Wild West: Top Players to Watch in East Grand Rapids
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Moving from the east side of the state, to the west side. This side of the state is no strangers to producing some of the best volleyball in the Mitten state. Especially when it comes to the greater Grand Rapids…
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Continue ReadingMoving from the east side of the state, to the west side. This side of the state is no strangers to producing some of the best volleyball in the Mitten state. Especially when it comes to the greater Grand Rapids area, this is a volleyball hub!
Last year saw the likes of Hudsonville and Grand Rapids Christian march all the way to the Final Four in Kellogg Arena. I would bet big bucks that more west side teams would finish further in the tournament in a model that didn’t favor east side squads. That’s how much talent is here.
So vast, we’re breaking it up into East and West sides. We checked out West Grand Rapids yesterday. Now, let’s take a look at the East Grand Rapids area.
Kennedy Louisell Kennedy Louisell 6'0" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State #140 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – Forest Hills Northern
Arguably one of the top returning seniors in the entire state, Kennedy Louisell Kennedy Louisell 6'0" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State #140 Nation MI is looking to continue the hot streak she’s been on since last fall. Since last fall, Louisell has garnered huge honors including second team All-State honors in high school, All-American honors in club and then a national championship with FaR Out Volleyball. This 5’11 fireball will be a menace to control this fall and I could see her playing up until late November this year.
Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI – 6’0 MB/OPP – Forest Hills Northern
If you thought Forest Hills Northern was just the Louisell show, you’re badly mistaken. Right alongside her at the net will be the Swiss army knife of Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI . I predict we see a lot of Hopewell in the middle during the high school season, but she boasts such versatility that she can be a deadly option anywhere on the court. Hopewell even has some elite ball control for a middle which is always fun to see.
Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – Forest Hills Northern
Nope, the list doesn’t stop there for the Northern Huskies. There’s no escaping firepower on the left side or out of middle back when playing this team. Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI combined with Louisell creates one of the toughest outside hitter duo you will find in Michigan. Erickson has the ball control for days to keep Northern within a speedy rhythm and she has some gnarly cuts on the ball that will leave opponents flustered.
Carley Piercefield Carley Piercefield 5'4" | DS/L Lakewood | 2024 State #90 Nation MI – 5’4 L – Lakewood
Lakewood is going to look very different this season without an O’Gorman at the net. With the question of offense up in the air, one thing is for certain, their pass and defense will remain top notch. Carley Piercefield Carley Piercefield 5'4" | DS/L Lakewood | 2024 State #90 Nation MI returns for another season at the helm of the Viking back court. Piercefield is noted as one of the top liberos in Michigan and will be critical in Lakewood’s success this season.
Aubreigh Oswald Aubreigh Oswald 6'2" | MB Lowell | 2023 State MI – 6’2 MB – Lowell
Lowell has been a constant threat in the post season tournament for a few years now up until last season. Bowing out in arguably one of the toughest districts in the state, Lowell returns a fairly young roster. A roster in which returns a huge 6’2 Aubreigh Oswald Aubreigh Oswald 6'2" | MB Lowell | 2023 State MI in the middle. Oswald ranked third in kills last season and second in blocks. Oswald will be looked to for big senior leadership on and off the court to lead Lowell back to Battle Creek.
Sarah Dunn Sarah Dunn 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2023 State MI – 5’11 OH – Forest Hills Central
This Forest Hills area is not too shabby when it comes to producing some top shelf volleyball! Sarah Dunn Sarah Dunn 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2023 State MI is yet another elite six rotation outside hitter returning to her senior season looking to capitalize off of last season’s success with Central. Dunn was able to lead this squad out of this cut throat district to the Regional Finals last season. I predict if she can lead her team to a district title this season, she’ll lead them to Battle Creek as well.
Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI – 5’11 OH – Forest Hills Central
Your eyes don’t deceive you, Forest Hills Central has their own killer left side combo in Dunn and Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI . Like her counterpart, Weslow is another top notch six rotation outside that brings a lot of great ball control to the court. Weslow can bring the heat at the net but she also has one heck of a serve. Last season saw the attacker ace 103 serves to lead the team by over 40 aces.
Lizzie Macintosh Lizzie Macintosh 6'1" | OH Rockford | 2023 State MI – 6’1 OH – Rockford
Rockford is a perennial power when it comes to the post season and I can see this season being no different. This team may have lost a lot to graduation, but they return a big piece on the left side with Lizzie Macintosh Lizzie Macintosh 6'1" | OH Rockford | 2023 State MI . Macintosh was one of the premier attackers from last season that saw the Rams play up to the Quarterfinal round.
Avery Palmateer Avery Palmateer 5'10" | S Caledonia | 2023 State MI – 5’10 S – Caledonia
If Caledonia finds any sort of success this season, it will be in large part due to the play of Avery Palmateer Avery Palmateer 5'10" | S Caledonia | 2023 State MI . Palmateer is coming off of a really good club season with FaR Out that saw the team go from a 6-2 offense to given the reigns solely to Palmateer by the end. She has the abilities to lead a team to great heights and she could do the same for Caledonia this fall.
Makenzie Ritsema Makenzie Ritsema 6'0" | MB Grand Rapids Christian | 2023 State MI – 6’1 MB – Grand Rapids Christian
Grand Rapids Christian is entering an entirely new era this fall. Christian is fresh off of an impressive four straight semifinal appearances, with three straight state titles in a row. If they can make it a fifth straight, it will be the likes of Mackenzie Ritsema stepping up to the plate. A lot of the load fell on Evelyn Doezema last season, and if Ritsema can run with it, the Eagles will soar to great heights as the senior leader.