D3/4 Showdown Dream Team

<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><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects. <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code “LSHOTPD25” to get $10 off your registration.<br></strong></em>–</p>   <p>We have been talking quite a bit about the juggarnauts of the game with the Division 1 and Division 2 schools. However, this past season, we had some of the best talent from the small school divisions, 3 and 4, on display. While Motor City Power Series was alive and well at UWM, right down the road at Schoolcraft College, we had the D3/4 Showdown. </p>   <p>The D3/4 Showdown gives us a glimpse into just what to expect come November when the tournament starts. Not many of these teams see each other week by week, so for most, this is their preseason challenge to waiver whereabouts they are in progress. </p>   <p>After losing to Calumet in 2024, Plymouth Christian proved to be all-too-mighty to surprise this year. In a sweeping fashion, Plymouth Christian went unblemished on the day, taking home the Showdown Crown. Calumet made a surprising run to the title game after losing to PCA in pool play. This was all accompanied by strong play from Grass Lake, Mendon, Ubly and Pewamo-Westphalia in the gold medal rounds.</p>   <p>Without further ado, let's take a look at some of the individual players who made huge impacts throughout the day at the D3/4 Showdown. Let's take a look at the Line Shot Volleyball Dream Team.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/DSC08512.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-890510" style="width:212px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='587016' first='Lillian' last='Bowman']</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='587016' first='Lillian' last='Bowman'] - Plymouth Christian</h2>   <p>This sophomore was impressive from a multitude of angles. In a much more significant role this time around, [player_tooltip player_id='587016' first='Lillian' last='Bowman'] walks onto the court like a seasoned veteran. She's live, she's vocal and she's finding points. From the net to the service line, Bowman brings the heat. In the title game against Calumet, in particular, Bowman was monstrous behind the line. With a vastly developing top spin serve, Bowman was able to lodge in ace after ace AFTER ACE. Her serving could've won MVP honors all on its own. Add to that her much farther developed attack and back court presence, Bowman was simply unstoppable.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='464695' first='Gracie' last='Schultz'] - Mendon</h2>   <p>If it wasn't for matching up with PCA in the semifinals, [player_tooltip player_id='464695' first='Gracie' last='Schultz'] and Mendon would've very much seen each other in the finals. Schultz was a step above the rest throughout the day. A leader on the court for the Hornets, there's no denying just why she is the team's go-to arm. In the toughest of moments, Schultz is relied upon to pull out a point. And more times than not, she was delivering on request. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226911' first='Riley' last='Pilat'] - Plymouth Christian</h2>   <p>I am not sure if we would be able to find a better one-two punch on the pins, especially in Division 3, than Bowman and [player_tooltip player_id='226911' first='Riley' last='Pilat']. The two really compliment each other extremely well on the court. Where Bowman can bring the noise, Pilat provides a calming, quiet presence. Taking a large chunk of the ball control duties for PCA, Pilat is a constant. Throughout the day, Pilat was scoring at a rate that was just too much for teams to control.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen'] - Ubly</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/08/DSC06261.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-880949" style="width:218px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen']</figcaption></figure>   <p>If there is going to be a way through to the Division 4 Final Four, it is going to have to go through [player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen'] for the Bearcats. That became very apparent at the Showdown. At 6'2, Hagen easily towers over many at the showdown and I would imagine in the entire division. She bolsters a power that not many see either and in turn results into a lot of production for Ubly. When Hagen makes a clean connection with the ball, the play is done and over! </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Amiina Tornowski - Calumet</h2>   <p>Despite losing so much from last year's roster, Calumet reloads with some formidable players. Amiina Tornowski was one that impressed me in the middle. While not the biggest block in the gym, Tornowski definitely is an effective one. When she is not shutting hitters down, she's grabbing great touches. Her transition to attack game was also a great piece to the puzzle. Not many teams were stopping Tornowski on the slide.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Millie Loukas - Calumet</h2>   <p>To have a good middle like Tornowski, you got to have a good setter. And if there is anything to come accustomed to when it comes to Calumet, they have great setters. Millie Loukas was one of the best in gym. From her ball handling to her defense and control of the court, Loukas was undoubtedly a standout. A smaller setter that can fling the ball around with ease, seeing her run tempo with Calumet was a lot of fun.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='760364' first='Sydney' last='Palmer'] - Grass Lake</h2>   <p>This will not be the last time we hear of this player. I was beyond shocked to hear that this player was only a freshman after the conclusion of the tournament. Upon watching Grass Lake throughout the day, I could have sworn [player_tooltip player_id='760364' first='Sydney' last='Palmer'] was very much an upperclassmen. Her production at the libero position was formidable, but her poise on the court was fantastic. Palmer played a key role in Grass Lake playing spoiler to both Cass CIty and Mendon in pool play, making it to the gold bracket as the pool's top seed!</p>

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