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 part of a setting duo that includes senior Claire Jenkins. Taggart is averaging 4.5 assists per set. She’s also fourth in kills with 222, averaging 2.2 per set and hitting .336.
Peyton Slone OH Fannin County GA – Slone, a 5-11 freshman, had a huge season for the Rebels, who were eliminated from the 2A state playoffs by North Cobb Christian in last week’s second round. She recorded more than half her team’s kills on the year, putting down 500 out of 997 total team kills. She averaged 4.4 per set and hit .369. She tallied a season-high 29 kills in a five-set victory against Fellowship Christian last week.
Haley Robinson RS Bayside Academy AL – The Admirals fell to Spanish Fort in the 6A South Regional finals and now turn their attention to the 6A state playoffs beginning Wednesday. Robinson has been one half of a contributing freshmen duo. She entered the week second in kills at 391, only nine off the lead. The 6-2 freshman is averaging 2.5 per set and is hitting .283. Robinson recorded a season-best 19 winners in a four-game victory over Spanish Fort in early October.
Mary Katherine Whitehurst L Bayside Academy AL – Whitehurst brought a defensive presence to the lineup. The freshman is averaging 3.6 digs per set, leading the team with 572 entering the week. Twice Whitehurst has put up a season-high 25 digs. Once against Northridge and another time in a loss to McGill-Toolen.
Genevieve Harris S Cardinal Gibbons NC – The Crusaders (16-6) are in the midst of the 4A state playoffs, with a second-round match taking place Tuesday night. Harris has fit right in running the offense. She’s put up 572 assists and is averaging 8.8 per set entering Tuesday’s outing. Harris dished out a season-best 52 dimes in a victory over Leesville Road in late September. Three other times she’s broken the 40-plus barrier.
Ashley Theiss OH DeSoto MO – The Dragons (24-9) leaned on their freshman outside this fall. Theiss powered the offense, leading with 379 kills. She averaged 3.8 per set and hit .314. She also has a team-high 49 aces and was second in digs with 348 (3.5 per set). Theiss set a season-high with 20 kills in a four-set victory over Perryville in mid-September.
***
Tara Venable OH Ozark MO – Venable, a 5-11 outside, is another freshman who impacted her team greatly this fall. She entered the week leading the Tigers with 354 kills, averaging 3.5 per week. Twice she put down 20 or more kills. She set a season-high mark with 23 kills in a setback against Nixa in late September.
Addison West OH Skutt Catholic NE – The Skyhawks are in their district playoffs as they seek the ultimate prize in the Class B state championships. Skutt Catholic has played a national schedule, traveling to the Nike TOC Southeast in Tampa and the Asics Challenge in Chicago. West has settled in nicely. The freshman outside is second in kills at 214, averaging 2.1 per set.
Mikayla Haner OH Hamilton AZ – The defending 6A champions remain among the top contenders this fall in part because of the production of Haner. She started the week second in kills at 258. She’s also averaging 2.5 digs per set and is third in aces. She had her best outing of the season most recently when she registered 15 kills and hit .414 in a sweep of Basha last Thursday.
Jordyn Gray OH Cox Mill NC – The Chargers play Tuesday night in the second round of the 4A state championships. They’ve made it this far riding their freshman outside. Gray leads the attack with 462 kills and is averaging 4.9 per set. She’s had 20 or more kills 11 times and reached double digits in all but three matches. Her season high was 28, which came against Lake Norman on Oct. 18.
Kinnady Boothe OH East Forsyth NC – Like Cox Mill, the Eagles too play Tuesday night in the second round of the 4A state playoffs. Boothe, a 6-1 outside, has been a featured part of the offense as she’s put up a team-high 328 kills. She’s averaging 3.9 kills per set and is hitting .293 entering Tuesday’s contest. Boothe recorded a season-best 29 kills in a loss to West Forsyth on Oct. 18.
Liv Hosford MB Rockford MI – Hosford, a 5-11 middle, has been a valuable addition to the lineup. As the Rams prepare for the playoffs, Hosford is currently second in kills with 294. She’s averaging 2.5 per set and hitting a remarkable .402. Hosford is also the block leader. She has 127, averaging 1.1 per set.
Gianna Reamer OH Canon-McMillan PA – The Macs have relied on a pair of freshmen outsides. Reamer, at 6-1, is one of them. She’s notched a team-high 239 kills, averaging 4.3 per set, and is hitting .321. She’s also second in digs at 2.1. Twice she put up season-bests of 24 kills.
Natalie Carr OH Canon-McMillan PA – Carr, a 5-11 outside, is the other half of the freshmen duo lifting the offense for the Macs. She’s second in kills at 157. She’s averaging 2.9 per set. Carr also leads the squad in aces with 46. She’s twice put up a season high of 14 kills.
Daisy Oatsvall MB Brentwood TN – The Bruins (36-13) reached the Division 1 Class 3A semifinals with a pair of freshmen playing key roles. Oatsvall made her presence felt in the middle, finishing second in kills at 288. She averaged 2.2 per set. She put down a team-high 101 blocks. Oatsvall came through with a season-high 17 kills in a victory over Battle Ground Academy in mid-September. She also twice recorded a season-best eight blocks.
Eliza McKnight OH Brentwood TN – McKnight, a 6-0 outside, was an effective attacker for the Bruins. She finished third in kills at 270. She averaged 2.1 per set and hit .378. She registered a season-high 20 kills in the state semifinals loss to Collierville.
