All-Detroit Area Dream Team

<p>The Detroit area knows a lot about producing standout athletes, as it has been a proving ground for some of the best in the world in their respective sport.</p> <p>Volleyball is no different.</p> <p>Over the last year, Wayne County and its nearby surrounding schools, has really produced some talent that has shined. That especially proved true during the shorted 2020 club season.</p> <p>Here’s some of the best from the area over the last 12 months.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="89336" first="Jessica" last="Florn"], L/DS John Glenn/Michigan Elite (2021)</strong></p> <p>Florn fits in well at her natural position in the back row for Michigan Elite, but she was a six-rotation option for John Glenn last fall. Obviously her passing is top-level quality, but her ability to play around the court also displays her athleticism. Florn has quick reaction time and a nose for the ball. Those traits have continued to improve each year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="89344" first="Meg" last="Balogh"], L/DS Grosse Ile/Passion (2021)</strong></p> <p>Another top defender in her class, Balogh has been a standout for Passion Volleyball Club and Grosse Ile High School. A left-hander, Balogh uses good fundamentals for her play. Her eyes are always on the ball and she works her way to the right spots to set up her team nicely. Balogh also isn’t short on effort, often give up her body to keep a rally going.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24861" first="Kimani" last="Johnson"], OH Cass Tech/Michigan Elite (2022)</strong></p> <p>Johnson has been a big name from the Detroit-area even before she entered high school. Her 6’2” frame, combined with her explosiveness, makes her one of the top players in the state for the Class of 2022. She led Cass Tech to a regional final in 2019 and has been one of the key pieces for Michigan Elite over recent years. Johnson has all the tools to be a dominant player for many years to come.</p> <p><strong>Jada DiVita, OH Grosse Pointe South/Legacy (2022)</strong></p> <p>One of the more improved players in the Class of 2022 over the last year has been DiVita. She guided the Blue Devils to a district championship during the 2019 season and plays up a grade level for Legacy, which really has helped raise her game. DiVita has held her own against many of the top hitters in the Class of 2021 throughout the Midwest. Her confidence level should be soaring heading into the 2020 prep season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24865" first="Julia" last="Mills"], S Airport/Team Detroit (2022)</strong></p> <p>Mills ran the offense for Airport in 2019 and had the Jets playing at a high level. She has built on that during the shortened club season with Team Detroit. Vocal leadership and athleticism make Mills an ideal setter for any time. She can put the ball in the right places and keep opponents guessing. Mills also has the eye to know when to call her own number.</p> <p><strong>Kayla Giroux, MH Flat Rock (2022)</strong></p> <p>Giroux is a multi-versed athlete that excels in three sports at Flat Rock. Volleyball is among those three sports, as the 6’2” middle is able to use her size to her advantage. Giroux moves very smoothly on the court and is able to have a good sense of where the play is heading from a blocking standpoint. She also is a great finisher at the net, putting up a near team-high in kills from the middle this past fall.</p> <p><strong>Hallie Creighton, S Plymouth Christian (2022)</strong></p> <p>Creighton made a big name for herself during the 2019 prep season, amassing 740 assists, 169 digs and 56 aces in under 100 sets for the Eagles. Creighton showed a lot of leadership as a young setter for Plymouth Christian and will now be one of the team’s more experienced veterans for 2020. Creighton has set some solid hitters and knows where to put the ball. Only big things are ahead for Creighton.</p> <p><strong>Erica Maladecki, L/DS Livonia Churchill/Michigan Elite (2023)</strong></p> <p>Maladecki hasn’t had a chance to crack the varsity lineup yet for Churchill, but is likely to find herself following in <strong>Jessica Maladecki</strong>’s shoes in the back row quite soon. Maladecki has been very promising in the back row for Michigan Elite over the past couple of years. She shows the composure and footwork needed to succeed at the varsity level.</p> <p><strong>Honorable Mention: </strong>Ryley Osentoski, OH/DS Flat Rock/Force (2021); A’Lexus Everett, OH Renaissance/Legacy (2021); Rosie Bracken, S Liggett/Michigan Elite (2021); [player_tooltip player_id="60857" first="Ellie" last="Martin"], MH Grosse Pointe South/Michigan Elite (2022); Jordan Wozniak, S/DS Livonia Churchill/Force (2022); Meghan Wladysiak, S Garden City (2022).</p>