Vote: Who is the top hitter in Michigan high school volleyball?

Read through the nominees and vote for who is the best entering the 2023 season

Shane Hoffmann | Sep 7, 2023

Vote: Who is the top hitter in Michigan high school volleyball? /

Let’s take a close look at some of the top returning hitters in high school volleyball for the 2023 season in Michigan.

Plenty of worthy names are on this list, so be sure to read through the nominees and vote in our poll.

Voting will close on September 14 at 11:59 p.m.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned in our poll.

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Top hitters in Michigan high school volleyball

Gabby DiVita

Sophomore, Grosse Pointe South

DiVita is currently ranked No. 2 in the state for the class of 2026 by PrepDig. As a freshman last season, the 6-foot-2 six-rotation outside hitter earned a slew of accolades, including team and conference MVP, all-conference and all-region honors, as well as all-state honorable mention.

“[She] helps our team both offensively — taking a lot of swings from both the front and back row and defensively — [collecting] digs and passing at a high efficiency in serve receive,” coach Janeil DiVita said. “Gabby is confident and composed and takes command of the court. She plays with the maturity of a senior. Our team will rely heavily on her play to compete this season.”

Last season, DiVita tallied 400 kills with a .361 hitting percentage, 220 digs, 54 aces and 27 blocks.

Elyse Heffner

Junior, Traverse City Central

Last season, Hefner tallied 381 kills (team-high), 178 digs, 72 blocks, 48 aces and 15 aces, finishing as a first team all-conference player and an all-state honorable mention. According to coach Emily Wilbert, Hefner is the team’s “all-around” best player.

“Her teammates talk about how skilled she is and her ball control,” Wilbert said. “She is a dynamic player who can truly hit from any position in the front row. She is viewed as a leader on and off the court. She is a fantastic teammate, has a great attitude and excels as a student athlete.”

Heffer can play the back row too, and played right side and middle last season, but will be on the outside in 2023.

Izzy Busignani

Junior, Bloomfield Hills Marian

Busignani, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, was named to the Division I all-state first team as a sophomore in 2022.

During her two-plus year career, Busignani has tallied 706 kills, 450 digs and 62 aces with a .307 hitting percentage.

Ryah Dewey

Senior, Walled Lake Western

Dewey is a six-rotation outside hitter. She’s a four-year varsity starter and a three-year captain. Last season she was an all-conference player and her school’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“Ryah fosters a positive and supportive environment which enhances her teams to excel,” varsity assistant Angie Dewey said. “Ryah demonstrates excellent communication skills, actively listens to others, and shows respect to both her coaches and peers.”

Ava Wilcox

Senior, Lansing Catholic

Wilcox has built quite the resume over the course of her three-plus year career. The senior, now in her fourth season on varsity, is a three-time all-conference and region player and a two-time all-state honoree. She’s also been a key in the success of three conference and district champ teams.

Since her arrival, the Lansing Catholic program has won 108 of its 124 matches. She’s started every match across the winningest stretch in program history.

“Ava is a coach's dream,” coach Kevin McMillan said, “and has a very supportive family as well. I couldn't be luckier to have a player like Ava as the standard for our program. All other players raise their level of play and effort to try and match her level, which elevates our program.”

Wilcox will eclipse 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in the month of September, and will hold the school record in both categories.

Clara Gyomory

Senior, North Branch

Gyomory was a part of a stacked North Branch group last season that finished 53-7. She was one of multiple players to make the Division II all-state first team.

The right side hitter played just two sets as a freshman, but has 708 career kills and 116 total blocks with a .331 hitting percentage.

Avery Weslow

Senior, Forest Hills Central

Weslow was a Division I all-state second team hitter last season after collecting a career-high 503 kills. For her career, Weslow has tallied 1,039 total kills, 1,016 digs and 58 total blocks.

Breslyn Zache

Sophomore, Paw Paw

This year will mark Breslyn’s second season on varsity as both a setter and hitter. According to coach Christina Duchene, she acts as an on-court leader and inspiration, despite her youth.

“For three rotations, she is a smart and meticulous setter,” Duchene said, “the other three rotations are where she shows her power and vertical to dominate the kill stats for the team.”

