Motor City Power Series Weekend 3 Highlights: Liberos

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">Tik Tok&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects.&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code&nbsp;“LSHOTPD25”&nbsp;to get $10 off your registration.<br></strong></em>–</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Motor City Power Series is one of the place to be for any one who is any one when it comes to Michigan volleyball. From the top teams in Division 1, all the way to the powers of Division 4! This is where the toughest come to get battle tested!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're already on weekend 3 of 5 and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. With epic match-ups galore, we saw a lot of the state's top players shine bright and some of the underrated emerge through to make themselves known. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're going to have to break this weekend down position by position, as there was just too much to talk about! We chatted up all those setters, and now we need to take a look further. Who's holding down the back court? The Motor City Power Series gives us a look at a lot of up and comers in the position that are making a name for themselves. Let's take a look at these top liberos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226910' first='Kayla' last='Ostrander'] - Eisenhower</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eisenhower has one their side one of the most prolific defenders in the entire state. This is nothing new though, [player_tooltip player_id='226910' first='Kayla' last='Ostrander'] has been putting exorbitant numbers up for quite some time now. At UWM, this past weekend, things were no different. In no argument, the toughest pool of the weekend, Ostrander shined defensively against some of the biggest of attackers. In ten sets of action, the Eastern Michigan bound libero notched 50 digs on the weekend leading the Eagles of Ike to a 3-1 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='442628' first='Elizabeth' last='White'] - Saline</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This libero comes from a long line of really talent liberos at Saline. In her lone season in the jersey, [player_tooltip player_id='442628' first='Elizabeth' last='White'] has really done some impressive work. The Power Series was a perfect showcase of that as well. Despite missing out on some of the Hornet's leading scorers, it was the play of White in the jersey that stepped up to close the gap. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='887162' first='Lyla' last='Russell'] - Imlay City</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we talk about Imlay City, we talk quite a bit of the combination of Keeping and Bruman. The next topic of conversation will surround all around [player_tooltip player_id='887162' first='Lyla' last='Russell'] for years to come. This is a defensive player that is truly coming into her own this fall. Taking notes from the high level play of her senior counterparts, her back court play has in many ways been the answer the Spartans have been looking for the last few seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='586763' first='Amilia' last='Ashcroft'] - Milford</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite being a senior, I don't believe I have ever seen this 'bro do her thing before until this weekend. What a shame, because [player_tooltip player_id='586763' first='Amilia' last='Ashcroft'] is a lot of fun to watch live. Ashcroft is a spicy defender, never too good to get down and out for a an up. She's quick, reads the game well and really becomes a nice compliment to [player_tooltip player_id='454368' first='Lexa' last='Pierson'] on the court, allowing the junior to bear an incredible offensive load.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490342' first='Sidney' last='Richmond'] - Traverse City Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet, another senior libero that I have not quite seen enough throughout her four years of action. Nonetheless, [player_tooltip player_id='490342' first='Sidney' last='Richmond'] did not disappoint down in Pontiac. When you make a trek like Traverse City Central did, you ought to put on a show. Richmond understood the assignment. Richmond was giving teams fits all throughout the day. Despite TCC's unfavorable record by day's end, it wasn't without a true earning of it because of Richmond in the back court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='798138' first='Ruby' last='Pennala'] - Brighton</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In her final season with the Bulldogs, [player_tooltip player_id='798138' first='Ruby' last='Pennala'] has really come out of the woodworks. A libero that has really worked and earned her time on the court, you're truly seeing it all pay off this fall. Going 2-2 on the weekend, the competition was tough. And Pennala was tougher. In a sea of the most skilled of attackers, she makes their life miserable on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='885455' first='Kate' last='Berghoff'] - Mercy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into the season, I was very certain [player_tooltip player_id='885455' first='Kate' last='Berghoff'] was either going to find her way onto the court via the left pin, or maybe wait her turn while an upperclassmen-heavy team took to the court. Alas, Berghoff is showing that is quite the versatile player at her young age. In the libero jersey, she continues to shine on the court. This weekend, in particular, was a huge stride in the right direction for the young star. Berghoff, against staunch competition, averaged over 4.4 digs per set, doubling her current season average of 2.2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->