Top Outsides at the Michigan Freshman Showcase Part 2

<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/7670343376297905439?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7621309005139035661" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7670343376297905439?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7621309005139035661">IS THIS THE BIGGEST MATCH UP OF THE 2026 NCAA SEASON?!</a></em></strong></p>   <p><strong><em>--</em></strong></p>   <p>Here they come, the rookies are here!</p>   <p>This is maybe one of the best events of the year throughout all of the Prep Dig Events. Getting all of the next generation of student athletes in one gym, balling out next to one another is quite the feat. This year at the Michigan Freshman Showcase was no different. If anything, this may have been the best one yet.</p>   <p>From national champions, to emerging talents, and to the names we need to keep an eye on for in a few years. This class is another uber talented one out of the Mitten state.</p>   <p>And lastly, let's put a bow on this amazing 2026 Freshman Showcase with the second half of the incredible pins. The pin attackers are some of the most heavily relied on on the court. In system, out of system, front row or back row, the best of them are ALWAYS an option. Let's take a look at part 2 the top outside and opposite hitters in the 2030 class from Michigan!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1008274' first='Londyn' last='Cottrill'] - Milford/Legacy</h2>   <p>This is going to be an outside hitter that really turns things around for Milford. A program that has been knocking at the door for several years now, [player_tooltip player_id='1008274' first='Londyn' last='Cottrill'] is surely going to come into the mix and make an immediate impact. Cottrill is long, versatile athlete. She has a high reach and can really bring in a heavy ball. Her first contact is smooth and consistent. Being able to deliver in so many different areas of the game is going to only help Cottrill find a way to impact Milford this fall.</p>   <p>Cottrill also brings with her some serious experience that always proves invaluable. This past June, Cottrill was a key role player for Legacy 14-1 Adidas winning both AAU and USAV 14 Open National Championships.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='622403' first='Petra' last='Townsend'] - Ann Arbor Pioneer/Legacy</h2>   <p>For nearly a decade now, when we talk about Ann Arbor volleyball, it is typically in conversations of Skyline. But Pioneer has found themselves, for a second year in a row, welcome a seriously dangerous newbie. Beware of the Pioneers and beware of [player_tooltip player_id='622403' first='Petra' last='Townsend']. This is an incoming rookie that stands proud at 6'2 and is an electric presence on the right pin. Her length, combined with her physicality is something to marvel at. She's coming off of All-American honors this summer as she was a huge piece to Legacy's double National Championship puzzle in 14 Open at AAU and USAV Nationals.</p>   <p> Look out for Townsend, alongside [player_tooltip player_id='885467' first='Adeline' last='Peterson'], to make Pioneer into a household name.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='938309' first='Juliet' last='Berishaj'] - Eisenhower/Legacy</h2>   <p>From one national championship winning opposite to the next, [player_tooltip player_id='938309' first='Juliet' last='Berishaj'] and Townsend were the wicked 1-2 punch on the right pin for Legacy. Now, Juliet is going to be a part of another 1-2 punch at Utica Eisenhower with her older sister, [player_tooltip player_id='442999' first='Olivia' last='Berishaj']. Juliet is welcomed addition to an Eisenhower program that has been so close to making waves deep in the post season. Berishaj is such a cerebral attacker on the court. She has all of the shots and she cuts 'em up with a LOT of pace. </p>   <p>With this kind of presence on the right pin, Eisenhower puts themselves firmly back into the mix as a preseason top 5 and early Final Four favorite in D1.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='979308' first='Mia' last='Zepeda'] - Imlay City/Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>Imlay City just graduated a bunch of production on the court with Emma Keeping and Makayla Bruman, but here comes [player_tooltip player_id='979308' first='Mia' last='Zepeda'] and I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot from her for years to come. This is an undersized jumper that is going to do a lot of good things for the Spartans. She has a steady first contact and she can follow up with a strong attack out on the pin. Zepeda sees the block well and has no problem challenging the most stout of net presences.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1009423' first='Isabella' last='Jacob'] - Marian/Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>We talked about the one half of the Jacob twins, here is part 2. [player_tooltip player_id='1009423' first='Isabella' last='Jacob'] plays the entire game so well. Whether it is with her first contact or her attacking, she also can step in to put up a solid out of system ball as well. Jacob brings the entire package to the court and does it all well. Jacob alongside her sister, Sophia, will be a fun duo to keep an eye on for years to come.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='984451' first='Cate' last='Verkeyn'] - Mercy/Legacy</h2>   <p>The depth keeps getting deeper over at Mercy. It's crazy to think that [player_tooltip player_id='984451' first='Cate' last='Verkeyn'] is going to be fighting for court time this fall because she would be starting at any other program in the state, right off of the bat as a freshman. Verkeyn is another one of those total packages as an outside hitter. She passes well, defends well, then can be a force offensively just about anywhere on the court. Verkeyn brings a lot of experience as well with her summer with Legacy winning 2 national championships alongside Cottrill, Townsend and Berishaj.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1007471' first='Ryleigh' last='Kingma'] - Kenowa Hills/FaR Out</h2>   <p>I was really impressed with this incoming west side product. [player_tooltip player_id='1007471' first='Ryleigh' last='Kingma'] is as heavy of a hitter as they come. When she connects on the ball, she can put a dent into the floor. She plays the game really on the right pin and has a load of shots that can keep defenders in chaos. She is coming off of a rewarding club season that saw FaR Out finish top 5 at AAU Nationals. This physicality and experience is going to bode her well for the fall at Kenowa Hills.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1001522' first='Torrie' last='Tacia'] - Big Rapids/FaR Out</h2>   <p>Right alongside Kingma, [player_tooltip player_id='1001522' first='Torrie' last='Tacia'] is another west side banger that is coming off of a huge club season entering her prep career. Out of the Big Rapids area, you don't hear much from this portion of the state, or this program. But I have a feeling with Tacia coming into the mix, all of this is going to change and we won't be shutting up about them these next few years. Tacia is overall gamer on the court and is poised to make an immediate impact for Big Rapids this fall.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <p>Be Sure to grab your tickets to watch some of the biggest events in college volleyball this season!</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas, NE, August 29-30 - Nebraska, Texas, TCU & UNLV! <strong><em><a href="https://www.axs.com/events/1442695/all-tournament-pass-players-era-volleyball-showcase-tickets" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.axs.com/events/1442695/all-tournament-pass-players-era-volleyball-showcase-tickets">Grab your tickets HERE!</a></em></strong></h4>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Broadway Block Party in Nashville, TN, September 6 - Texas, Louisville, Indiana, and Tennessee! <strong><em><a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/broadway-block-party-nashville-tennessee-09-06-2026/event/1B00645A9F4ED5CD">Grab your tickets HERE!</a></em></strong></h4>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Paradise Invitational in Nassau, Bahamas, September 11-13 - SMU, Purdue, Houston and Kentucky! <a href="https://bit.ly/LineshotxParadise"><strong><em>Grab your Tickets HERE!</em></strong></a></h4>

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