2024 Club Preview: FaR Out 16 Black

<!-- 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">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like that, club season is upon us!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After another incredible high school season, this club season is proving to be another big one for Michigan-based club teams. In 2023, we saw national champions be crowned as well as many top finishes from all ages from these prestigious clubs. It's time to look to the future and see what these clubs have in store for us in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next on the list, the 16s age group. This is another really exciting group of teams coming in for the FaR Out teams. Let's talk about FaR Out 16 Black.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">16 Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='226939' first='Maggie' last='Szlachcic'] - Hudsonville</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='446697' first='Sylvie' last='Sinke'] - Hudsonville</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='481379' first='Rylie' last='Barriger'] - Lowell</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='220968' first='Quinn' last='Yenshaw'] - TC St. Francis</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='226876' first='Finley' last='Arp'] - South Christian</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490369' first='Rylee' last='Stanley-Eldred'] - East Grand Rapids</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='464378' first='Ava' last='Bush-Nelson'] - Jenison</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson'] - Byron Center</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490370' first='Mackenzee' last='Stanley-Eldred'] - East Grand Rapids</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='226882' first='Karis' last='Chatfield'] - Jenison</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490341' first='Madeline' last='Ostrander'] - GR Catholic Central</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='226890' first='Emma' last='Duffy'] - Lakewood</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HC: <strong>Val Lurye</strong> (Forest Hills Northern)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is yet another group in the pipeline coming off of a huge club season last year. A group that finished amongst the best in the 15 Open last year at AAUs. This is another team with a lot of promise and potential to make big waves in the open circuit in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Power on the Pins</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to the pins, this team has a lot of options and serious depth. These are pins that are very effective scorers and bring a lot of balance in this team's ball control as well. All of these pins have experience playing with each other as well which bodes huge for any team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some heavy prospects to watch out for on the left side are [player_tooltip player_id='226882' first='Karis' last='Chatfield'] and [player_tooltip player_id='226939' first='Maggie' last='Szlachcic']. These two manned down that pin very well all throughout the 2023 season to high success. Chatfield is an emerging talent in this class that cannot be overlooked coming into this highly coveted recruiting season. A stalwart on the pass and a heavy bomber for an attacker, she's quite frankly the complete package. Szlachcic is another promising player that is coming into her own quite nicely. While both are around the 5'11 mark, they have great court vision and effective shots to remain as crucial scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the right side, expect to see a lot of [player_tooltip player_id='226876' first='Finley' last='Arp'] and [player_tooltip player_id='220968' first='Quinn' last='Yenshaw']. Arp is a right side through and through. An excellent scorer when she gets on the ball and an outstanding blocker on the right pin. She has a very deceptive arm that causes a lot of hysteria for opposing defenses. Yenshaw is player that can very well get sometime swinging on the left side this season too. While a common body for FaR Out on the right pin, Yenshaw had an incredible season on the left side with Traverse City St. Francis. Leading the Gladiators all the way to the Division III Championship, Yenshaw had a huge growth curve as a six rotation left side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Territory</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In comparison to last year's team, this territory of the court looks a bit different. Nonetheless, these three are very promising prospects to keep an eye on. 16 Black tacks on [player_tooltip player_id='490341' first='Madeline' last='Ostrander'], [player_tooltip player_id='464378' first='Ava' last='Bush-Nelson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='446697' first='Sylvie' last='Sinke'] to the middle position in 2024. All three middles are coming off of exciting fall campaigns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ostrander and Sinke had somewhat of breakout seasons with their respective teams. Ostrander was a leading contributor with her blocking to an emerging GR Catholic Central program. Meanwhile, Sinke was able to give the top team, Hudsonville, a really solid option in the middle to keep a balanced offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Bush-Nelson, she was a part of a really young, but really scary Jenison group in the fall. In only her freshman debut, Bush-Nelson was a go-to presence at the net with her highly efficient attacking and solid blocking. She brings a lot of quick fire power to this group that'll balance out the pin-heavy offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Deadly Defense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been said many times, but FaR Out is one of the clubs that can pump out top tier defensive players. This is going to be yet again, another intense tandem of back court players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading this trio of defenders, 16 Black brings up one of the top 2027 prospects in the country, [player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson']. Playing up in the 15 Black ranks for the past few seasons, Johnson has been key to several top finishes including a top five finish in 15 Open last summer. Johnson had a breakout fall with Byron Center and has cemented herself as the top ranked player in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Complimenting this defensive dynamo, we have a pair of sisters who'll surely shake up the back court. Both [player_tooltip player_id='490369' first='Rylee' last='Stanley-Eldred'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490370' first='Mackenzee' last='Stanley-Eldred'] are coming off of stellar seasons at East Grand Rapids. The two can cover a lot of ground and will leave many attackers frustrated this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Setting the Pace</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='226890' first='Emma' last='Duffy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='481379' first='Rylie' last='Barriger'] return this season as the team's two setters. Last year saw the two split time in 15 Black's highly effective 6-2 system. Both of them are the definition of leaders on the court. Catching them early on at Triple Crown last season, I was wowed with their ability to man the court both in the setting abilities and in their leadership. Both Duffy and Barriger can play lights out defense as well which bodes well for this squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->