Three Takeaways From 2023 Miss Volleyball Finalists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week, the <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/09/2023-mivca-miss-volleyball-nominees-who-made-the-cut/">10 finalists for the 2023 Miss Volleyball Award</a> were announced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's race for the honor feels as wide open as any we've had in a number of years and could come down to a razor-thin margin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's three notable takeaways from the group of finalists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Could this be the year of the libero?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":259339,"width":222,"height":283,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-Hailey-Green.jpg?w=803" alt="" class="wp-image-259339" style="width:222px;height:283px" width="222" height="283" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winning Miss Volleyball as a libero has been the mountain no player has been able to climb as of yet. Could 2023 finally be the year?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the finalists, the libero position is as strongly represented as any with Lakewood's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110318' first='Carley' last='Piercefield']</strong>, North Branch's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green'] </strong>and Hudsonville's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110279' first='Gianna' last='Bender']</strong> all in the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three have been varsity standouts for multiple years and all are set to compete at the college level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green (Wingate) may have the leg up on the other two as she's led North Branch to a Division 2 state title in 2022 and a finals appearance in 2021. She's also sitting at over 2,100 digs in her career. Piercefield (Western Michigan) is also over 2,100 digs as she's been the Lakewood libero since she joined the program as a freshman. She was able to lead the Vikings to a trip to Battle Creek for state finals weekend as a freshman and sophomore. Bender (San Diego State) is approaching 1,500 career digs as she's in her second year with the libero jersey. Bender was part of a Hudsonville squad that reached the 2021 D1 semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all three sporting impressive All-State honors over their career, it's hard to imagine they can't all be on the short list to win. Green's state championship in 2022 and being part of the 2023 favorite may be enough to give her the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Is D3's Smith the dark horse?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":399219,"width":230,"height":246,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/11-Taylor-Smith-2.jpg?w=959" alt="" class="wp-image-399219" style="width:230px;height:246px" width="230" height="246" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='172203' first='Taylor' last='Smith']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winning Miss Volleyball is also not easy for the smaller programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last 10 winners have come from a Division 1/Class A or Division 2/Class B program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only two winners in the award's history have come from a Division 3 or 4 program. That was Battle Creek St. Philip's Amanada McKinzie in 2012 and Leland's Alisha Glass in 2006.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Could Pewamo-Westphalia's [player_tooltip player_id='172203' first='Taylor' last='Smith'] be the next to join that exclusive list?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'1” setter for the Pirates is an Eastern Michigan commit, showing she's got the skills to be amongst the best in the state. Last fall she led P-W to its first state championship. She's a well-rounded player with incredible athleticism, putting up over 2,100 assists, 200 kills, 600 digs, 150 blocks and 170 aces in her career. It's hard to say a single player impacts her team more than Smith and there may not be a more impactful player in her given division. As P-W remains a top-ranked team in D3 again this year, it could be the final push she needs to be named the winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Which hitter has the edge?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":450384,"width":232,"height":279,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/DSC_6744.jpg?w=849" alt="" class="wp-image-450384" style="width:232px;height:279px" width="232" height="279" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miss Volleyball has been an award that has trended strongly in a hitter's favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four of the last five winners have been outside hitters and that could be the case again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the finalists, four are outside hitters in Hudsonville's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172198' first='Isabelle' last='Swiercz'] </strong>(Central Michigan), Clarkston's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110288' first='Cayla' last='Cogan'] </strong>(George Washington), Forest Hills Central's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110332' first='Avery' last='Weslow']</strong> and Forest Hills Northern's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson']</strong> (Western Michigan).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Erickson has the edge in this foursome when it comes to kill production. She has over 1,250 with the Huskies and was able to help guide FH Northern to the D1 semifinals last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weslow has been part of Forest Hills Central since she was a freshman and took on a bigger role last season with 503 kills. With 230 already in 2023, Weslow has just under 1,100 kills in her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swiercz was a big part of Hudsonville's offense starting as a sophomore and is just under 1,050 kills in her career. That includes 570 as a junior and 167 thus far in 2023. Swiercz was part of the Hudsonville team that reached the D1 semifinals in 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cogan has been a consistent part of Clarkston's offense since she was a sophomore as well. She has 808 kills over her career. Last season saw her take a big step forward with her finishing ability, becoming one of the most powerful arms in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->