2024 Division 2 Player & Coach Of The Year

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky']</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":730057,"width":"216px","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/5/2024/12/DSC_3574.jpg?w=707" alt="" class="wp-image-730057" style="width:216px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into the 2024 season, it would have been easy to write off North Branch from title contention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two-time defending state champs graduated their entire starting lineup outside of one player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But, turns out that one player could still take the Broncos far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky'] </strong>proved she's cut from another mold in 2024, leading North Branch back to finals week, with a quarterfinal appearance that resulted in a five-set loss to the eventual state champs, Detroit Country Day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deshetsky was a one-woman wrecking crew throughout the season, as she had over 900 kills and accounted for over 60% of the Broncos kills. If that wasn't enough, she also had over 400 digs, over 70 aces and over 60 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For that reason, Deshetsky earns Prep Dig Michigan's 2024 Division 2 Player of the Year honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior had already established herself as a good player on a great roster in 2022 and 2023, but this year she stamped herself as truly elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Branch has produced some of the best volleyball players in the state through program history and Deshetsky is shaping up to be among that mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be exciting to see what she is able to do in her senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong>The D2 Player of the Year race wasn't easy, as there were some very qualified contenders in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'] </strong>went out on a high note, leading Country Day to the state title. After missing most of 2023 with an injury, Grenadier came back with a vengeance in 2024. She had over 400 kills and hit nearly .500, establishing herself as one of the best middles in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472798' first='Cassidy' last='Pratley'] </strong>did much of the same for Harper Creek. She had the Beavers near the top of the D2 rankings all year and approached 600 kills while hitting .400 for the season. Pratley was unstoppable for long stretches of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One player that put the state on notice in 2024 was Garber sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='458372' first='Jeana' last='Lenhard']</strong>. The outside hitter had over 700 kills and 350 digs while leading Garber to a semifinal appearance. Her 47-kill performance in a four-set regional match was one of the best in MHSAA history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Coach of the Year: Kim Lockhart</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":730058,"width":"217px","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/5/2024/12/DCD-vs-Harper-Creek-VB-18.jpg?w=780" alt="" class="wp-image-730058" style="width:217px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Country Day volleyball program has been a team everyone has had to keep an eye on over <strong>Kim Lockhart</strong>'s 10 years at the helm. But, despite the talent, the Yellowjackets always drew the sting of running into other perennial powers during early stages of the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2024, it didn't matter who got in DCD's way, as it proved it was the best team from start to finish. A season-opening loss to 2023 D1 champ Mercy was the only blemish on the record, as Lockhart utilized a potent 1-2 punch on offense, developed an elite freshman setter, and worked in a lot of underclassmen in key roles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lifting the state title was a long time coming for Lockhart. That's why she was Prep Dig Michigan's 2024 Division 2 Coach of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: Terra King </strong>had a special team at Harper Creek this year. Moving from D1 to D2, the Beavers took on all comers and were right near the top of the rankings all season. Their only speed bump was the eventual champion in a four-set semifinal classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morgan Skelton </strong>guided Tecumseh to the Division 2 state final matchup this year, with the program only dropping two matches throughout the season. Tecumseh was truly a gritty team with a lot of heart. The entire roster had a chip on its shoulder and Skelton had them motivated to prove they can be an eventual state champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->