2024 Division 3 Player & Coach Of The Year

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow']</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723271,"width":"260px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/SMCC-vs-Cass-City-11.jpg?w=853" alt="" class="wp-image-723271" style="width:260px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The SMCC volleyball program knew it had a special player when it had <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow']</strong> playing such a big role as a freshman. For four years, Costlow had the Kestrels right in the mix for the D3 state title, but it was in 2024 that she really elevated her game to another level and led SMCC back to the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Costlow's play has earned her the honor of being Prep Dig Michigan's 2024 Division 3 Player of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, Costlow had over 500 kills and over 400 digs, leading SMCC in both states while also hitting over .400.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her improved finishing rate was a big key in SMCC's run to the title. This season, the Kestrels were putting away the tough points and not letting opponents linger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You could see that added intensity out of Costlow, who had more force and speed in her power swings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She played all season with laser focus and proved she was one of the best in the state, regardless of division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong>There were a lot of quality contenders for D3's top honor. Shelby's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier'] </strong>was certainly one of them. She set the new MHSAA all-time kills record, wrapping up an impressive career by amassing over 900 kills for the third straight season. Gauthier certainly left it all on the floor for Shelby, driving the program to new heights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of Shelby's, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] </strong>was one of the special talents to come through D3. The lengthy middle showed this year she's not just a power arm by leading Cass City in kills, digs, blocks and aces. She was a gamechanger no matter where she was on the floor and has a promising future ahead of her on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance'] </strong>could have gotten lost in the mix with all the talented hitters in D3, but her defensive play was too hard to ignore. The senior libero led TC St. Francis to another finals appearance, doing so with undeniable play in the back court. This year she had over 550 digs and over 100 aces. She definitely showed what having an elite libero can mean for a team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Coach of the Year: Kathleen Nance</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":724138,"width":"247px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/D3-Final-26.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-724138" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 3 has not been easy for new programs to break into the Battle Creek scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year alone, all four teams from the 2023 semifinals got back to Kellogg Arena in 2024. The road wasn't easy either year for Traverse City St. Francis, yet the Gladiators came through with “upsets” each year to be the D3 runner-up. <strong>Kathleen Nance </strong>has built the program into one of the best and her coaching this year earns her Prep Dig Michigan's 2024 Division 3 Coach of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gladiators take on the tough mindset of their coach, and that showed in their gritty play throughout the postseason with five-set wins over Calumet and Kalamazoo Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: Kim Windham </strong>took over a very strong team when she was named the SMCC coach. Still, the first-year leader of the Kestrels had a lot of expectations on her in her debut season. When it came down to the high-pressure situation of Kellogg Arena, Windham got her team over the hump that had haunted it in previous seasons and led it to the state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kalamazoo Christian was a team many might have wrote off following its D3 championship in 2023. But, a credit to coach <strong>Carlie Southland</strong>, the Comets were right back at Battle Creek in 2024. Despite inserting a lot of new starters, Kalamazoo Christian was among the best in D3 all season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amy Cuthrell </strong>of Cass City had a special senior class that made it to Kellogg Arena in three consecutive seasons. This year, Cass City had its best team yet, just ran into the eventual champs, SMCC. To the program's credit, it was the only D3 team to take a set from the Kestrels this year. Cuthrell had her team playing its best at the end of the year and kept elevating some high-level players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->