Class of 2023: The Fall’s Top Defensive Specialists

<p>The Class of 2023 sure is courageous.</p> <p>During the 2020 prep season, a number of sophomores have shown their fearlessness and athleticism while excelling in the back row for their respective teams.</p> <p>Defensive play was a strong suit in this class, as plenty of 2023 players stood out on the court.</p> <p><strong>Ella McAllister, Marshall: </strong>McAllister was a key piece to a Marshall squad that recorded 33 wins during the season. She racked up 389 digs and 40 aces for the Redhawks. Her efforts garnered Third Team All-State honors in Division 2. McAllister is going to be the face of the Marshall volleyball team in the next couple of years.</p> <p><strong>Kalliann Cook, Birch Run: </strong>Cook was a standout freshman during the 2019 season and she followed it up with a great run during the 2020 season. Cook was named Honorable Mention All-State in Division 2 for the Panthers, a D2 quarterfinalist. Birch Run always knew it had a steady and confident defender to rely on in Cook. That allowed the team to consistently stay in-system and rack up wins.</p> [caption id="attachment_109286" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-109286" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Lauren-Heming-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="66305" first="Lauren" last="Heming"][/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66305" first="Lauren" last="Heming"], Marian: </strong>Marian has been very balanced and very young throughout the 2020 season, but that didn’t stop the Mustangs from reaching the D1 quarterfinals. Heming really raised her game this year and faced off against some of the best hitters in the state. She was named All-Region in Division 1 and put up 383 digs with 30 aces for the Mustangs.</p> <p><strong>Kendall White, St. Johns: </strong>White was another standout freshman that built on her 2019 with an impressive 2020 season. She earned All-Region honors in Division 1 by putting up 424 digs. She also was strong from the service line, tallying 61 aces. Over two seasons, White is just shy of 1,000 digs in her prep career.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66295" first="Allison" last="Berent"], Notre Dame Prep: </strong>The Irish have had an embarrassment of riches in the back row for a few years, so they are doing their part to get Berent on the court. Along with putting up 255 digs, she also had 72 kills, 33 aces and 14 blocks. Berent is just too talented to sit on the bench, which speaks to her potential.</p> <p><strong>Laney Kokaly, Garber</strong>: Garber was close to picking up a win over Birch Run in the regional semifinals, but lost in five sets. Kokaly had her full set of skills on display in that battle, as she put up 47 digs for the Dukes. An All-Region honoree in Division 2, Kokaly really stepped up in the big matches, which bodes well for her ascension in the Class of 2023.</p> <p><strong>Ryann Clancy, Inland Lakes: </strong>Inland Lakes was a regional finalist in Division 4, with Clancy’s play in the back row being a big reason why. Clancy shows a lot of maturity as a sophomore and she’s willing to put her body on the line in every point. She was named All-Region for her efforts this year.</p> <p><strong>Morgan Weirich, Shelby: </strong>Shelby faced a lot of challenges in the 2020 season, but Weirich really stepped up for the Tigers. While being a standout player in the back row, Weirich also spent some time at setter when Shelby faced a depleted roster. Her diverse skills and willingness to take on a new challenge earned her All-Region honors in Division 3.</p> <p><strong>Others to note: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66308" first="Kaitlyn" last="Hoffman"], Clarkston; [player_tooltip player_id="66311" first="Delaney" last="Jenkinson"], Holly; Erica Maladecki, Churchill; Skylar Piper, Garden City; [player_tooltip player_id="66333" first="Ella" last="Shields"], Mercy; [player_tooltip player_id="66337" first="Brielle" last="Sovis"], Owosso.</p>