2025 Club Preview: FaR Out 18 Gold

<p><em><strong>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!</strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>FaR Out always knows how to put together a solid 18 Gold squad year in and year out. This year features multiple athletes who have played in the open divisions in years past and could really make a push for a nice run at the end of the club season.</p>   <p>This team is led by current Davenport HC <strong>Charley Andrews</strong> and is assisted by <strong>Stephanie Kalinowski</strong>.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='487149' first='Olivia' last='Inthout'] - South Christian</td><td><strong>Makenna Gulch - West Michigan Aviation</strong></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='487154' first='Ally' last='Kragt'] - Hamilton</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='200397' first='Dylann' last='Kelly'] - Jenison</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='454063' first='Miley' last='Southland'] - Three Rivers</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156300' first='Sadie' last='Haase'] - Fruitport</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156342' first='Abby' last='Leffring'] - West Michigan Christian</td><td><strong>Jess Maier - Caledonia</strong></td><td><strong>Bianca Bower - Hudsonville</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='227666' first='Ella' last='Deklyen'] - Tri Unity Christian</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='288960' first='Reese' last='Lowe'] - Byron Center</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='502207' first='Lauren' last='Bower'] - Hudsonville</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Leading the Charge</h2>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Pin Hitters</h4>   <p>This 18 Gold squad is one that could really make some rumblings in the Premier division this season. A big reason for that is in its high octane offensive pieces. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='200397' first='Dylann' last='Kelly'] (Ferris State), [player_tooltip player_id='288960' first='Reese' last='Lowe'] (Ferris State), and [player_tooltip player_id='227666' first='Ella' last='Deklyen'] (Hope) look to be at the forefront of the show on the pins. Kelly, a stout 6'2 pin dynamo, can really wreak havoc on either pin. Due to her size, I would anticipate her to spend a bulk of her time on the right side where she can double as a go-to attacker and shut down pin block.</p>   <p>Lowe and Dekylen will surely be two of the front runners to hold down the fort on the left side. Lowe is coming off of her best high school season yet in her finale with Byron Center. Same can be said with Dekylen as she closes out one of the best careers Tri Unity Christian has seen in school history. Both of these hitters are a tad on the undersized measurement, but can amount greatly when you add in their overall game and ability to score on a range of shots.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='487154' first='Ally' last='Kragt'] (Cornerstone) rounds out the group of versatile pins for 18 Gold. Listed as both an outside hitter and a opposite, Kragt could very easily make great work on either pin at a high level. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Production</h4>   <p>When we look to the middles, [player_tooltip player_id='156300' first='Sadie' last='Haase'] (Grand Valley State), [player_tooltip player_id='156342' first='Abby' last='Leffring'] (Grace) and [player_tooltip player_id='502207' first='Lauren' last='Bower'] (Cornerstone) are going to make quite the tandem if both offense and defensive production. </p>   <p>Haase looks to be the key player in this position, as a long time standout at FaR Out. She's coming off of a huge year at Fruitport as one of the most electrifying attackers in the Division II space. She boasts a nasty slide attack that could even be utilized on the right side in certain scenarios. </p>   <p>Leffring and Bower will look to be your more traditional pair of M2s. Both of these players are great off of two feet in front of the setter and could cause a lot of hysteria with their disciplined blocking. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Running the Show</h2>   <p>FaR Out is a notorious club for running a 6-2 offense. This team looks to be another great example of why it works for them. When you have the hitters that this team does as well as a pair of setters in [player_tooltip player_id='454063' first='Miley' last='Southland'] and Jess Maier (Roosevelt), the play writes itself. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='454063' first='Miley' last='Southland'] is one of the few uncommitted players on this team and the ONLY 2026 playing up with this group. She's come a long way and has emerged as another great talent in the position. She surpassed a 1,000 assists in a season this fall with Three Rivers and led them to be a serious contender in Division 2. </p>   <p>Similarly for Jess Maier, she too had her Caledonia squad set up to be a spoiler team in the latter parts of this fall. A tad undersized, Maier relies upon her quick nature and steady location to really keep her team in rhythm. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Holding Down the Fort</h2>   <p>Finishing out this roster, we have to talk about the defensive specialists in the group. With as much depth as this squad has in every other position, they boast a pretty tough one in this department as well.</p>   <p>Leading the way looks to be [player_tooltip player_id='487149' first='Olivia' last='Inthout']. A recent commit to GRCC, Inthout has really come together as a strong defender in the 2025 class. With South Christian, she acted as the glue that kept that squad in contention. She was so good in fact, they nearly found themselves in another Final Four.</p>   <p>Joining her will be the duo of Bianca Bower and McKenna Gulch. Bower is another high level product out of Hudsonville. And if there is anything to know about that program, they make some dang good liberos. Bower looks to just add to the argument. As for Gulch, this is an under the radar prospect, that looks to be a strong addition to Gold. This duo also round out the uncommitted list of athletes for this group and could easily elevate any team.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PREDICTIONS</h2>   <p>Year after year, FaR Out tends to put together a really solid group at the 18s level. FaR Out 18 Gold looks to be no different. They have the size advantage that most 2s teams don't typically have and they can combat that with some stout ball control as well. </p>   <p>This group is also fun because it offers up a real exciting look at what is to come from the GLIAC for years to come. Kelly and Lowe will be off to the perennial powers of Ferris State. Haase will look down the road to GVSU to be the next big star for the Lakers. And Maier will surely be the touch Roosevelt needs to cement themselves within the power conference. </p>   <p>However, before they all go their seperate ways, this team, led by Coach Andrews could do some exciting things. Be on the look out for this group when they take on the 18 Premier division throughout the club season. </p>

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