MHSAA Finals' Most Outstanding Players (D1-4)

<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</h5>   <h5 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">The 2024 Expo Season is here</a>! Sign up for this year's Top 250 Expo using the code LSHOTExpo2024 for $$ off!</h5>   –   This year's MHSAA Finals were truly one for the books.   With Division 1 and 2 crowning their first ever champions, we also the rise of two powerhouses in Divisions 3 and 4 stand atop their respective divisions.   The level of play in Battle Creek was absolutely unmatched. Kellogg Arena held host to more Michigan High School Volleyball classics and saw the emergence of superstars. This year was highlighted by the incredibly strong senior class that is the 2025 class. Each of the championship teams were led by critical senior groups.   While the talent was without a doubt some of the best we have seen on one stage, some stood out more than others. Some were the IT factors to their respective team's epic victories. Here's the Prep Dig picks for this year's Most Outstanding Players at the MHSAA Finals in Division 1 through 4.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC07102-2.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-725349" style="width:234px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs']</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 1 MOP - [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs']/Northville</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'] joined an elite group of setters this weekend. For the past several years, the one constant with the Division 1 space has been the game changing play at the setters position. They've been the true difference makers, and Craggs was exactly that throughout this entire tournament.   After toppling over a team that everybody in the state deemed untouchable, it was all Craggs and Northville's to lose. This past weekend would be both party's third straight appearance in Battle Creek. Without a title to their name, the third time would be the charm.   While a rocky start in the semifinals, Northville was challenged by another tough Catholic League team in Marian. This proved to be the perfect game for Craggs and Co to shake out the jitters and take it the rest of the way. They would go to four with a rowdy Rockford team in the finals. While the scores in that final would tell you otherwise, there was not a doubt in anyone's mind throughout the match, that this was Northville's title.   Craggs went on to put up over 90 assists on the weekend, pacing her team to .264 clip in the title game. She would also have a double-double performance in the semifinals with 42 assists and 19 digs against Marian. Beyond the stat line, Craggs' composure on the court was top tier. Never with an ounce of fear, down 5 points or up a few, Craggs kept the same demeanor throughout the entirety of the Final Four.   This championship was a first for Northville in program history. Craggs joins an elite group of players, that include the likes of S Julia Bishop (Mercy/Michigan State) and S Ava Sarafa (Marian/Kentucky), to have set their team to a state title and be named a Miss Volleyball Finalist.   Congratulation Ella on your historic senior season!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 2 MOP - [player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier']/Detroit Country Day</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC08131.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-725346" style="width:229px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier']</figcaption></figure>   This title has been a long time coming for the Detroit Country Day Yellow Jackets. The Jackets have been a program that has consistently been equipped with some of best talent in the state of Michigan. In the last four years, DCD has had three Miss Volleyball Finalists. This year, [player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'], one of those three finalists, would not be denied a title for her or her school.   It was looking very interesting how the postseason was going to go for DCD. This season was an extremely successful one with only one loss, but was also one of the smallest schedules in the state. While some might question the thought process, it turned out to be a stroke of genius on their part.   This DCD squad came into the postseason with an undeniable system and a focus like no other. Grenadier, at the fore front of it all, was an incredible part of this historic run. This comes after missing practically ALL of her junior season.   Come the Elite 8, DCD was looking to fall back, similar to past finishes. Down 0-2 against the 2x defending champs in North Branch, the Jackets went on to rattle off three straight sets, as if the first two hadn't even been played. In a record breaking performance, this six rotation middle blocker would rally off 31 kills on a .409 hit percentage. This was just her heating up though.   Next stop was Battle Creek, a first ever appearance for Country Day. This stage can be quite intimidating. It is your first time here and the other team brought a raucous home crowd with them. Once again, Grenadier, and coincidentally Country Day were unfazed. Harper Creek were the favorites to win it all, but a double-double (19k, 17d) by this Colorado bound middle proved to be too much to handle.   The state championship was nothing short of domination from DCD's side of the net, especially from Grenadier. In a quick, decisive sweep; Grenadier put up an eye-popping 21 kills on a .500 clip to secure her program their first ever title.   Much like Craggs, Grenadier's composure and unrattled nature proved to be the exact recipe the Jackets needed to not only succumb the regional hump, but to bring home a title.   Congratulations Olivia on a phenomenal run.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 3 MOP - [player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow']/St. Mary Catholic Central</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC07546-3.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-725347" style="width:215px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow']</figcaption></figure>   It is surprising to think that it has been almost four years since the last time SMCC has hoisted up the Wooden Mitten. This program has become a perennial powerhouse in the Division 3 space. The last time the Kestrel's had a drought this long was when Bronson went on to win four straight from 2015-2018. Alas, SMCC sits atop of the division once more.   This has not only been a long time coming for the program as a whole, but for [player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] as well. Costlow, in her freshman season, made it all the way to the title game. In an epic reversal, SMCC would lose that match to that year's cinderella story, Reese. Since then, SMCC couldn't quite return to that final game of this season. Not to be denied a fourth time in a row. Costlow would be unstoppable throughout the course of this year's postseason.   If you did a quick glance at SMCC's road to Kellogg, you would see that they were untouchable just about every step of the way. The only set they would drop would be to Cass City in the semifinals. Before that though, SMCC was sweeping every team that stepped foot in their path, dominating at an average score of 25-11 each set. With this weekend in Kellogg included, they'd beat teams at an average of 25-13!   A lot of this had to do with the relentless attack from Costlow. With a pair of double-doubles in Battle Creek, Costlow rattled off over 35 kills and 29 digs on the weekend. This goes along with her tournament average of 5.6 kills per set. An absolute trailblazer these past few weeks.   Similar to DCD in their finals, Costlow and Co would just storm right on past their opponents. Rolling their way through the final match, this secured the program's 8th title in program history, further cementing SMCC as one of the most winningest teams in ALL of MHSAA.   Even more impressive, Costlow joins an incredible group of Kestrels that have not only won a state title, but have also been named to the Miss Volleyball list. She joins her current teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] and former alumni, Mikayla Haut (Fairfield) and Cassie Haut (Eastern Michigan) in recent memory.   Congratulations Jessica on an amazing finish to your high school career!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division 4 MOP - [player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley']/Clarkston Everest</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC06928.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-725345" style="width:208px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley']</figcaption></figure>   Unlike the other three Most Outstanding Players, [player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley'] is no stranger to this stage and what it takes to win the title. In fact, this was all Clarkston Everest's to lose this year. And Bradley was there every step of the way to make sure of that.   This may have been one of the most dominating performances of the season. From a player standpoint and a team standpoint, for the first time since 2015, the championship winning team has gone undefeated on the season. The Mountaineers managed to drop only SIX sets throughout the entire season! If that's not impressive, I don't know what is.   Every step of the way, Bradley has seemingly been the key to lead the way. Much like last year, when EC won their first title in Division 4, it was Bradley who took the biggest step up in Battle Creek. This year was very much the same.   While, pretty unfazed by the semifinal team, Bradley put up a moderate 16 kills on a .467 clip. In the finals, when Everest had their first real challenge of the postseason, this Calvin bound outside was ready for the call. In a season's best performance, Bradley put down 28 kills and picked up 16 digs in the four set battle.   This would mark not only the second win in program history, but would mark back to back wins for Clarkston. This team has seemingly come out of nowhere in the last few years and have cemented themselves in the history books.   Bradley has made her mark and this marks not only another title, but another MOP outing in the Finals. Last year, Bradley put down an incredible 31 kills to reverse sweep Leland.   Congratulations Sarah on an amazing season.