2024 Club Preview: Rise Academy 51

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVA has worked out a partnership with The Grand Rapids Rise professional squad to bring Rise Academy to the club courts this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rise Academy 51 is off to a promising start, as they have been holding their own with a lot of strong teams from around the country. This year's squad should definitely be a contending for one of the best 15U squads in the state for 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Margaret Aldernik – Zeeland West</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490379' first='Sophia' last='Berger'] – GRCC</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490377' first='Coco' last='Bossardet'] – East Grand Rapids</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='523853' first='Camyla' last='Copelin'] – Lakewood</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490378' first='Zoey' last='Klunder'] – GR Christian</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='523855' first='Haylee' last='Kubec'] – Greenville</td></tr><tr><td>Quin Mead – FH Central</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='481385' first='Allison' last='Musial'] – Grand Haven</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='459740' first='Aubrey' last='Reynolds'] – Caledonia</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='467901' first='Mallory' last='Wandel'] – Rockford</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490380' first='Emily' last='Wolter'] – FH Eastern</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Outside depth</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rise Academy 51 has a lot of options on the pins. The roster of 11 features five players that they list as an outside or right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Included in that group is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490379' first='Sophia' last='Berger'], [player_tooltip player_id='490377' first='Coco' last='Bossardet'], [player_tooltip player_id='481385' first='Allison' last='Musial'], [player_tooltip player_id='459740' first='Aubrey' last='Reynolds'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='467901' first='Mallory' last='Wandel']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Berger comes from the GRCC program. She has a nice mix of shots and speeds at the net. Berger recognizes the court and defense really well and has advanced placement ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bossardet is a 6-foot hitter from East Grand Rapids that has the ability to wait on the ball and deliver a little extra juice at the net. Her reach allows her to delay the swing just enough to keep blockers off their timing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Musial comes from Grand Haven and she is a very explosive player that generates a lot of speed toward the net, which leads to a lot of velocity on her attacks. Musial likes to be aggressive and opponents don't have a great answer for her when she gets a full head of steam.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reynolds comes from the Caledonia program and she shows a lot of skills to be a complete player. Her serve receive and defensive play looks polished while her attacks have consistent power. Reynolds does a nice job finishing points off blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wandel comes from the Rockford program where she had a strong freshman season. The 6-footer is riding that into the club season where she looks very confident and in control everywhere on the court. Her attacks are generating a lot of power and her attack angles make it tough for defenses to dig up her shots. Wandel is providing a lot of energy with her play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Middle compliments</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the middle, Rise Academy has <strong>Margaret Aldernik </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523855' first='Haylee' last='Kubec'] </strong>handling duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aldernik is a 6-footer from Zeeland West. She's got quick reaction time to play at a high speed and get her hands on a lot of opposing shots. Aldernik has a high position on her swing that she uses to come down on the ball for a big finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kubec is a 6'1” middle from Greenville. She does a nice job of finding the openings against the blockers and putting the ball away when it comes in her direction. She doesn't need a lot of lift or time to generate a big swing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Setting and defense</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rise Academy 51 uses a pair of setters and defenders to handle the offense and defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At setter, Rise has <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523853' first='Camyla' last='Copelin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490380' first='Emily' last='Wolter']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wolter comes from Forest Hills Eastern and she's got a good feel for where to get the ball. With a lot of solid hitting options, Wolter works well with getting her hitters to different locations and keeping the blockers guessing. She's got great touch on the ball and is a solid defender to back up her hitters as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Copelin is in the same boat, as she's able to get a great feed to each pin and give the hitters a chance to shine. Copelin comes from the Lakewood program, which has produced a lot of technically sound setters and Copelin fits that bill as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Rise Academy 51 utilizes <strong>Quin Mead </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490378' first='Zoey' last='Klunder']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mead comes from the Forest Hills Central program. Klunder is from Grand Rapids Christian, a strong defensive program for the most part.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both girls have sported the libero jersey at times this season and each can certainly handle the role. Both stay light on their feet and square up to the ball well. Their first contact is typically very solid and a reason why Rise Academy is seeing success against strong programs. The team stays in-system a lot, but even when they don't both Mead and Klunder are able to put up a good, lofty feed to their hitters to given them a chance to finish points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Early Season Results</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's been some promising results for Rise Academy 51 in the early going of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first out-of-state event was The Nike Classic in Columbus in mid-January where they finished 10^th in the 15 Open with a 4-4 mark. The team found its footing later in the event, winning four of five for a stretch before dropping their final match in the Silver Bracket in three sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Zone Invitational was next up a few weeks ago, with Rise Academy 51 placing 19^th in the 15^th Open against a lot of strong club programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three victories on the weekend came in three sets, with Rise really having to push itself to come away with the final set. In their losses, three of six sets were decided by just two points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->