14 Freshmen Phenoms Taking Over Michigan this Fall

<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><strong><em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7690285623038446879?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">This is the BEST OUTSIDE hitter in the country! <mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Take Notes!</mark></a></em></strong></p>   <p><strong><em>--</em></strong></p>   <p>These freshmen aren't wasting NO TIME making their name known!</p>   <p>Year after year, it seems to be the next class of athletes are pushing the edge of the envelope. For the 2030s, these freshmen are cooking up something HOT! From immediate team leaders in kills, top ranked program assists, and setting the standard early. These rookies are all about it!</p>   <p>The freshmen class this fall is loaded but here are 14 of the TOP Freshman Phenom in the state of Michigan RIGHT NOW! Take a look for yourselves.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1041856' first='Taylor' last='Frazer'] - Yale</h2>   <p>Talk about making an impression. Not only is [player_tooltip player_id='1041856' first='Taylor' last='Frazer'] the kills leader for this class, but she is the only freshman to grace the top ten in total kills in 2026 so far. Frazer has spent no time jumping ahead and making her presence known. For a program like Yale, this is a welcome face to catapult Bulldogs into the state conversation for the next four years. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1009098' first='Laura' last='Aubrey'] - Mercy</h2>   <p>It wouldn't be a normal year if Mercy didn't scoop up a big time freshman or two every year. This time, its the high flying hammer of [player_tooltip player_id='1009098' first='Laura' last='Aubrey']. It's a feat to even crack the starting line up in these parts, but to step in and become a focal point of the entire offense is quite something. Aubrey has put the entire state on notice. Between her leaping abilities to her whip of an arm and a vastly growing touch in the back court, Aubrey looks to be the strongest player Mercy has had since the likes of Jess Mruzik.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='938309' first='Juliet' last='Berishaj'] - Utica Eisenhower</h2>   <p>Ike has been knocking at the door of a huge post season runs for years now and with a player like [player_tooltip player_id='938309' first='Juliet' last='Berishaj'] coming into the fold, this year could very much be the year. Not only does Berishaj bring an extra layer of strong offense to the court, but her presence alone opens up so much opportunities for herself and others being on the right pin. This shows particularly well on the stat line as Berishaj leads the freshman class with a .349 hit percentage. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vivien McLoughlin - Our Lady of the Lakes</h2>   <p>It's been a minute since we've heard anything out of Our Lady of the Lakes but they're back. With a player like Vivien McLoughlin, only a freshman, playing the way she is right now, we will be chatting about OLLS for years to come. Very quickly, McLoughlin and her play makes OLLS a huge player in the Division 4 race.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1007121' first='Brielle' last='Eveland'] - Lowell</h2>   <p>Welcome Back Lowell! [player_tooltip player_id='1007121' first='Brielle' last='Eveland'] is one of what seems to be an army of freshmen phenom over at Lowell and it is all the beginning of a very strong few years for the Red Arrow. At the setting position, Eveland has this team operating at an extremely high level and leads the entire state, regardless of class in assists on the season. Lowell currently ranks top 10 in D1 and Eveland's offense has a lot to do with that. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='958515' first='Molly' last='Hickey'] - Marian</h2>   <p>It's quite the feat to jump into a varsity line up as a freshman but to do it in the setting position is even more admirable. [player_tooltip player_id='958515' first='Molly' last='Hickey'] has been a big time addition to the Marian offense. Despite her youth, with Hickey at the helm of the offense, Marian is operating much more efficiently than they were in 2025, hitting over 20 percent points from their .250 hit percentage. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='891341' first='Layla' last='Ljajcaj'] - Romeo</h2>   <p>Throw her in the middle, let her hit a high ball on the pin, or have her fly through the back court for a booming kill. [player_tooltip player_id='891341' first='Layla' last='Ljajcaj'] is getting all of the attention. With an athlete as versatile as this one, its no surprise to see her become such a focal point for Romeo. Her dynamic nature allows for so many different opportunities for the Bulldog and they have been reaping the benefit.