October 25, 2022

A couple weeks back we checked in on 30 freshmen making impacts for their respective high school teams. We’re back with Round 2. Below, we highlight another 30 ninth-graders who have played key roles and been instrumental to their team’s success this fall. Charlotte Nowak OH JSerra CA – The Lions’ season came to a conclusion Saturday with a loss to Harvard-Westlake in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. Nowak had a strong run in her first year with JSerra. She finished second in kills with 223, averaging 2.1 per set. She was also second in aces at 34. She delivered a season-high 15 kills and hit .414 in a four-set victory over Orange Lutheran in mid-October. Erin Clark L Corona del Sol AZ – The Aztecs’ regular season ends this week as they gear up for a run at the 6A state title. Clark has filled a valuable role with her production at libero. She started the week with 324 digs, averaging 3.9 per set. It includes a season-best 30 saves in a five-set triumph against Xavier Prep in mid-October. She also had 23 digs against Queen Creek and 21 against Highland in late September. Kennedy Crayton OH Allen TX – Crayton has starred during her rookie campaign for the Eagles. She’s second in kills with 379, averaging 3.1 per set. Crayton is also second in aces with 38. She recorded a season-high 19 kills in a victory over Richardson in early September. It was one of 19 times Crayton reached double digits in kills. Nadiya Shelby OH Friendswood Christian TX – The Mustangs close out district play Tuesday. Shelby’s turned in a tremendous regular season. She entered the week second in kills at 262, averaging 2.4 per set. The 6-0 freshman registered a season-best 20 kills in a five-set loss to Manvel in late September. She had another big match against Angleton in mid-September when Shelby sent down 16 kills and hit .462. Gabby DiVita OH Grosse Point South MI – The 6-1, 5-star freshman is leading the way for the Blue Devils.  She led off the week with a team-high 182 kills and 27 aces, which also leads the team. Brooke Harwood RS Eastmark AZ – The Firebirds are trying to work their way into the 4A state playoffs. Regardless of what happens, it’s been a fabulous rookie season for Harwood, a 6-3 right side. She began the week leading the offense with 290 kills. She’s averaging 4.0 kills per set and is also second in blocks with 51. Four times Harwood has hit 20 kills or more, including a season-high 27 in a sweep of American Leadership last week. Macy McAmis L Jupiter FL – McAmis and her Warriors teammates begin the 7A state playoffs Wednesday. The freshman has been key defensively this fall. She leads the team with 313 digs, averaging 4.5 per set. She’s had a few big outings, including a season-best 31 save in a four-game loss to Benjamin on Oct. 13. McAmis also had 28 digs against Suncoast in August and 25 against Central last week. Haley Burgdorf OH St. Charles North IL – Burgdorf – a 6-0 outside – has added punch to the North Stars’ (27-8) attack. She’s second in kills with 230, averaging 3.0 per set. She sent down a season-high 15 kills in a loss to Naperville North in late September. Four times she’s notched 12 kills. Peyton Carlson OH Waupaca WI – The Comets were bumped from the postseason with a loss last week to Shawano Community in the regional playoffs. It capped a terrific season for Carlson, a 5-11 outside. She put up 363 kills. She averaged 4.8 per set and hit .400. She was also second in digs and aces. Twice Carlson recorded 30 or more kills. She set a season-best with 34 winners against Freedom in early October. She also had 31 kills in a five-set victory against Oconto Falls in mid-October. Alaina Pollard MB Lincoln-Way East IL – The Griffins (29-6) have been a Top 10 team in 4A. While Pollard hasn’t been a big piece of the offense averaging 0.8 kills per set, she’s been instrumental at the net on defense. She’s leading the team in blocks with 54, averaging 0.8 per set. Twice she’s recorded five blocks to match her season high. *** Morgan Sears MB Blue Valley Northwest KS – The Huskies were knocked from the postseason with a loss to Olathe North on Saturday. Sears, a 5-10 middle, was a key part of the lineup. She finished third in kills with 225, averaging 2.5 per set and hitting .303. Eight times she reached double-digit kills, including a season-high 17 in a five-set victory against Lansing on Oct. 11. Morgan Heater OH Ryle KY – Ryle is getting ready for the district playoffs. The 6-0 Heater has played her role well this fall. Her 282 kills are second on the roster. Heater is averaging 2.7 per set. She had a season-high 18 kills in a five-set win against Cooper back on Sept.  13. Madison Brown S Noblesville IN – The Millers were upset by Fishers in the sectional semifinals two weeks ago to conclude their season. It was a strong rookie campaign from Brown. She finished with 815 assists, averaging 8.5 per set. She tied her season-best 46 assists against Fishers in that playoff loss. She also had 46 dimes in a victory over Westfield in early September. Karen Dutro MB Columbus North IN – It was a tough season for the Bull Dogs (11-17) but the play of Dutro, a 6-1 middle, stood out. She led the roster in kills with 218. She averaged 2.9 per set. She also averaged an impressive 2.5 blocks per set, leading the team with 185. Kalyssa Taggart S/RS Lambert GA – The Longhorns (34-7) face Brookwood in the 7A state quarterfinals Tuesday. Taggart, a 5-11 S/RS, has played a vital role and contributed mightily during her ninth-grade season. She’s