2021 Top Performers in the Division 3 Semi-Finals
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Division 3 volleyball kicked off Day 2 of the MHSAA Volleyball Finals in Battle Creek and did NOT disappoint. The first match saw the upset-minded Reese Rockets take down the No. 1 rated team in Division 3, Western Michigan Christian…
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Continue ReadingDivision 3 volleyball kicked off Day 2 of the MHSAA Volleyball Finals in Battle Creek and did NOT disappoint.
The first match saw the upset-minded Reese Rockets take down the No. 1 rated team in Division 3, Western Michigan Christian in four sets. St. Mary Catholic Central followed up the excitement with a hotly contested sweep over McBain.
The theme of these two matches were the newbies making the most of their first appearance in Kellogg Arena. Here were some of the standouts.
Maddi Osantowski Maddi Osantowski 5'10" | OH Reese | 2022 State MI (2022) | 5-10 OH | Reese
You cannot ask for a much better performance from your star player in these moments. Put one blocker, put up all three blockers, Osantowski was going to scoring. Osantowski played the best match yet in her four year varsity career, putting down a record 37 kills on 108 swings on the day. Yes, 108 swings. There was not a single shot Osantowski couldn’t hit and all routes were fair game. Set her on the left, in the middle, on the slide, up the pipe, you name it, she can do it. Osantowski has her eyes on the prize.
Maddi Osantowski had herself a day with 37 kills! pic.twitter.com/wfFw5S9HVH
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) November 20, 2021
Aydan Dalak Aydan Dalak 5'9" | S Reese | 2022 MI (2022) | 5-9 S | Reese/Arsenal
Osantowski wouldn’t be so successful without her connection with Dalak. One of the best setter-hitter connections in all divisions and it was on full display today. Dalak has cemented herself as one of the best setters to have ever play in a maroon and gold jersey after this season and her performance today. Dalak notched 46 assists against WMC to go along with 4 kills and 2 aces.
Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #142 Nation MI (2025) | 5-10 OH | SMCC/Michigan Elite
Costlow may be a freshman on paper, but on the court, she plays like a seasoned veteran. Costlow was smooth all afternoon. In her Kellogg debut, Costlow averaged five kills per set on a .400 clip. While McBain had one formidable defensive line, they had no answer to Costlow.
Jessica Costlow was impressive in her debut Kellogg performance with 15 kills, hitting .400!!! pic.twitter.com/zKia4Vy3o8
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) November 20, 2021
McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #105 Nation MI (2025) | 5-7 OH | SMCC/Michigan Elite
Yet another Kestrel freshman, this was another piece in their game that was too impressive to be that young. Payne was more error prone in her offense but when called upon, she delivered big time. But it wasn’t her defense that caught my eye, but her defense. Payne was rock solid in the back court, in both defense and reception. She leads the Kestrals with 12 digs in the match.
Kyla Wiersema Kyla Wiersema 6'0" | MB Western Michigan Christian | 2022 State MI (2022) | 6-0 MB | West Michigan Christian
One of the strongest hitters in these rounds, Wiersema has a hammer. A physical player, Wiersema is one of the biggest reasons WMC stormed back to almost push a tie breaker. In set three alone, Wiersema hammered home nine of her 24 kills. Getting it done on the offense, she was also a wall at the net, notching 7 blocks.