MVA Rise Academy 51 Difference Makers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the 2025 club season has some big events in the past, we are getting a better feel for teams around the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVA Rise Academy 51 is a solid group of 2028 prospects in the Grand Rapids area. The team is still looking for its breakout performance collectively, but there are some prospects that are stepping up early on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>X Factors</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is going to be defined by its offensive power, as it brings a lot of length and size to the net. Of the group of hitters, it looks like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='881552' first='Mya' last='McKinnon'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='881556' first='Stella' last='Polavin'] </strong>will be the X-factors on the roster. McKinnon is a 6'0” middle with a quick and compact swing that can generate big power off of it. She's got a straight-up spring off the floor that allows her to play well above the net, but her footwork and swing speed allows her to move to the right side as well. Polavin is a 6'1” outside that can play either pin. Her swing is explosive, and she isn't afraid to play challenging angles. The final rotation of her swing is proving to be very quick and adds a lot of added umph to the ball. Polavin has a consistent approach with each attack and is going to be a big force going forward in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>One To Watch</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='664290' first='Heidi' last='White'] </strong>could be a setter that contends to be among the best in this impressive group of setters in the Class of 2028. White shows a lot of good instincts and decision-making on the floor. She's hitting the pins very well right now and is able to adjust quickly on the fly to still give her hitters a chance to put the ball away. She's improving at her tempo and connections in the middle, as well as in her on-court leadership. Working with a solid group of hitters should continue to bring her game to another level this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Potential Stock Risers</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rise Academy 51 should see others make big strides in their play as they enter their sophomore year next fall. <strong>Drew Howell</strong> is a defender that is showing signs that she can play at a high level and will get tested the rest of the club season. As she keeps facing more powerful hitters, it will allow Howell to see where she needs to adjust her form and instincts. There's some great positives coming from her play thus far. <strong>Eliana Hulst </strong>is a 6'2” outside that has a high ceiling. For her length, I like the way she moves on the floor and the space she can cover. Her defensive play looks really promising, as she puts as much effort into making a dig as she does making a kill. With her offense, Hulst already has power and size to work with. She can still improve with her timing and feel for the play. As that keeps improving, Hulst is going to establish herself as one of the top prospects in the group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->