Seven Standouts From 2024 Season Opener

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 MHSAA season got kicked off on Wednesday and there were some great performances around the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at seven players that put down some good film on the opening day of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490335' first='Makayla' last='Bruman'], Jr. S Imlay City</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":585463,"width":"188px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/70-Makayla-Bruman.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-585463" style="width:188px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490335' first='Makayla' last='Bruman']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Imlay City is looking like it is going to be a handful in Division 2 this year. The team has a lot of capable hitting options, but tying them all together is Bruman. She looked sharp in her season debut in a quad at Bloomfield Hills that included wins over the host and Troy Athens. Bruman hit both pins well and mixed up with some good swings out of the middles. She also wasn't afraid to be aggressive herself at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='449093' first='Skyye' last='Frailey'], Jr. OH Troy Athens</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frailey took on a lead offensive role as a sophomore and she looks very comfortable to start her junior year in the same role. Frailey gives Athens some length on the outside and she's showing she can put a good swing on any ball. Frailey's got a quick finish to her swing that puts consistent power on the ball. She had over 20 kills in a quad on Wednesday, including a nice 12-kill performance against Bloomfield Hills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226900' first='Liv' last='Hosford'], Jr. OH Rockford</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hosford has been piling up kills since she was a freshman and she put up over 30 on Wednesday against solid Grand Rapids-area opponents. Rockford is doing a great job of having her attack from all over the floor, leaving opponents guessing on where the ball is coming from. Hosford's back-row attacks are as powerful as they come as well. Her kill count is off to a fast start in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224599' first='Avery' last='Powers'], Sr. OH/MH Coopersville</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coopersville has had plenty of dominant middles over the years and Powers shows the potential to be just as great. The 6-footer was looking good on Wednesday as she was finishing points from the pins and the middle, mixing in some great slide attacks as well. Her footwork and agility make her a lethal finisher wherever she gets the ball. Good things should be coming from Powers in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454366' first='Jordyn' last='Jones'], So. OH Richmond</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As just a sophomore, Jones looks really composed and calm on the floor. She plays like an upper classman, both in leadership and in performance. Her explosiveness off the floor allows her to play a variety of attack angles and mix up her speeds well. On Wednesday, she was able to play across blockers well and provided a lot of momentum-building kills. Jones looks like she will be one to watch in D2 this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'], So. OH FH Northern</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Huskies lost their big 1-2 punch from their D1 runner-up squad, but Loehfelm looks ready to step up and take on a leadership role in the offense. She got thrown into the fire on Wednesday against some top teams out west and she held her own well. The 6-footer is able to hang in the air and pause time before utilizing her long and fast swing. She attacked aggressive lines and put the ball away with authority on a consistent basis. The scary thing for the rest of the state is she's still got a high ceiling to reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288960' first='Reese' last='Lowe'], Sr. OH Byron Center</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byron Center has a lot of promise for the 2024 season. Already with one of the top defenders, the team looks like it has some capable firepower to back it up, led by Lowe. The senior looked sharp against some solid competition on the west side of the state on Wednesday. She was placing the ball well and got into some nice hot streaks throughout a quad. Her approach to the net is consistent and looks like clockwork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->