With the volleyball season tipping off, here is a look at the top five players to watch this season.
Lizzie Risdon
SCHOOL: Zeeland East
GRADE: Senior
POSITION: Outside hitter
LAST YEAR: Earned all-conference and all-region honors. Was named honorable mention all-state in Division 1. Totaled 424 kills, 367 digs, 55 aces and 23 blocks.
COACH’S VIEW: “Lizzie is an exceptional volleyball player that continues to elevate her game. She is a dominant force not only in the front row, but back row as well. She is able to see the court and know where to put the ball in order to earn a point. She also can read her opponents and is able to get many scrappy digs in the backrow to keep her team alive. Her determination, enthusiasm and leadership on the court propelled our team to a 31-5 record. Lizzie’s volleyball IQ is unmatched, and I’m excited to see her continued growth next year.” – former coach Sara Mulder
Akiah Garvelink
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Junior
POSITION: Outside hitter
LAST YEAR: Totaled 246 kills, 28 aces, 89 digs and 10 blocks.
COACH’S VIEW: “Akiah’s natural power and her coachability to add smart off speed shots to her tool belt made her a threat on the outside pin.” – Kaitlyn Lawton
McKenzie Glupker
SCHOOL: Hamilton
GRADE: Sophomore
POSITION: Middle hitter
LAST YEAR: Totaled 188 kills and 24 blocks, hitting .235
COACH’S VIEW: “Kenzie did some incredible things for our team this season as a freshman. She is quick on her feet which makes her a very dynamic hitter that is able to swing with either no block or a one on one opportunity just due to her speed. She has grown so much throughout the season and I’m excited to see what she can do within the next three years.” – Courtney Cronkright
Allison Lamer
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
POSITION: Right-side hitter
LAST YEAR: Earned all-conference and all-region honors. Honorable mention all-state in Division 2. Totaled 163 kills and 46 blocks.
COACH’S VIEW: “Allison was thrown into a new position for her this year and never skipped a beat. She was crazy consistent and quickly turned into one of our best weapons. She betters the ball with every touch, reads the court so well and almost always finds a way to execute. Allison turned into a 6 rotation player for us for a good portion of the season and we can not wait to see what next year brings for her.” – Kylie Leeuw
MacKenzie McIlwain
SCHOOL: Fennville
GRADE: Senior
POSITION: Setter
LAST YEAR: Earned all-conference and all-region honors for the second year in a row. Passed 1,000 assists, 300 kills and 750 digs this season. Had 292 digs, 489 assists, 96 kills and 82 aces. Set school record with 11 aces in a match.
COACH’S VIEW: “MacKenzie had a standout season, setting both school, Holland area records, and MHSAA records. Her strong leadership is her greatest strength as an athlete. She brings unwavering confidence to the court and leads with both heart and determination. She picks her teammates up and cheers them on through both good and tough times. She is both an offensive and defensive threat. She runs the offense with precision and consistently tries to get hands on every ball. As a setter, her defensive skills are exceptional. She’s smart, has sharp court awareness, and knows how to draw a block. I am looking forward to seeing what her senior year brings next season.” – Rebecca Hughes.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Meet the high school volleyball players to watch this season in the Holland area
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan D'Addona, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
