2023 MHSAA Division I All-Tournament Dream Team

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">Join us at the&nbsp;Prep Dig Top 250 Expo</a>!&nbsp;</em><em>Use code LShotVBExpo2023 for 10% off your registration fee.</em>&nbsp;(APPLICABLE TO ALL EXPOS)</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday marked the end of the 2023 season and man, did it go out with a BANG!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Division I, we had one of the premier matches in the history of the championships. Down 0-2 was no problem for Mercy, after clinching themselves a must-win third set, it was all Marlins throughout the rest of the match. It may have been one of the greatest comeback wins we have ever seen in the Division I title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Division I Final Four was full of upsets, history and great volleyball. Led by Nebrasaka commit and 2023 World Champion, [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn'], let's take a look at the rest of the Division I All-Tournament Dream Team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All-Tournament Dream Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>OH</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson']</td><td><strong>OH</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski']</td></tr><tr><td><strong>MB</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']</td><td><strong>MB</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='226899' first='Cree' last='Hollier']</td></tr><tr><td><strong>OH/OPP</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='156325' first='Molly' last='Reck']</td><td><strong>S</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn']</td></tr><tr><td><strong>L </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110299' first='Kiley' last='Gallagher']</td><td><strong>MVP</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pin Attackers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":480138,"width":"221px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D1-Semi-2-10.jpg?w=953" alt="" class="wp-image-480138" style="width:221px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was no shortage of elite outside attackers in this one. With the likes of Erickson, [player_tooltip player_id='110288' first='Cayla' last='Cogan'], the Reck twins and more, it was a blow for blow kind of slugfest. [player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson'] (Western Michigan) was easily one of the most outstanding pins to grace the stage of Kellogg. She had an amazing attacking velocity to go along with her anchorage in the back court. Erickson accumulated 41 kills and 47 digs throughout the semis and finals. Not many have quite the complete game that she does. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next Dream Teamer came in the form of freshmen phenom, [player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski']. If I didn't know prior, I would've guessed that this player was a veteran on this Mercy squad. To think this is only her first season is a dangerous thought for many across the state. Kalczynski was hitting shots and bouncing balls like it was a normal hitting lines drill. The Frosh combined for nearly 40 kills over the weekend, averaging 4.9 kps. This will NOT be the last we hear of her in Kellogg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the trio of pins on this dream team comes from Northville, [player_tooltip player_id='156325' first='Molly' last='Reck'] (Oakland). This player has blossomed into one of the top outsides in the state this season. In her second year in Kellogg, Reck brought a steady demeanor to the court. With 14 kills and 10 digs in the semis, Reck was doing the most to advance further.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Blockers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":480469,"width":"220px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/State-Finals-Part-3-7.jpg?w=754" alt="" class="wp-image-480469" style="width:220px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The middle blockers in this field brought some incredibly unique styles of play to the Division I Final Four. From a six rotation dynamo in Hopewell, to an under-sized bomber in Hollier and one of the top blockers in [player_tooltip player_id='110315' first='Avry' last='Nelson'] (Eckerd). Division I gave quite the show in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, you cannot not stop and applaud the game of [player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell'] (Northern Kentucky) from FH Northern. A six rotation middle that hit nearly .400 in the title game and passed well over a 2.0 average, she does it all. Hopewell was here a season ago, but not nearly as dominant as she was this year. There were times throughout the weekend where she was virtually unstoppable. From her passing in zone 5 and coming all the way to the right pin to crush a point on the slide, I was in awe every time! Hopewell finished her career with 25 kills, 19 digs and 10 blocks throughout the Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side of the net in the title game, [player_tooltip player_id='226899' first='Cree' last='Hollier'] continues to prove that great things come in small packages. If we could've got a vert meter on this girl, she would've won the highest jump throughout all divisions this weekend. Hollier was the go-to arm in clutch time. To force the third set that changes everything, it was Hollier on the quick ball in the last two points that secured the match extension. Hollier ended the weekend with 15 kills on a .313 clip along with 10 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Setters and the 'Bros</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":480134,"width":"221px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D1-Semi-2-6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-480134" style="width:221px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's quite simply no setter quite like [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn'] (Nebraska). All this player knows how to do is WIN! Flynn had to take over the court several times this weekend, it was just water off of a ducks' back for her. Down 14-20 against Clarkston in the opening set? No problem. Down 2 sets to none in the championship? Who cares! Flynn wrapped up this epic championship run with a 12 kill, 64 assist and 24 dig weekend. This title run also marks her second title run in less than 4 months, winning the U19 World Championships with Team USA back in August. [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn']... A Champion...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the unexpected loss in the finals, one spot on the court shined quite bright and that was in left back for Clarkston. In her last game of her high school career, [player_tooltip player_id='110299' first='Kiley' last='Gallagher'] (Oakland) put it all out on the floor. With 12 digs in the sweep, Gallagher was picking up the hardest of swings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->