2024 Division 4 Player & Coach Of The Year

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='723159' first='Nora' last='Proos']</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":724059,"width":"249px","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/D4-Final-11.jpg?w=755" alt="" class="wp-image-724059" style="width:249px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='723159' first='Nora' last='Proos']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723159' first='Nora' last='Proos']</strong> had plenty on her plate in the 2024 MHSAA season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior outside hitter was entering a senior year knowing her team had just seven players on the roster, with two of them being eighth graders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Proos knew she had to lead by example, and that she did.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Proos put everything into this year and led St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake to the D4 state final, where it came up just short against the defending state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the season, Proos put up over 500 kills and 400 digs, while also adding over 100 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For that reason, she has been named Prep Dig Michigan's 2024 Division 4 Player of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong>Concord's <strong>Ilya Weeks </strong>knew how to put the ball down and she did it just about as well as anyone in the state. This season, the senior middle had over 700 kills and hit over .300 in the process. Weeks was also a great defensive asset, as she helped Concord reach the state quarterfinals before falling in five sets to OLL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley'] </strong>had plenty of pressure on her this season. As Clarkston Everest Collegiate returned nearly its entire lineup from its 2023 championship team, all were expecting Bradley to lead the way to another title. It's not easy to repeat, but Bradley guided CEC to another title with over 400 kills, 230 digs and 100 aces. She had another pair of dominant performances in Battle Creek as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Coach of the Year: Erin Cashen</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":731932,"width":"254px","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/5/2024/12/SHA-vs-OLL-VB-19.jpg?w=918" alt="" class="wp-image-731932" style="width:254px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erin Cashen </strong>worked a lot of magic this season to get OLL to its appearance in a state final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Navigating a season of practices with just seven players, including two that are still in middle school, isn't easy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cashen utilized her giving family to help push her team to their limits as much as they could and have the team ready for the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers showed a lot of heart on their way to Battle Creek, grinding out some challenging matches despite the limited bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cashen had her team believing in themselves and playing their best at the end of the season. She earned the honor of Prep Dig Michigan's 2024 Division 4 Coach of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the future of the program is uncertain due to their five graduating seniors, Cashen is sure to keep the program heading in the right direction over time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions: Danielle Walker </strong>faced lofty expectations in 2024 after she led Clarkston Everest Collegiate to the state title in her first year as head coach. Still, Walker made sure to push her team that returned almost everyone. She played a challenging schedule and had the Mountaineers rolling in the postseason, dropping just one set as they won a second consecutive title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hancock coach <strong>Brian Lamppa </strong>made his first season with the program a memorable one. He guided the squad to their first semifinal appearance. Their team flew under the radar, emerging from a competitive group of Upper Peninsula squads to reach Battle Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->