Dead Frog 16 National Black 2024 Club Overview
Dead Frog is working on putting together a solid club contender in the state of Michigan. With Southwest Michigan not lacking in talent, here’s a look at what this year’s Dead Frog 16 National Black team is bringing to the…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingDead Frog is working on putting together a solid club contender in the state of Michigan.
With Southwest Michigan not lacking in talent, here’s a look at what this year’s Dead Frog 16 National Black team is bringing to the floor in 2024.
Roster
Jadyn Samson Jadyn Samson 5'4" | DS/L Mendon | 2026 State MI – Mendon | Breslyn Zache – Paw Paw | Isabella Crossley – Gull Lake |
Ruthie Howes – Gull Lake | Jordyn Erdody – Plainwell | Izabella Beilby – Vicksburg |
Ellory Estes – Gull Lake | Mykayla Hough – Paw Paw | Anna Overway Anna Overway 5'11" | OH Plainwell | 2027 MI – Plainwell |
Abby Baushke – Decatur |
Defensive depth
Dead Frog has a lot of defensive assets to utilize on this team.
Along with some energetic blockers, they also have a steady stable of passers.
Jadyn Samson Jadyn Samson 5'4" | DS/L Mendon | 2026 State MI is a dig machine at libero. The Mendon product has established herself as one of the best in Division 4 and is building on that this club season. She’s very confident on the court and can bring a lot to the floor outside of just making digs. She’s good on out-of-system plays and her serving is top-level.
Jordyn Erdody comes from the Plainwell program. She’s been a consistent and reliable part of the defense. Erdody covers her space well and is a good communicator. She’s able to make quick reactions and still get a clean pass.
Mykayla Hough comes from the Paw Paw program and she’s one that leaves it all on the floor. She’s got a real competitive fire and is willing to throw her body everywhere to make a play. She’s also been steadily racking up aces for Dead Frog.
Setter/hitter combo
Dead Frog has a pair of setter/hitter combo options in Breslyn Zache and Abby Baushke.
Baushke comes from Decatur and she puts some consistent pop on the ball on the right side. As a setter she’s able to hit good locations. As a hitter, she has a good feel for where the ball needs to go and how to still get an effective swing no matter where the ball is coming from. Her consistency has been a big asset.
Zache is also from the Paw Paw program. She brings a lot of athleticism to the floor. She’s got a lot of hang time and explosiveness off the floor, which allows her to make some challenging sets, but also to deliver some highlight-reel kills. Her swing has a very natural, but fast, look to it.
Hitters along the net
To go with the combo setters and strong defense, Dead Frog has a lot of active hitters to work with.
On the outside they have Anna Overway Anna Overway 5'11" | OH Plainwell | 2027 MI , Ellory Estes and Izabella Beilby.
Overway is from the Plainwell program. At nearly 6-feet, Overway gives the team some length to work with on the outside. She’s got a good wind up with consistent delivery. Overway competes at the net, which is important in a young hitter.
Estes comes from Gull Lake. She’s been able to rack up some good kill totals this club season as she knows her swing well. Estes plays off the blockers consistently for points and she’s got her swing pattern at a steady place.
Beilby comes from the Vicksburg program. She’s got a lot of athleticism to use around the court and also has been a big part of the defensive effort. Offensively, she can cover a lot of space at the net and has the arm speed to power through blockers.
In the middle, Dead Frog has Isabella Crossley and Ruthie Howes, both of whom come from Gull Lake.
Crossley’s been one of the active blockers up front for the team this season. Offensively, Crossley is very agile and can adapt to the ball well. She’s got a lot of lift off the floor, so she can wait on the ball and still produce good power.
Howes has been able to finish from the middle and the outside this season. She’s got a sharp angle on her attacks and times things up well to get the most out of each swing. Howes has also been able to be a consistent blocker.
Early results
Dead Frog has had some good results early in the 2024 club season. They were third in the 16 Club Divisions of The Nike Classic and also came in ninth for the 16 Club White Division of the Central Zone Invitational.
This team doesn’t have the size of a lot of top teams, but their passing and serving is very strong and can help guide them to some tough victories.
They will be a technically sound team that will be able to extend rallies to give themselves opportunities to win hard-fought matches.