Michigan Top 250: Top Pin Attackers (Pt. 2)
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The Top 250 tour is in full swing and the tour has made its stop to Michigan. One of the biggest up-and-coming hot beds of volleyball talent in America, the Michigan Top 250 was stacked from top to bottom. Some…
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Continue ReadingThe Top 250 tour is in full swing and the tour has made its stop to Michigan. One of the biggest up-and-coming hot beds of volleyball talent in America, the Michigan Top 250 was stacked from top to bottom. Some of the top names in the Mitten state were on full display and it made for some amazing volleyball in the UWM Sports Complex!
The depth of talent in the pins is pretty tough to contend with, there were so many high level pin attackers at this weekend’s Prep Dig Top 250. Here were some of the standouts.
Brielle Thomas Brielle Thomas 5'9" | OH Walled Lake Central | 2025 MI – 5’7 OH – Walled Lake Central/Force
One of the key pieces to being a top-level pin attacker, is knowing how to swing out of system. If I could pick the best out of system attacker in the gym on Saturday, Brielle Thomas Brielle Thomas 5'9" | OH Walled Lake Central | 2025 MI would be one of the front runners. Another undersized player, Thomas’ knack for scoring off the net will take her far!
Sidney White Sidney White 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State MI – 5’10 OPP – Saline/L2
I was really impressed with this player’s versatility this weekend. Throughout the fall, Sidney White Sidney White 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State MI was often Saline’s go-to off the bench when in need of a tougher block. This weekend, White not only showed her worth at the net, but impressed with her back court play as well.
Devin Brunk Devin Brunk 5'10" | OH Lake Orion | 2024 State MI – 5’10 OH – Lake Orion/High Performance
I love an outside hitter that shows a little bit of beach in them. A crafty shot-taker and incredible wrist control on the ball. I think Devin Brunk Devin Brunk 5'10" | OH Lake Orion | 2024 State MI would make a great attacker on the beach for these reasons. Brunk can score with power, or she can really throw the defense off with her cheeky shots.
Angie Butler Angie Butler 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2024 State MI – 5’10 OH – Mercy/Michigan Elite
This player is a lot of fun to watch. When you see Angie Butler Angie Butler 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2024 State MI take flight, it’s quite something. Her jumping abilities is a long-known quality of Butlers, but her range in her attacking is really coming on. Butler is spreading her attacks around the court and kicks all of this off nicely with a great first contact.
Catherine Flaharty Catherine Flaharty 6'2" | OH Saline | 2024 State MI – 6’2 OH – Saline/L2
Catherine Flaharty Catherine Flaharty 6'2" | OH Saline | 2024 State MI is coming off of an impressive season with Saline volleyball and is showing no signs of slowing down. Massive in comparison to her pin counterparts, Flaharty is terminal. Whether it be with her live arm, or with her imposing block, Flaharty knows how to score!
Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI – 5’11 OPP – North Branch/Michigan Elite
After the breakout season that Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI had, it is to no surprise that she was so impressive this past weekend. Looking back at her play at last year’s showcase, to now, she’s a whole new player. Gyomory can attack with a lot of range and seems to have an extra pop in her hop.
Hailey Jones Hailey Jones 5'11" | MB Clarkston | 2024 State MI – 5’11 OH/MB – Clarkston/Unified
A middle blockers worst nightmare, Hailey Jones Hailey Jones 5'11" | MB Clarkston | 2024 State MI knows how to work her way around a good block! It was seldom, if done at all, to stop a Jones swing. She sees the block so well and can adjust on the fly to the most well-formed blocks. Her cross-body line shot was unstoppable.
Kora Nicolanti – 5’10 OH – Bloomfield Hills/Unified
It’s pretty rare to not see Kora Nicolanti smiling on the court. An infectious personality on the court, Nicolanti follows it up with some great play, too! While a steady attacker all around, Nicolanti’s defense really shined throough.
Karley Pretzer Karley Pretzer 5'10" | OH Dakota | 2024 State MI – 5’9 OH – Dakota/Michigan Elite
Despite her size, Karley Pretzer Karley Pretzer 5'10" | OH Dakota | 2024 State MI knows how to get up and deliver a smoking ball. Pretzer is another player that has been on my radar for quite sometime and entering 2023, she’s looking more than ready for a breakout year. She’s looking a lot stronger in her overall game.
Sydney Ryan Sydney Ryan 6'3" | RS Seaholm | 2024 State MI – 6’3 OPP – Seaholm/Michigan Elite
I hadn’t heard much about this player throughout the high school season, but Sydney Ryan Sydney Ryan 6'3" | RS Seaholm | 2024 State MI needs to be on everyone’s radar entering the 2023 club season. Physically gifted and yet, so raw; Ryan can be a force of nature. On the right pin, Ryan is a brick wall to run into for any left side attacker. And when she can get on top of the ball, there’s no returning a Ryan bomb.
Jordanne Shannon Jordanne Shannon 5'10" | RS West Bloomfield | 2024 State MI – 5’10 OH/S – West Bloomfield/Team Detroit
A name I was very unfamiliar with, but will be looking to keep tabs on throughout the club season. Jordanne Shannon Jordanne Shannon 5'10" | RS West Bloomfield | 2024 State MI is a baller! A big, physical presence when she attacks, when Shannon isn’t bombing her opponents, she is setting some serious butter! I really enjoyed seeing her overall game.
Ma’kayla Coats Ma’kayla Coats 5'7" | RS Pioneer | 2023 MI – 5’7 OPP – Pioneer/Team Detroit
One of the lone seniors in this stacked field, Ma’kayla Coats Ma’kayla Coats 5'7" | RS Pioneer | 2023 MI is very much an underrated gem. While undersized, Coats can deliver a booming ball with a great sense of any block that tries and stop her. Coats shines even brighter when she is in the back court however. With the speed to challenge the fastest of track stars, she can run down any ball she sees and create an amazing scoring opportunity.