Standout underclassmen from Division 1 finals

<p>The 2020 prep volleyball season finally wrapped a few weeks ago, in 2021.</p> <p>One of the highlights of finals weekend is getting to see some of the young faces rise to the occasion.</p> <p>In Division 1, a number of freshmen and sophomores contributed to their team’s success.</p> <h4><strong>Marian</strong></h4> <p><img class="size-medium wp-image-128908 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/Reagan-Sass-238x300.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="300" />The Mustangs won the state championship without a senior on the roster, while fielding 10 underclassmen for their finals roster. Of the 10, five saw action over the semifinals and finals.</p> <p>Sophomore setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"] </strong>really took a big step forward in the second half of the season. She played a near-flawless final with 39 assists while adding eight digs and two aces. In the semifinal win over Clarkston, Sarafa tallied 43 assists with 14 digs and three assisted blocks.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66330" first="Ella" last="Schomer"] </strong>was a great option for Sarafa on the outside. The sophomore had eight kills and 14 digs against Clarkston, then followed it up with eight kills and 11 digs against Lowell.</p> <p>In the middle, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66329" first="Reagan" last="Sass"]</strong> got some opportunities as well. She combined for four kills over the two matches while playing in a deep group of middles.</p> <p>Defensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66305" first="Lauren" last="Heming"] </strong>has proven to be one of the top defenders in the Class of 2023. She was consistent all season for Marian and the sophomore racked up 29 digs in the semifinal win over Clarkston, while adding 15 digs and six assists in the finals against Lowell.</p> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66548" first="Evelynne" last="Oegema"]</strong> has been a crucial serving specialist for the Mustangs this year as well. She continued that trend in Battle Creek with three more aces to finish as the team leader on the season.</p> <h4><strong>Lowell</strong></h4> <p>The Red Arrows brought a total of seven underclassmen to Battle Creek, but didn’t tap deep into the bench for finals weekend.</p> <p>Sophomore middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66321" first="Aubriegh" last="Oswald"] </strong>would have likely been a big part of Lowell’s efforts at the finals, but missed the season due to an injury. The Red Arrows are hoping for a big bounce-back season for her in 2021.</p> <p>Sophomore middle <strong>Alyssa Spanbauer </strong>and freshman middle <strong>Piper Ridson </strong>both saw the floor in Battle Crreek. While they weren’t a big part of the attack, they combined for five assisted blocks in the semifinal win over Novi. They also combined for six digs over the weekend.</p> <h4><strong>Clarkston</strong></h4> <p><img class="size-medium wp-image-128909 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/Paige-Giehtbrock-2-219x300.jpg" alt="" width="219" height="300" />The Wolves were a balanced and experienced team in 2020, but a pair of underclassmen were very in the fold in Battle Creek.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66303" first="Paige" last="Giehtbrock"] </strong>has been a very consistent outside for the Wolves in her sophomore season. In the semifinal with Marian, Giehtbrock put down 13 kills while adding 18 digs and three aces. She’s going to be a major force for the new-look Wolves in 2021.</p> <p>In the back row, freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110299" first="Kiley" last="Gallagher"] </strong>contributed to a deep defensive group for Clarkston. Gallagher had 11 digs over the five sets with Marian.</p> <h4><strong>Novi</strong></h4> <p>The Wildcats brought a pair of talented young hitters to the court at Kellogg Arena in sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66340" first="Sarah" last="Vellucci"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66294" first="Reganne" last="Bennett"]</strong>.</p> <p>Vellucci has established herself as one of the go-to players for Novi in her two seasons with the program. In Battle Creek, Vellucci led Novi with 16 kills, and also added 20 digs and five assists blocks. She’s definitely on track to be one of the top hitters in the state for the Class of 2023.</p> <p>Bennett is an emerging right side that is likely to see a bigger role in 2021. Against Lowell in the semifinal, Bennett recorded four kills and a dig.</p>