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='888979' first='Mia' last='Keefer'] - Gabriel Richard </h2>   <p>It has been quite some time since we have heard from Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. But let it be known, they are so back. When you have a player like [player_tooltip player_id='888979' first='Mia' last='Keefer'] on hand, only a freshman, and making the kinds of waves she is, its just the beginning. In the middle, Keefer leads the Irish in every point scoring statistic. Having a middle as dominating as this one for the next four years is a real bright spot for a program beginning a new era.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1007260' first='Skylar' last='Stephens'] - Portage Central</h2>   <p>Year after year, there's always one very strong team from the Southwest of Michigan and with a player like [player_tooltip player_id='1007260' first='Skylar' last='Stephens'], it could very much be Portage Central. And Stephens is wasting no time getting this train moving. In the libero jersey, Stephens has been making huge moves and making her mark. She covers a vast amount of ground and takes command of the court.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1009770' first='Waverly' last='Diegel'] - Midland Dow</h2>   <p>Here comes Midland Dow and here comes [player_tooltip player_id='1009770' first='Waverly' last='Diegel']. This has been a player that seems to be a long awaited entrance to the high school scene. In the club scene, Diegel has been playing up an age group her entire career and it very much shows in her transition to the high school game. Diegel has quickly found herself as a six rotation mainstay for Dow, scoring from about everywhere on the court.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1009293' first='Alexa' last='Apostolovski'] - Utica</h2>   <p>For a minute there, this freshman was a blocks leader in the state of Michigan. To no shock of anyone's, when you're 6'4 as a freshman, it doesn't take much to ruin a hitter or two's day. [player_tooltip player_id='1009293' first='Alexa' last='Apostolovski'] has stepped to the net and has yet to look back. As a blocker, Apostolovski has been a force and we are beginning to see her offense take leaps and bounds ahead. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1041857' first='Avah' last='Belski'] - Freeland</h2>   <p>While Freeland is down the road from Midland, with the kind of freshman this area has coming in, look out! For Freeland, their phenom, [player_tooltip player_id='1041857' first='Avah' last='Belski'] has made her mark right off of the bat. At 6'1, this young gun can make a big move against some of the best. For the most part, Belski has trained as a middle thus far but has been a sensation on the left side for the Falcons.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='995140' first='Lainey' last='Holt'] - Woodhaven</h2>   <p>Here comes the BOOM! [player_tooltip player_id='995140' first='Lainey' last='Holt'] is coming and she's coming in hot! This rookie has quickly found herself on the court and quickly become a driving force for Woodhaven. In the middle, Holt is an attacking dynamo, lighting up her opponents left and right. She puts up a good block as well and has the abilities to swing anywhere on the court.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jasmine Wheeler - Huron</h2>   <p>Get you a freshman that can do a little bit of everything. That's exactly what it is like having Jasmine Wheeler on the court. When she's in the back row, she's setting. Then she rotates to the front row and here comes this high flying south paw on the right side. Wheeler brings a whole new layer of play to Huron's side of the net and welcomes a new era for the River Rats. </p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <p>Don't Miss a single moment of ALL THINGS VOLLEYBALL ON Line Shot Volleyball on <strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591571897966">Facebook</a></strong>!</p>   <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7688430553074289950?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7688430553074289950?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">This <mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">DIVISION 2</mark> program just UPSET TWO <mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">POWER 4</mark> SCHOOLS! CHECK IT OUT!</a></strong></em></p>   <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7689577379626274079?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7689577379626274079?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc"><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">UCLA Volleyball </mark>is on the comeback! <mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">HIGHLIGHTS!</mark></a></strong></em></p>   <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7688035730001562911?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7688035730001562911?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc"><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Hawaii Volleyball is cooking in 2026!</mark></a></em></strong></p>   <p></p>

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