2025 MHSAA Division 1 All-Tournament Dream Team

<p><em><strong>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects. <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code “LSHOTPD25” to get $10 off your registration.</strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>Coming for it all, Saturday marked the end of yet another incredible season in the MHSAA.</p>   <p>In Division 1, the Marlins are once again back on top. After a having what would have been a three-peat interrupted last year by Northville, Mercy was not going to be denied. They, however, came awfully close. In the semifinals against Byron Center, the Marlins found themselves down 0-2 against the No. 15 ranked team. It took this young group a while to find their bearings, but once it was found. It was all Mercy, the rest of the way.</p>   <p>On the other side of the bracket, we saw a once in a generation type performance out of [player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze'] and Bloomfield Hills. Rockford was the tram to beat all year long. Nobody could come close to upending their No. 1 ranked streak... Until now. In another five set barn burner, the Black Hawks managed to pull off one of the greatest upsets of the year.</p>   <p>It was quite the run for all four of these teams and they were led by the standout play from these several stars in Division 1.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH - [player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze']</h2>   <p>Without a doubt, [player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze'] goes down as this year's player of the year. There is just no other way around it. The historic heights that this player brought to this program was unprecedented, all while playing out of position. In the Finals, Nwabueze was the one to beat. Against Rockford, she had a historic 43 kill performance that, by herself, dismantled the top team. Despite the loss in the finals, Nwabueze added another 24.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH - [player_tooltip player_id='226900' first='Liv' last='Hosford']</h2>   <p>It is truly unfortunate to see a player like [player_tooltip player_id='226900' first='Liv' last='Hosford'] walk away from Kellogg without the ultimate Wooden Mitten. But needless to say, she did not go down without a fight. This player is a do-it-all kind for the Rams. She can hit on either pin at an extremely high efficiency and she is passing just about every single rotation at an exceptional rate. Hosford put down 23 kills, hitting .340 against Bloomfield Hills, seemingly one of the few on the Rams' side to not get too rattled by the opposing defense.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH - [player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson'] </h2>   <p>Much like Nwabueze, [player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson'] is another stand out who is playing out of position and crushing it. A libero turned to a six rotation outside hitter, there was so many things about Johnson's game that doesn't show up on the box score but made such an incredible impact. From her offense to her defense and overall court presence, Johnson was able to lead this team to a near upset over the eventual champions. In the semifinals, Johnson logged 15 kills with 27 digs and 3 aces. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MB - [player_tooltip player_id='226875' first='Ella' last='Andrews'] </h2>   <p>One of the biggest things that allowed Mercy to have such success over their counterparts throughout championship weekend was the play in the middle. Led by none other than a pair of sisters, first lets talk about [player_tooltip player_id='226875' first='Ella' last='Andrews']. When Mercy last won here in Battle Creek, Ella was benched due to MHSAA transfer regulations. For her first time on this kind of stage, despite all of her success thus far in her career, it is mighty impressive. Ella was a game changer. Her presence at the net not only opened up so many different avenues for other attackers and herself, but her net play was near impossible to surpass. On the weekend, Ella had 30 kills, hit .412 and 13 blocks. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MB - [player_tooltip player_id='569766' first='McKenzie' last='Andrews']</h2>   <p>Right when one Andrews subbed out, in came another one. It was a never ending cycle of terror at the net. [player_tooltip player_id='569766' first='McKenzie' last='Andrews'] has had herself quite the November. Just two weeks prior, she was winning Gold with Team USA at the NORCECA Championships in Costa Rica, and now, she's winning her first state championship with Mercy. Throughout the finals, she was sensational. Its quite something to see a high school team be so elite at the skill of blocking, its incredibly underrated and especially for a player this young. However, right behind her older sister Ella, McKenzie roofed 11 blocks to go with 12 kills.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">S - [player_tooltip player_id='709559' first='Kaelyn' last='Easton']</h2>   <p>While the middles were surely a huge impact for Mercy and their victories, there wouldn't be such presence or production for that matter if it wasn't for their setter. And as only a freshman, it begs to receive much higher praise than usual. [player_tooltip player_id='709559' first='Kaelyn' last='Easton'] is a rookie looking like a vet out here. With over 100 assists in Kellogg, Easton ran one of the most prolific offenses. One of the driving forces of their success. Much like [player_tooltip player_id='574175' first='Payton' last='Woodruff'] of Detroit Country Day, Mercy did not have the greatest of passing weekends. However, the difference that Easton was able to make on the ball to convert into points was incredible. Everything about her play this weekend is MVP worthy.</p>   <p>Oh, and she also was a part of that NORCECA Championship winning team alongside [player_tooltip player_id='569766' first='McKenzie' last='Andrews']. These underclassman from Mercy, watch out!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">L - [player_tooltip player_id='804480' first='Alyssa' last='Moir']</h2>   <p>While a lot of the Blackhawk's spotlight gets pointed to their leader in point scoring, there is definitely something to be said about their stout defense. That is all led by [player_tooltip player_id='804480' first='Alyssa' last='Moir']. I have seen this player throughout the entire season and she has just gotten better and better. When it mattered most for Bloomfield Hills, she elevated her game incredibly. Between the two matches, this libero logged 41 digs to lead her team to its first ever state championship match.</p>

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