up Rise Academy 81</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rise Academy 81</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110279' first='Gianna' last='Bender'] - Hudsonville</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110322' first='Taylor' last='Smaka'] - Grand Haven</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110290' first='Hope' last='Davies'] - Forest Hills Eastern</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110333' first='Izzy' last='Whittaker'] - Grand Haven</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='523653' first='Tianna' last='Stygstra'] - Holland Christian</td><td>Josie Potter - Holland Christian</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='523651' first='Reese' last='Steenwyk'] - Holland Christian</td><td>Carly Hersberger - Rockford</td><td>Magaly Lemus - West Ottawa</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='451187' first='Grace' last='Riedel'] - Forest Hills Northern</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='732260' first='Vanessa' last='Walker'] - Grand Rapids Northview</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Experienced defense</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":450373,"width":"211px","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/5/2023/08/DSC_5744.jpg?w=764" alt="" class="wp-image-450373" style="width:211px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110322' first='Taylor' last='Smaka']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Rise Academy 81 roster is comprised of four 2024 players and seven from the class of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three of the four that will be graduating this year as specialists defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That will certainly be the strength of this group, as they have three liberos that all will be playing at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110279' first='Gianna' last='Bender'] </strong>(San Diego State), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110322' first='Taylor' last='Smaka'] </strong>(Northern Michigan) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110290' first='Hope' last='Davies'] </strong>(Ferris State) will certainly be one of the best collections of defensive talent in the state, if not the region. All three can play at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their play will allow for them to compete with a lot of strong hitting squads as Rise Academy pieces together its hitting for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Whittaker leads hitters</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final senior in this group is powerful Grand Haven outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110333' first='Izzy' last='Whittaker'] </strong>(Jacksonville State), who has displayed a lot of improved all-around play over the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whittaker gives the team some good length and athleticism to build their offense with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She will be joined on the outside by a trip of Holland Christian hitters in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523653' first='Tianna' last='Stygstra']</strong>, <strong>Josie Potter </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523651' first='Reese' last='Steenwyk']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All aided the Maroons to a solid 2023 prep season and bring some added dimensions, whether it be the 6'2” size of Steenwyk, or the defensive play of Stygstra and Potter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group has a nice balance of size and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the middle, Rise Academy 81 has <strong>Carly Hersberger </strong>of Rockford and <strong>Magaly Lemus</strong> of West Ottawa. Hersberger had her prep season cut very short, but she was hitting .452 in her limited time, which is very promising.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lemus is a two-sport standout star, as she's also an impressive center in basketball. It's helped her develop smooth footwork and good blocking instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Veteran setters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rise will put the offense and decision-making in the hands of setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='451187' first='Grace' last='Riedel']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='732260' first='Vanessa' last='Walker']</strong> this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riedel is a setter for the FH Northern program that reached the D1 state final this fall. Riedel was used more for her defensive and serving play during the fall, but she's eager to get back to setting during the club season with these impressive hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker comes from the Grand Rapids Northview program. She's got the ability to play on the right side as well, which gives her the ability to read defenses well and anticipate the play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->