Club Breakdown: FaR Out 18 Black

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off of one of the best seasons for FaR Out, this club returns to the 2023 club season with a lot of fire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last summer saw FaR Out place not one, not two, not three, let's just save time here. This club returned from AAU Nationals in Orlando with <strong>eight</strong> top ten finishes and two national championships! One with FaR Out 15 Red and one with FaR Out 18 Black! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's right the reigning 18 Premier National Champs are back for another go around with a bulk of its roster returning and a nice handful of add-ons from younger, successful squads. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='172198' first='Isabelle' last='Swiercz']</td><td>6'1 OPP</td><td>Hudsonville (Central Michigan)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='224597' first='Abigail' last='Pickard']</td><td>5'10 S</td><td>Lakewood</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='66343' first='Corrie' last='Wisser']</td><td>5'9 S</td><td>Hopkins (Ferris State)</td><td>Aubrie Garcia</td><td>5'10 OH</td><td>Mt. Pleasant (Wayne State)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']</td><td>6'0 MB</td><td>Forest Hills Northern</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110332' first='Avery' last='Weslow']</td><td>5'10 OH</td><td>Forest Hills Central</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson']</td><td>5'10 OH</td><td>Forest Hills Northern (Western Michigan)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110296' first='Ellie' last='Fles']</td><td>6'1 MB</td><td>South Christian</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='110318' first='Carley' last='Piercefield']</td><td>5'4 L</td><td>Lakewood</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='140479' first='Reilly' last='Zegunis']</td><td>6'0 MB</td><td>Zeeland East (Wright State)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='66293' first='Kennedy' last='Arp']</td><td>6'1 MB</td><td>South Christian (Valparaiso) </td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier']</td><td>6'2 OH</td><td>Shelby</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='140491' first='Paige' last='Sanders']</td><td>6'1 MB</td><td>Grandville (Grand Valley State)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Breakdown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While last year saw the departure of FaR Out poster child, Maradith O'Gorman and company. This 18 Black crew returns a good core of its roster from last year's national championship team. Hoping to lead this team to another title in June is last year's 18 Premier Champion and All-American [player_tooltip player_id='66293' first='Kennedy' last='Arp'] (Valparaiso). She'll be crucial as the senior leader to lead a group full of young dogs to a big title run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":259626,"width":237,"height":155,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-Kennedy-Arp-crop-3359x2206-1670429733.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-259626" width="237" height="155" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='66293' first='Kennedy' last='Arp']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's check out this crew.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Veterans</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As previewed, this team returns a decent chunk of the magic from last year's epic run. Arp is a returning All-American middle blocker headed to Valpo in the fall, she's a high flier with a huge vertical (&gt;10'5) and a bombing arm. She's joined alongside fellow middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='140491' first='Paige' last='Sanders'] (Grand Valley) and setter [player_tooltip player_id='66343' first='Corrie' last='Wisser'] (Ferris State). Sanders was a huge piece to this team for the bulk of last season. Unfortunately a knee injury at Can Am had Sanders sidelined for the remainder of the season and throughout the fall. I suspect we see Sanders back on the court here soon for 18 Black. Wisser set the pace for this squad en route to the title last season. A smaller, but dynamic player at the setter position. Wisser has the experience under her belt and it will come up huge in the much needed moments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now. looking at this roster, it mostly consists of players from the 17s and under. Ultimately, making a mega team for this club. Of the other few seniors on this roster, Riley Zegunis (Wright State) and Aubree Garcia (Wayne State) join 18 Black. Zegunis is a middle blocker that played on a 17 Black team that finished 9th in 17 Premier last season. Garcia comes way of Attack Volleyball last season, she's coming off of a nice senior season at Mount Pleasant and provides great depth to this squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Newbies</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":277465,"width":152,"height":181,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-Kendall-Hopewell.jpg?w=859" alt="" class="wp-image-277465" width="152" height="181" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Half of this roster was playing in the 16 Open last season, a team that did very well, they ended up placing 9th in Open. This group of 2024s are some of the best out of the state of Michigan and in the country. Taking over libero duties for 18 Black is Lakewood's [player_tooltip player_id='110318' first='Carley' last='Piercefield']. Piercefield was especially impressive last season, often times tasked with a two man reception line, she delivered so well. Her defense is some of the best too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside Piercefield, She's joined by a pretty impressive trio of pins too, including [player_tooltip player_id='172198' first='Isabelle' last='Swiercz'] (Central Michigan), [player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson'] (Western Michigan) and [player_tooltip player_id='110332' first='Avery' last='Weslow']. Swiercz was primarily seen on the right side during the club season, but had sort of an emergence on the left side come the fall. Her versatility will be a fun one to watch throughout the season. Erickson and Weslow were the one-two punch on the left side last year. Both six rotation dynamos with impressive ball control and placement on their offense. The two could easily make a killing out on the beach, but do so well indoors. Erickson is coming off of a Final Four appearance this fall with Forest Hills Northern, a little more championship experience to aid this squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out this group of 2024s comes a pair of dynamic middle blockers, [player_tooltip player_id='110296' first='Ellie' last='Fles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']. Both of these players are total studs. Throw them in just about any position and they'll be one of the top draft picks in each. Both Fles and Hopewell are coming off of Final Four runs too in the fall. Fles was a big six rotation outside for South Christian and drove this squad past a tough Lakewood team to meet North Branch in the Division 2 semifinals. Meanwhile, Hopewell was still hitting primarily out of the middle, but playing six rotations alongside Erickson at Northern. One of the best passing middles you'll find too. Both know how to bang a ball VERY well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":204037,"width":137,"height":183,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/06/FAR-OUT-15AA.jpeg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-204037" width="137" height="183" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Young Pups</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Black brings up not one, but two athletes from the 2025 class. Unsurprisingly, we'll be seeing a lot more of [player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier'] this season and joining her is Lakewood setter, [player_tooltip player_id='224597' first='Abigail' last='Pickard']! Gauthier was an All-American last season with 15 Black, leading them to a fifth place finish in 15 Open. She's one of the most lethal attackers in the entire country for the 2025 class and racked up over 800 kills this fall at Shelby. Pickard joins Gauthier from last year's 15s team. After not only a successful club season, she had a tremendous outing with Lakewood and will get a lot of high level exposure with 18 Black this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->