Meet the 2022 Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area Volleyball Team

The high school volleyball season in this area was highlighted by an Athens team that went all the way to the state finals and played on the big stage at Kellogg Arena in the Division 4 Michigan High School Athletic Association State Finals.

And because of that, Athens is well represented on the 2022 Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area Volleyball Team.

Leading that charge is Athens coach Jacy Cole, our choice for Enquirer 2022 All-Area Volleyball Team Coach of the year. Athens was one of the state's top teams all season in Division 4. The Indians went into the state tournament on a roll, cruising to the school's first regional title and state quarterfinal berth. From there, the Indians won a big semifinal match and finished as state runners-up.

Meet the rest of the Battle Creek Enquirer 2022 All-Area Volleyball Team below. The squad is selected based on nominations from area coaches and the Enquirer sports staff:

Alaina Brubaker

Athens

Athens finished off a historic season with a run to the state finals in Division 4, before taking second for the first time in school history. Alaina Brubaker was a huge part of that success as a senior setter with 1,056 assists, 325 digs and a 95% serve percentage, with 95 aces, as she earned all-league and all-region honors. "Alaina has pushed herself even more this season as a setter to ensure we ran a more complex and faster-tempo offense with our middles and pin attackers," Athens coach Jacy Cole said.

Taygan Corstange

Gull Lake

Helping Gull Lake to a sparkling 39-7 record, Taygan Corstange had a big sophomore season at libero as the Blue Devils won their seventh district title in the past eight years as she earned all-conference and all-region honors. Corstange had 523 digs and a 91% serve percentage with 50 aces. "Taygan reads the ball incredibly well and pursues the ball with no regard for her body," Gull Lake coach Eric Belz said.

Sophie Crawford

Gull Lake

A dynamic setter, who, at 6-foot-1, can also contribute at the net, Sophie Crawford is a multifaceted player who helped Gull Lake to a district title and a 39-7 record. Crawford had 780 assists and 246 digs to go along with 203 kills and 68 blocks, earning all-conference and all-region honors. "Sophie is one of the hardest players to defend in the state. She is a great setter with range to get to any ball," Gull Lake coach Eric Belz said.

Bree Eklund

Gull Lake

A 6-foot middle hitter, Bree Eklund led Gull Lake in kills with 280 and blocks with 121 as the Blue Devils won a district title for the seventh time in the past eight years and went 39-7. "She is an athletic marvel that can crush the 10-foot line and reach either pin to stuff block," said Marshall coach Eric Belz of his junior, who also earned all-league and all-region honors.

Natalie Frever

Marshall

A senior middle blocker, Natalie Frever led Marshall to another district title and was named all-conference in the Interstate 8 Conference as well as all-region. Frever led Marshall with 3.4 kills per set as a three-year starter. "Natalie has carried this team with her consistency as a hitter and her energy on the court," Marshall coach Bre Johnson said.

Ashlynn Giannunzio

Marshall

A rising prospect as a junior, Ashlynn Giannunzio had a breakout season and helped the Redhawks to league and district titles. Giannunzio averaged 2.3 kills per set and 3.47 digs, with a serve percentage of 92%, as she earned all-conference and all-region honors. "Ashlynn has a high volleyball IQ, she knows the game incredibly well and can place shots on the court perfectly to get kills," Marshall coach Bre Johnson said.

Jocelyn Hall

Athens

A four-year varsity player and multiple-sport star, Jocelyn Hall excelled as an outside hitter with 280 kills, 425 digs and 70 aces. An all-region honoree, Hall helped Athens win district and regional crowns and a state runner-up finish for the first time in school history. "Her athleticism and court coverage plays a significant role in our team’s success, not only offensively but defensively as well," Athens coach Jacy Cole said.

Brealyn Lasky

Bronson

Another in the long line of top setters at Bronson, Brealyn Lasky earned all-league and all-region honors with 818 assists and 269 digs, while also adding to the front line with 73 kills and 22 blocks. "Brealyn is a tremendous setter, who runs a very fast offense regardless of the pass that she receives," Bronson coach Jean LaClair said.

Ella McAllister

Marshall

Ella McAllister, Marshall's first-ever finalist for the Miss Volleyball Award, was the only libero on the top 10 list and finished her Redhawks career as an All-Stater. The senior averaged 6.2 digs per set and had a 92% serving efficiency. "Ella is a phenomenal athlete that understands the game of volleyball at a high level," Marshall coach Bre Johnson said.

Megan Neitzel

Olivet

A senior leader and team captain, Megan Neitzel earned all-league honors as she led Olivet in assists with 591 and had 59 aces. "Megan is obviously our MVP. She is a leader on the court with her effort and off the court with her character and consideration for others," Olivet coach Mallory Wooden said.

Cierra Nord

Galesburg-Augusta

A 5-foot-10 senior, Cierra Nord was Galesburg-Augusta's MVP and earned all-league and all-region honors. Nord led the Rams with 244 kills, along with 275 digs and 74 aces. "Very dedicated, competitive, and a positive influence on the court. She brought the best out in her team," G-A coach Jonica Klimp said.

Kamryn Parlin

Athens

Kamryn Parlin was a three-year varsity player as she earned league MVP and all-region honors in helping Athens finish second in the state in Division 4 for the first time in school history. The junior middle hitter had 288 kills, 236 digs and a serve percentage of 91%, with 41 aces. "She efficiently runs a quick-tempo offense in the middle, and because of that, is a huge part of our team’s success," Athens coach Jacy Cole said.

Kylie Quist

Athens

A three-year varsity player as a senior, Kylie Quist was a key leader and brought athletic ability to the outside hitter position with 285 kills and 320 digs. Quist earned all-league and all-region honors as she helped Athens to a state runner-up finish in Division 4. "Her competitive drive and athleticism has contributed to many great plays in crucial matches this season," Athens coach Jacy Cole said.

Payton Springstead

Bronson

Part of a strong sophomore class at Bronson, Payton Springstead played big at middle blocker at 6-foot and finished with 482 kills, with a 27% kill efficiency, to go along 101 blocks. "A dominant hitter for us, hitting every attack that we offer with authority," LaClair said.

HONORABLE MENTION

Addie Waito (Marshall), Marla Pratley (Marshall), Aubree Calloway (Bronson), Grace Wood (Gull Lake), Elle Green (Gull Lake), Piper Porter (Athens), Kara Priddy (Olivet)

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Meet the 2022 Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area Volleyball Team