Exzonia Smetana

Senior, Paw Paw

The lefty, Smetena, is Paw Paw’s power hitter on the right side. She’s ready to leave it all on the court for her final season, according to coach Duchene.

“Her energy on the court will have an incredible effect on the program,” Duchene said. “We are thrilled to have her as our senior leader for this year’s volleyball season.”

Leah Fleis

Senior, Lake Leelanau St. Mary

Fleis, a 6-foot hitter, totaled 377 kills last season and has 833 on her career. A two-time member of the Leelanau Enterprise Dream Team, Fleis is a three-sport athlete. On the volleyball court, she is being eyed by multiple colleges.

“She is a team captain and true leader,” coach Alissa Bunek said.

Bri Whitfield

Senior, Byron Center

A three-year varsity player, Whitfield was an all-conference player in 2022. She’s a six-rotation player who “attacks well” from the back row.

“Bri is a dangerous attacker who attacks at all temps…,” coach Missy Ritz-Johnson said. “She also defends and passes and continues to improve.”

Whitfield will be continuing her career at Albion College next season.

Mia Eickholdt

Senior, Detroit Country Day

Eickholdt is ranked state-wide, according to PrepDig. She was also named to the 2022 all-region first team and is one of her team’s captains. The outside hitter is a six-rotation player.

“Mia is a leader,” coach Kimberly Lockhart said. “Her presence on the court is irreplaceable. She shows grit and passion as a player.”

Isabelle Swiercz

Senior, Hudsonville

Swiercz was an all-state first team member last season, when she became Hudsonville’s first ever junior to receive the honor. A two-time all-conference and all-region player, she’s a member of a program who has won back-to-back conference and district champs.

“Izzy is tough mentally, physically, and comes in clutch under pressure situations,” coach Stephanie Chenlo said “She leads all the time by example and is one of the hardest working teammates we have. Izzy's ability to know the game (high IQ) and execution is never taken for granted."

Swiercz will continue her career at Central Michigan University in 2024.

Meredith Martin

Sophomore, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Martin plays both outside hitter and libero for coach Molly Campbell. She was an all-catholic player last season as a freshman and was named a PrepDig 2023 Division 2 Player of the Year Finalist.

“Meredith’s volleyball IQ allows her to be dominant at the net, on the service line, and on defense,” Campbell said. “Meredith makes everything look effortless while working hard to be the dominant player she is. Meredith makes others around her better and her competitive drive keeps her working hard on her game. Having Meredith on our team has been a blessing. She has helped put our team on the map in a big way.”

Kaden Brumitt

Senior, Brandywine

A three-time all-conference, two-time all-region and two-time all-state honorable mention hitter, Brumitt has over 1,000 kills in the last two seasons. She also has 581 digs, 162 aces and 106 blocks.

“Kadence is the heart and soul of our team,” coach Emily Zablocki-Kohler said. “She is the player the rest of the team looks up to and feeds their energy off. She contributes to every facet of the game for us.”

Zablocki-Kohler added: “Kadence is excellently skilled and does an incredible job of reading the court across the net. She can adapt and make changes in split seconds and is who we depend on to make the plays happen when others struggle. … She is a one-of-a-kind player who will leave an irreplaceable hole in our program when she graduates.”

Brielle Thomas

Junior, Walled Lake Central

Thomas has started the season off with 34 kills, 21 digs and 10 aces through nine games. This season marks her second as a varsity starter.

“Brielle will be a key player to the success of the program,” coach Liz Kaplan said. “[She] works hard all year round to improve her skills.”

Thomas plays both outside hitter and middle blocker.

Abby Schimmel

Senior, Covenant Christian

Schimmel plays all over the court for coach Carli Engelsma and the Covenant Christian program. The senior is described as the team’s leader.

“She is always communicating,” Engelsma said, “keeping all the players engaged and on their toes. Her encouraging words, and spirit, bring a calm to our team that they sometimes don't even realize they need. She is a smart and solid threat on the left side.”

Engelsma added that Schimmel is an excellent serve receiver and passer of defense, and that her hitting has become quite “powerful” in the early going this season.

Madison Babinec

Senior, Oakridge

Babinec, both an outside and middle hitter, was an all-conference member in 2022. A varsity player since her sophomore season, coach Robert Riefer has seen huge strides skill and talent-wise.

