Underclassmen making an impact on volleyball court

METRO DETROIT — With the Michigan High School Athletic Association state tournament only two weeks away, it’s safe to say by now that the potential all-staters and Dream Team finalists have already distanced themselves from the rest of the pack.

But with every championship push comes a moment where an underclassmen makes an improbable play that sends the entire crowd into a thought of, “Who’s that?”

Below are just a few of the underclassmen who have stood out in the C & G Newspapers coverage area:

 

Sophomore S Lily Tripi, Utica Eisenhower
Utica Eisenhower currently sits at the top of the Macomb Area Conference Red, and Tripi is a key reason why.

Sidelined her freshman year due to knee surgery, the 6-foot-1 setter has returned with authority on the court, posting 934 assists (second in the state), 99 kills, 31 aces, 242 digs and 25 total blocks this season.

Her height gives her more than enough hangtime on her sets for her hitters to elevate while her sets themselves are effortless, placing the ball anywhere she wants at will.

Just when you think she’s going to set up a teammate, she drops one right where the opposing team isn’t for a point.

No matter what part of the floor she’s at, opposing teams have to keep an eye out for her because of how fluently the offense runs through her.

If you’re not careful, Tripi can take over a game easily, like her eight kills and 36-assist performance in a 3-1 win over Grosse Pointe South Oct. 1.

Tripi is on track for an all-state season and has the Eagles offensive attack thriving so far, and she and the rest of the underclassmen on the squad are the reasons Eisenhower will be a tough out for any team in the MHSAA Division 1 state tournament.

 

Sophomore OH Kate Kalczynski, Farmington Hills Mercy
There’s not much more you can say about the returning second team all-state sophomore other than she keeps on elevating her game.

Kalczynski was a vital piece of Mercy’s state championship last season, tallying a game-high 25 kills in the championship match, and her continued improvement is a reason why Mercy is the top-ranked team in the state.

The 6-foot-1 outside hitter has a powerful spike and a real sense of the court, positioning herself in the right places and executing well-timed spikes. When the spike becomes too easy for her, she’ll mix it up by dropping a floater in no man’s land.

Having a setter like senior Campbell Flynn, a University of Nebraska commit, has only done wonders for the underclassmen, but expect her to only get better over the course of the next two seasons. She currently has 132 kills, 13 aces, 12 total blocks, 60 digs, and 160 serve receptions, which is on track for another potential all-state season.

 

Freshman L Ashlyn Pelon, Bloomfield Hills Marian
On a team loaded with talent, Pelon somehow manages to stand out with her impressive play night in and night out.

The first-year varsity player currently leads the team in digs (376), aces (64) and serve receptions (508) this season, leading all freshmen in the state in digs as well.

She’s got a natural sense for the ball, positioning herself in the right places in preparation for a dig, and lets her athleticism showcase itself when she dives for a dig and muscles it over the net.

There’s always a thought as to how teams like Marian or Mercy consistently stay as one of the top threats in Division 1, and it’s players like Pelon that come and make an immediate impact that help the Mustangs continue their winning ways.

Watching her development over the next three years is going to be fun for any Marian or volleyball fan, as her career is headed on an all-state track.

 

Sophomore S Nellie Alves, Novi
A do-it-all kind of player, Alves has brought a little bit of everything to the table for the Wildcats.

New to setting last year, Alves posted 475 assists in her first year on varsity, and she’s only blossomed from there.

Understanding the tempo of your hitters and the offense itself can be the biggest challenge, but Alves’ comfortability on the court and in her role has showcased itself this season as she’s tallied 560 assists already.

She’s not just dangerous as a setter, for the sophomore has racked up five or more kills six times this season, totaling 87 on the year.

She’s also contributed 36 aces, 40 total blocks and 173 digs on the year. There’s a lot to like about where her game is at right now, and it’s only going to improve with another year as a setter under her belt.

 

Freshman OH Lauren Sheldon, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek
Talk about freshmen taking over the game, Sheldon has been putting on a clinic for the Cougars this season.

