Top Performers on Day 1 of the MHSAA Final Four (D2/3)

<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">Join us at the Prep Dig Top 250 Expo</a>! </em><em>Use code LShotVBExpo2023 for 10% off your registration fee.</em> (APPLICABLE TO ALL EXPOS)</h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6>   <p>It's the last weekend of the season! This is for all of the marbles.</p>   <p>Day 1 marked the Final Four for Divisions II and III. From the full field, to now just 2 remaining teams, who will be crowned champion?</p>   <p>In Divison II, North Branch advances to play in their third straight state final and will meet Grand Rapids West Catholic. In Division III, we will crown a first-ever champion on Saturday. Kalamazoo Christian will seek redemption after last year's loss and Traverse City St. Francis will make their first appearance since 2012.</p>   <p>Let's take a look at the standouts from Day 1 of the MHSAA Final Four weekend!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='446690' first='Anneliese' last='De Jong'] - Kalamazoo Christian</h2>   <p>Kalamazoo Christian opened up the weekend in one of the most dominating fashions. Powered behind the net play of [player_tooltip player_id='446690' first='Anneliese' last='De Jong'], it was impossible for SMCC to keep up. DeJong not only was one of the most efficient attackers on the day, but she was also one of the most effective from the service line. The opposite brought in 9 kills, hitting .400, on top of 5 aces and 4 blocks in the sweep over the Kestrels.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D3-Semifinal-11.jpg?w=813" alt="" class="wp-image-479414" style="width:207px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries']</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries'] - Kalamazoo Christian</h2>   <p>Right alongside DeJong, this was one unstoppable duo. [player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries'] was thumping the ball with some extra oomph in warm ups and she wasn't blowing smoke. DeVries would go on to be a double-double performer with 12 kills and 20 digs. While DeVries was steady early on offensively, it'd be behind the power of her arm that would seal the deal in the third. 6 of her 12 kills came out set three, she was virtually unstoppable.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] - Cass City</h2>   <p>In the next Division III Semi Final, the [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] (Texas Tech) was on full display. Despite the loss, one thing was made very clear and that was that this player is made for the big stage. On top of leading all attackers on the day, regardless of division, with 17 kills; Ignash followed up with 16 digs and 8 blocks. Nearly securing a rare triple-double.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226837' first='Garnet' last='Mullet'] - Traverse City St. Francis</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/Semifinal-2-13.jpg?w=724" alt="" class="wp-image-479500" style="width:191px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226837' first='Garnet' last='Mullet']</figcaption></figure>   <p>On the other side of the net, [player_tooltip player_id='226837' first='Garnet' last='Mullet'] was doing all that she could to punch her ticket to the championship on Saturday. Not only was Mullet one of the top point scorers on the day with 16 kills, she was also one of the best defenders with 19 digs. Mullet had her hands all over the victory over Cass City.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance'] - Traverse City St. Francis</h2>   <p>While Mullet showed up huge defensively, it was an absolute unit of a back court on the Gladiator's side of the net. Alongside her teammate, L [player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance'], too, popped off with an incredible 19 dig performance. As strong of a defensive performance as Nance had tonight, her service pressure was equally as strong. With 3 aces on the night, to open the third set, Nance would charge onto a 6 point serving run.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='446694' first='Amelia' last='Gagnon'] - Grand Rapids West Catholic</h2>   <p>There wasn't much that this libero had to dig up... But there weren't many balls falling on her side of the court either. Standing out as a clear MVP in this Division II Semi Final match, [player_tooltip player_id='446694' first='Amelia' last='Gagnon'] gave us a glimpse of what's to come on Saturday. With 10+ digs in the sweep over Milan, Gagnon was critical in GR West Catholic's high .333 team hitting percentage.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'] - Grand Rapids Christian</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D2-Semi-2-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-479605" style="width:233px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke']</figcaption></figure>   <p>Grand Rapids Christian may have lost in tonight's Final Four, but I have a strong feeling that they will be taking over Division II for year to come with this player. You cannot ask for a better performance from a freshman in her first Final Four. 16 kills and hitting over .300 in her Kellogg debut. This is a player very reminiscent of an Addie VanderWeide (Iowa/Hope) that propelled GRC to three-straight titles from 2018-2020. [player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'] is the next big thing for the Eagles.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky'] - North Branch </h2>   <p>From one underclassman to the next, for awhile in this match, these two were just going back and forth teeing off of each other for points. While [player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky'] is no stranger to Kellogg Arena, she made her presence even more well known tonight. Deshetsky ended the night with a double-double. With 11 kills and 11 digs, Deshetsky had a solid overall game. She would put down 9 of her 11 kills in the first two sets.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='110302' first='Adrienne' last='Greschaw'] - North Branch</h2>   <p>Setters never give enough love, but it was obvious that tonight, [player_tooltip player_id='110302' first='Adrienne' last='Greschaw'] was in full control. Through the first two sets, North Branch was firing off at an alarming .344 clip. Greschaw had her hands all over it as she had 25 of her 32 assists throughout the two sets. It took Grand Rapids Christian taking her out of the equation for the Bronco's efficiency to drop, but it didn't matter.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='222361' first='Clara' last='Gyomory'] - North Branch</h2>   <p>When you have a hitter averaging 4 kills a set and bombing off at an .600+ clip, there's no way you can lose. [player_tooltip player_id='222361' first='Clara' last='Gyomory'] (Northwood) time and time again has proven to be one of the state's best offerings on the right side. This is a player that has shown a lot of growth through the years. Looking back at her first appearance in Kellogg, she hit .000 on the entire weekend. Now, as one of the first options for the North Branch offense, Gyomory is one of the most efficient attackers in all of Michigan. </p>