“Madison has developed into a leader by taking younger players under her wing and helping them develop their skills and knowledge of the game…,” he said. “Madison is a player who will come to practice with a focus and knows what skills she wants to work on.

"She is always working to become a better player and is determined to be one of the best in the conference. Last year she asked what she could do to become an all-around player and she took everything her coach told her and accomplished her goal.”

Mia Robinson

Sophomore, Swan Valley

Robinson made the all-region team and was a second team all-conference player as a freshman in 2022. Last season, she played all six rotations and will do the same this season.

“She is a phenomenal all-around player and makes a huge impact on the court,” coach Sarah Gyger said.

Sydney Kuhn

Junior, Swan Valley

Kuhn was first-team all-conference and all-region as a sophomore for Swan Valley last season. Like Robinson, she’s been a key contributor to the varsity program since she was a freshman.

“She has a strong left-handed swing and unbelievable defense,” Gyger said of the six-rotation player. “[She] adds the “wow” factor anytime she swings at a ball.”

Navea Gauthier

Junior, Shelby

Gauthier is committed to Ohio State University , and she is one of the most talented players in the state. She was named to an All-State team last season.

Karley Pretzer

Senior, Dakota

A six-rotation outside hitter, Pretzer is a standout both physically, and mentally.

“Karley is a threat anywhere on the court,” coach Melissa Criteser said. “She is one of our go-to players and with her reach, fast swing and ability to read the court, she will be one of the top outsides in the 2024 class.”

Pretzer’s reach also allows her to be a threat up front, producing blocks, as well as on defense. She has committed to further her career at Davenport University.

Abigail Wutka

Junior, Dakota

Wutka is off to a strong start in 2023 as one of the program’s top outside hitters. She is not only a threat on the outside, but also hits extremely well from the right side and middle, too, coach Criteser said.

“Her versatility makes it difficult for opponents to read where she is coming from,” Criteser added, “which makes her even more effective. Her blocking ability is also a huge threat. We have high expectations of Abby this year.”

Reagan Lesley

Sophomore, Chippewa Valley

Lesley is a two-year starter on the outside. In 2022, as just a freshman, she finished the season with 204 digs, 140 kills and 41 aces.

“She is a dominating front row attacker at all three positions, who leads by example, and an all-around player that will lead us for the next three years,” coach Chris Hull said.

Cameron McDonald

Senior, Chippewa Valley

McDonald plays both outside and middle hitter for Chippewa Valley and coach Hull. As a junior in 2022, she totaled 118 kills, 43 blocks and 23 aces as an all-conference honorable mention.

“She is an all-around player that can take over a game and who wants the ball under pressure,” Hull said. “Her passion is contagious for everybody who plays with her.”

Brooke Koskela

Junior, Hancock

Koskela has been on varsity since she was a sophomore and is one of newly-hired coach Kristan Coleman’s “best serve receive passers,” as well as a formidable defender.

“She is a smart hitter, but can pound the ball when she wants,” Coleman said. “She is also an incredible blocker and has a tough jump serve. Even after a three-hour, tough practice, she can be found in the gym working on her own on her jump serve or making her mom toss balls to work on her approach.”

Cayla Cogan

Senior, Clarkston

Cogan is an outside hitter committed to George Washington University. She is one of the top prospects in the class of 2024. She had 15 kills in a game against South Lyon on September 6.

Ella Storm

Senior, Hancock

Coleman called Storm one of the “smartest hitters I have ever coached,” and said she has developed a great jump float serve.

“She sees the court and finds weaknesses,” Coleman said. “She has a great vertical and while she looks small she jumps just as high as anyone else and is a great blocker.”

Elana Erickson

Senior, Forest Hills Northern

Erickson is the top rated prospect in the Class of 2024 by Prep Dig. She is committed to Western Michigan.

Addi Price

Senior, Lawton

Price is a three-year varsity, six-rotation, player on the outside. Put simply, she’s a leader.

“She pushes them when they need to be pushed and supports them when they need to be supported,” coach Kristin Burk said.

Price also excels on defense, where she plays as if she were a libero, according to Burk.

“Addi never gives up and doesn't settle for mediocrity in herself or her teammates,” Burk said. “She is a big voice on the court.”

Ella Richter