Preseason Poll Recap: Player Of The Year Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week we released our preseason polls for who would win Player Of The Year in the upcoming 2024 MHSAA season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The voting was very active, as we had over 125,000 between the four divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a recap of the top-four vote getters in each of the four divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Division 1</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288965' first='Lili' last='Smith'], Flushing (34.35%): </strong>A Purdue-Fort Wayne commit, this near 6-foot setter could make a major splash in the Flint Metro League and push Flushing toward a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='191749' first='Abigail' last='Wutka'], Dakota (29.82%): </strong>One of the power arms coming out of the Dakota program, Wutka will get a chance to display her hitting ability against the best in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196836' first='Amelia' last='Klos'], Anchor Bay: (6.84%): </strong>A Wayne State commit, the 6-foot outside will look to be a big problem in Macomb County before branching out to a run in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224604' first='Katerina' last='Stout'], Dakota (6.73%): </strong>Another Macomb County standout and Wayne State commit, the 6'3” middle is going to be a major difference maker at the net in the 2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Division 2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438529' first='Mckenna' last='Boykin'], Portland (19.56%): </strong>Following a club season where she raised her game, Boykin could take a major step as one of the Lansing area's top middles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227580' first='Alyssa' last='Carson'], Buchanan (15.18%): </strong>A 6'2” middle that is going to be an imposing presence at the net, Carson will have Buchanan looking to make a big splash in D2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='343669' first='Chloe' last='Aalfs'], Buchanan (12.4%): </strong>Aalfs broke out during the 2023 prep season and has picked up steam since. She could be a dominant outside for Buchanan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226895' first='Jillian' last='Ferrill'], Lake Fenton (11.2%): </strong>A do-everything player, the 6'1” Ferrill is very valuable to her team. She can play multiple positions and take over a match. She's definitely on the radar for D2's top player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Division 3</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222646' first='Kyden' last='Ehle'], Ovid-Elsie (31.72%): </strong>The Ehle family was busy putting out the votes, but the elder of the two took the top honor. This 5'10” setter that is committed to Covenant could take O-E to new heights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222698' first='Ashton' last='Ehle'], Ovid-Elsie (25.27%): </strong>A 2026 outside, [player_tooltip player_id='222698' first='Ashton' last='Ehle'] showed a lot of promise last fall and could prove to be one of the top hitters in the Lansing area this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'], SMCC (23.62%): </strong>One of the most-polished players in all of Division 3, Costlow is a Toledo commit and heavily motivated to lead the Kestrels to the top prize in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226897' first='Charlotte' last='Gramzow'], Lutheran Northwest (7.74%): </strong>Gramzow has quickly climbed the 2026 rankings and is already committed to Northern Illinois. One of the best defenders in the state, Gramzow may take over this fall in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Division 4</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288958' first='Madelyn' last='Krappmann'], Everest Collegiate (53.03%): </strong>The defending champs had their fanbase busy last week voting. Krappmann got the top honors. The Hillsdale commit and one of the outsides in the 1-2 power punch for CEC, Krappmann can make tough offensive and defensive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='551470' first='Jadyn' last='Samson'], Mendon (16.41%): </strong>One of the top defenders in Division 4, Samson is motivated to push the Mendon program back to the top of the state. She's going to make things tough for the hitters in the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erica Walker, Everest Collegiate (12.03%): </strong>Walker was an incredible story, having never set in her life, then being the starting setter for the D4 champs. That included a D4 finals record of 57 assists in the final. How good will she be with an offseason of training?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley'], Everest Collediate (4.12%): </strong>Bradley (Calvin College) was Player of the Year in 2023 after an eye-popping performance in Battle Creek. She's got power and she's got intensity. A perfect combo for pressure situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->