All-Thumb: Second Team
The Thumb area has become a hot bed for high school volleyball as of late. This season saw five teams notch district titles, four making it to regional final matches and Unionville-Sebewaing reigned supreme this year, making it all the…
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Continue ReadingThe Thumb area has become a hot bed for high school volleyball as of late. This season saw five teams notch district titles, four making it to regional final matches and Unionville-Sebewaing reigned supreme this year, making it all the way to the Division 3 finals. With all of the top notch teams emerging from the area, come top notch players. All of these players brought their A-Game this year and lead their teams. Here is your All-Thumb: Second Team selections.
Autumn Deshetsky, Sr, S, North Branch
Photo by Sports Finest MagazineA part of one of the best program in the state, Autumn Deshetsky shined in the spotlight. The Broncos experienced an extreme injury-riddled season, stepping up came Autumn, becoming a more offensive setter while also improving her connection with Miss Volleyball nominee Allyson Severance. During her two seasons running the offense, the setter has paced her team to two Regional Final matches, ending their seasons at the hands of Notre Dame Prep. leaving her mark on the program though, Autumn put up 2591 assists, 476 digs and 173 aces over her career. Autumn looks to further career at Grace Bible College.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-BWAC, All-Region, 2nd Team All-State
Season Stats: 1170 assists, 238 digs, 103 kills
Coach Jim Fish: “Autumn is a natural leader who commands the floor while running a 5-1 offense for us. She was honorable mention all-state as a junior and received second team recognition this year. Autumn finished 13th in the state with 1170 assists this year. She is a phenomenal student with a 4.038 grade point average. Autumn has signed to play volleyball at Grace College as attending a Christian school was the number one factor in her collegiate decision.”
Madison Thompson, OH/MB/S, Sr, Reese
Photo by Huron Daily TribuneCapping off one of the best careers in program history, Madison Thompson did everything she could to succeed in her final outing. Dipping in her hand in about every position this year, Thompson hit on the outside, she went back to her roots in the middle, all while taking on setting duties. While off to a rocky start with a young team, the senior led the way. The Rockets would go all the way to their first Regional Finals in over five years. Leading the pack, Thompson put down 479 kills while pacing part of the offense with 176 assists. Thompson leaves the Rocket program with three straight district titles and a conference title, while notching over 1000+ kills in her four seasons. Thompson will become a Lady Card next season as she’ll continue her ball career at Saginaw Valley State.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTW, All-Region, and Honorable Mention All-State (D3)
Season Stats: 479 kills, 176 assists, 209 digs and 45 blocks.
Coach Thompson: Couldn’t be reached for comment.
Kacey Haire, OH, Sr, Cass City
Photo by Sports Finest MagazineA lot was to be done after losing one of the best classes in Cass City volleyball. Kacey Haire, being the lone veteran, was first in line to step up. After two seasons of being relied upon for her power at the net, Haire stepped into the season now as a 6-rotation hitter. Her aggressive nature was exactly what brought her to excel in the position, as she’d be a part of one of the best defensive teams in the area. Even after a late-season injury that’d see the hitter pop out her shoulder and out for a week. Haire wasn’t going to go away quietly. She’d come storming against Ubly in the MHSAA 1st round with 27 kills, just over a week post-clearance. Over her career, Kacey knocked down 1000+ kills and after this season 500+ digs.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTW, All-Region
Season Stats: 337 kills, .255 hitting percentage, 467 digs and 26 aces.
Coach Amy Cuthrell: “Kacey has a strong commitment to success and works hard to be an asset to her team. I think often what makes her stand out as a player and able to be in the mix with some of the areas best is that she has a deep work ethic and one of the most competitive spirits. Her heart is her strength and her endurance is commendable. She has been a varsity volleyball player for Cass City for three years and in that time has developed into a strong outside hitter and a reliable 6 slot player.”
Jordyn Conrad, S, Jr, Frankenmuth
Photo by Sports Finest MagazineIf you want to win games, you need a good setter. Jordyn Conrad fits the bill perfectly. Turning into one of the premier setters of the area, Conrad is not one to mess with. With the ability to flip a switch and shoot the ball to any hitter is impressive and keeps the opposing team frustrated. Keeping her team in tandem, she’d pace the offense and run to the District Finals before dropping to conference rival Birch Run.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-TVE, All-Region, Honorable Mention All-State (D2), AVCA Phenom List
Season Stats: 801 assists, 186 kills, 273 digs and 61 aces.
Coach Shelly Conrad: “Jordyn is a smart, dynamic, athletic setter who has great court awareness. She is a playmaker, a leader who takes command of the court and runs the offense with confidence. Jordyn utilizes all her hitters, and creates plays out of passes/digs that are not well executed. She deceives defenders with her jump-setting and ability to attack. Unlike many setters, Jordyn is a blocking threat at the net to opposing attackers. She is aggressive on floor defense and is a tough, strategic server.”
Amber Pleiness, MB, Jr, Harbor Beach
Photo by Huron Daily TribuneIn a standout season, Amber Pleiness was at the forefront to it all. Harbor Beach experienced one of their best season’s in program history. Challenging area heavy weights, the Pirates would fall short to Brown City for the GTE Title and Unionville-Sebewaing for the District title, both teams ending up making it to the Quarter-Finals. Despite this, Pleiness didn’t let them run away with it. On the season, Amber hit about .300 and while also being a defensive threat in the back with 392 digs.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTE, All-Region, Honorable Mention All-State (D3)
Season Stats: 328 kills, .341 hitting percentage, 392 digs, 93 blocks and 82 aces.
Coach Stephanie Weiss: “Amber is an outstanding player, but such a great teammate, too. She works hard to be the best player she can be, and it showed this year as she was the stat leader in almost every category. Amber is also a great teammate, helping and supporting her team on and off the court. She plays volleyball because she loves the game and loves to bring success to her team. This year she and this team brought home two tournament wins at Bad Axe and Lakers, while also coming in runner up at Mt. Morris. Amber has been an essential part of this team and as one of 7 members returning, we look forward to continuing in this success next year.”
Ashlin Murphy, MB, Sr, Caro
Photo by Sports Finest MagazineYou don’t want to match up with this block. The beast of Ashlin Murphy broke loose this season. In a turnaround season for the Tigers, Murphy was a huge part of that. Leading her team in kills and blocks, Murphy also lead the entire GTW conference in blocks. With one of the toughest blocks in the area, she fits right in with the best. With an explosive season, Murphy caps off her career sitting fourth in program history in total blocks with 269.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTW, All-Region
Season Stats: 332 kills, .318 hitting percentage, 119 digs, 41 aces, 133 blocks
Coach Bob Tobey: “Ashlin and Kaitlyn were my best two hitters this season. Together, they would put up a block that could be deadly. They both stepped up from last year to become dominating at their positions.”
Grace Williamson, OH/MB, Soph, Unionville-Sebewaing
Photo by Huron Daily TribuneAfter a move from Outside to Middle, from there, Grace Williamson was off to the races. Not only one of the better offensive weapons on the rise for the Patriots, she’d be huge on the defensive end. Improving from a .024 hitting percentage her freshman year to a .212 has been quite the feat for this rising star. In aid to her team’s phenomenal State Championship run, she notched 293 kills and 383 digs on the season.
Season Awards: 1st Team All-GTW
Season Stats: 293 kills, .212 hitting percentage, 383 digs, and 53 blocks
Coach Teresa Rose: “Grace was switched from an outside hitter to a middle halfway through the season her athleticism really helped her embrace that new position. As a sophomore we are looking for her to do great things for the program in the future.”