Vote Now for Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Athlete of the Week

Voting is now open for the **Detroit Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Prep Athlete of the Week** for the period of **November 9-15, 2023**. This week’s nominees include four outstanding volleyball players who played crucial roles in advancing their teams through the **MHSAA volleyball playoffs**.

The poll will remain open until **noon on Friday, November 21**, allowing fans to support their favorite athletes. The nominees this week, listed in alphabetical order by last name, showcase impressive performances during the playoffs.

Meet the Nominees

Daneris Gomez from **Allen Park Inter-City Baptist** led her team to its first regional title in four years. In a remarkable display, she recorded **23 kills**, **six blocks**, and achieved a hitting percentage of **.450** in matches against **Ann Arbor Christian** and **Southfield Christian**.

Waverly Hagen of **Ubly** has been instrumental in her team’s success as the No. 3 team in Division 4. Hagen helped her squad sweep both **Genesee Christian** and **Chesterfield Austin Catholic**, finishing the regional matches with an impressive **33 kills**, **nine digs**, **two blocks**, and **one ace**.

Representing **Birmingham Detroit Country Day**, Elise Hiemstra stood out in a high-stakes matchup against **North Branch**, contributing significantly to her team’s progress by leading with **36 kills**, **22 serve receptions**, **15 digs**, and **six aces**. Her performance was pivotal as the Yellow Jackets eliminated their rivals and also swept **Marysville** earlier in the week.

Lastly, Cree Hollier from **Farmington Hills Mercy** played a key role in her team’s undefeated playoff run. Mercy advanced to the state quarterfinals without dropping a single set, thanks in part to Hollier’s contributions of **20 kills**, **13 digs**, and **two blocks**. This marks their first return to the quarterfinals since **2023**, the year they clinched the Division 1 championship.

How to Vote

Fans can cast their votes for the **Athlete of the Week** by visiting the poll on the Detroit Free Press website. Voting is available every Tuesday morning, and individuals can submit nominations for future weeks until **10 a.m. on Monday**. For the upcoming week of **November 16-22**, nominations can be made at freep.com/athlete. It is important to note that the nomination link is not for voting; votes should be placed directly in the designated poll.

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Eric Guzmán covers youth sports culture at the Detroit Free Press as part of **Report for America**, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Contributions to support this work can be made tax-deductible. For further inquiries, Eric can be contacted at [email protected] or by phone at **313-222-1850**. Follow him on Bluesky for more updates.