Sheldon is second in kills (260), first in kills per set (3.5) and first hitting percentage (.208) among all freshmen, and the 6-foot hitter has taken over numerous games this season with her attacking ability.

She doesn’t require a ton of preparation or steps prior to her hit, but the power she generates seems to be effortless.

She can place the spike in the weak point of the opposing team, or she has no problem challenging an opposing player to try and dig her spike.

Sheldon has 12 games with double-digit kills, including a pair of 20 or more. On top of her impressive attacking ability, Sheldon has also contributed 35 aces, 17 total blocks, 159 digs, and 325 serve receptions.

Stoney Creek’s regular season record isn’t as flashy as some would hope because of the strength of schedule they play, but anytime you have players like Sheldon and the rest of Stoney Creek’s young core, there’s always a chance to spark a run in the state tournament.

 

Freshman S Payton Woodruff, Detroit Country Day
Having a Miss Volleyball candidate in Olivia Grenadier and a junior standout in Elise Hiemstra as your two primary hitters can make your life easier as a freshman setter, but Woodruff is not your average freshman.

Leading all freshmen in assists with 686 assists, Woodruff is as cool as a cucumber on the court, leading an offense for a team currently ranked No. 3 in Division 2 volleyball.

She has a natural intelligence for the game and is always conscious of where her hitters are, setting them up to perfection.

For a first-year freshman player, you can just see her confidence shine on the court with how she carries herself.

Country Day is loaded with talent this season, both veterans and underclassmen, but Woodruff stands out for a Yellowjackets team currently on a 24-game win streak. She’s also contributed 21 aces, 24 total blocks and 114 digs while averaging 10.1 assists per set.

The sky’s the limit for her next three years.

 

Other underclassmen to watch:

Sophomore MH Olivia Berishaj, Utica Eisenhower
Stats: 143 kills, .296 hitting percentage, 24 aces, 24 total blocks, 79 digs.

Sophomore DS/OH Rease Buza, Utica Eisenhower
Stats: 34 aces, 308 digs, 264 serve receptions.

Sophomore OH Elise Biermann, Utica Eisenhower
Stats: 341 kills, 51 aces, 289 digs, 333 serve receptions.

Sophomore Sophia Smith, Bloomfield Hills Marian
Stats: 229 kills, 21 aces, 60 total blocks, 175 digs, 163 serve receptions.

Sophomore OH Calli Lefevre, Bloomfield Hills Marian
Stats: 172 kills, 41 aces, 21 total blocks, 139 digs, 212 serve receptions.

Sophomore MB/OH Kylee Backus, Utica
Stats: 167 kills, 99 digs, 97 serve receptions.

Sophomore OH Demi McCoy, Detroit Country Day
Stats: 126 kills, 24 aces, 101 digs, 240 serve receptions.

Freshman OH Sici Guerrant, Detroit Country Day
Stats: 67 kills, 18 total blocks.

Sophomore MH Kate Signorello, Rochester
Stats: 115 kills, 20 aces, 32 total blocks.

Sophomore S Brynn Wilcox, Bloomfield Hills
Stats: 89 kills, .301 hitting percentage, 27 aces, 20 total blocks, 119 digs, 623 assists.

Sophomore DS Alyssa Moir, Bloomfield Hills
Stats: 31 aces, 238 digs, 399 serve receptions.

Freshman OH Allison Stakoe, Bloomfield Hills
Stats: 177 kills, 39 aces, 185 digs, 379 serve receptions.

Sophomore MH/MB Leighton Garner, Macomb Lutheran North
Stats: 60 kills, 52 total blocks.

Sophomore MH/MB Delaney Behring, Macomb Lutheran North
Stats: 75 kills, 103 total blocks.

Sophomore MH Brooklyn Rummler, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek
Stats: 70 kills, 53 blocks.

Sophomore DS/L Kaitlyn Gustafson, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek
Stats: 26 aces, 251 digs, 397 serve receptions.

Freshman DS Kaitlyn Koceski, Novi
Stats: 27 aces, 192 digs, 276 serve receptions.