JVA SummerFest Recap & Standouts

<p>The action never stops for top Michigan club teams.</p> <p>With the <strong>JVA World Challenge </strong>on tap this weekend, Michigan put forth a successful showing last weekend at <strong>JVA SummerFest </strong>in Columbus.</p> <p>Multiple champions came from the mitten, while a lot of top-10 finishes were secured as well.</p> <p>Here’s a recap of the Open divisions and some names that led their respective teams to success.</p> <h4><strong>16 Open</strong></h4> <p><strong>Legacy 16-1 Adidas </strong>added another championship to its collection for the 2021 club season by winning the 16 Open with a perfect 7-0 weekend. Legacy dropped just two sets throughout the event, but grinded out a pair of three-set wins in the process over <strong>Tri-State Elite 16 Blue </strong>and <strong>Mintonette Sports – m.61. </strong>In the final, Legacy swept <strong>Adidas KIVA 16 Red </strong>by scores of 25-18, 25-18. <strong>Abby Reck </strong>recorded championship point on a tip, continuing to showcase her high court IQ. She’s really had a big club season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66319" first="Harper" last="Murray"] </strong>again excelled as a six-rotation outside, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66309" first="Nina" last="Horning"] </strong>continues to be a great compliment to her on the outside. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66313" first="Erin" last="Kline"] </strong>raises the game of her hitters with her precise sets and footwork. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66340" first="Sarah" last="Vellucci"] </strong>has been an unsung hero in the back row throughout the year as well, adding another solid performance last weekend.</p> <p><strong>Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno </strong>finished tied for ninth with a 3-2 record on the weekend. They started 3-0, but suffered a pair of closes defeats in Gold Bracket play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66316" first="Remi" last="Madison"] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66303" first="Paige" last="Giehtbrock"] </strong>hit over .340 during their 3-0 start, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="108714" first="Taryn" last="Rice"] </strong>passed a 2.50. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="66302" first="Olivia" last="Gardner"] </strong>also had a nice weekend in the middle, hitting .442 while racking up 12 blocks.</p> <p><strong>MVA 16 Black </strong>finished 2-3 for the weekend and placed 19^th. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110292" first="Zoey" last="Dood"]</strong>, a 2024 prospect, continues to shine at setter, working well with her hitters.</p> <h4><strong>17 Open</strong></h4> <p>It was a strong showing for a lot of Michigan programs in the 17 Open, as <strong>Legacy 17-1 Adidas </strong>finished third, while <strong>Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno </strong>and <strong>MVA 17 Black </strong>each tied for fifth.</p> <p>Legacy had some real battles throughout the weekend, including a 33-31 set with <strong>Mintonette Sports – m.71</strong> in a three-set loss. However, they came through with a pair of three-set wins in Gold Bracket play before falling to eventual Open champ, <strong>Metro 17 Travel</strong> 25-21, 25-16. They also earned a tough 25-23, 25-21 win over Michigan Elite in Power Pool play. Even with some notable injuries, Legacy showed it can still compete with the best. Defensively play by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24860" first="Summer" last="Jidas"]</strong> is a big reason as to why.</p> <p>Michigan Elite was 2-3 on the weekend, with two of the three losses to semifinalists. MVA was 4-1 on the weekend, with the lone loss coming to Mintonette 15-25, 25-22, 15-8.</p> <p><strong>Abbie Zylstra </strong>was a force for MVA for the weekend, finishing consistently from the left and back row. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24851" first="Brooklyn" last="Conner"] </strong>continues to be a difference maker in the middle with her length and athleticism.</p> <h4><strong>15 Open</strong></h4> <p><strong>Legacy 16-1 ADIDAS</strong> placed tied for third with a 6-1 record for the weekend. The lone loss was to Tri-State Elite 15 Blue in the semifinals, 25-19, 25-15. Legacy showed a lot of grit during the event, pulling out three three-set victories. <strong>Lucy Mott </strong>put together a strong effort to lead the team from the setter position. She finished with 124 assists, 20 kills and 11 aces. During bracket play, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110297" first="Brooke" last="Foucher"] </strong>hit .318 while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110282" first="Mallory" last="Bohl"] </strong>hit .308 and finished with 17 kills.</p> <p><strong>Michigan Elite 15 Mizuno</strong> landed in 14^th position, with both losses on the weekend coming in three-set battles. <strong>MVA 15 Black </strong>landed 21^st, winning the Copper Bracket of the 15 Open with two-set wins over <strong>A2 15 Green </strong>and <strong>VA Elite 15’s</strong> during bracket play. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110290" first="Hope" last="Davies"] </strong>was a standout for MVA, really putting in the effort all around the court.</p> <h4><strong>18’s Division</strong></h4> <p><strong>Dead Frog 18 Black </strong>walked away with the championship in the lone 18U division at Summerfest, going 6-0 for the weekend while dropping just one set. Their final in the Gold Bracket saw them pick up a 25-18, 25-15 win over <strong>A. 18 Navy</strong>.</p> <p>COVID sidelined some of the Dead Frog roster early in the club season, but the team has really been playing at a high level in the last month. Included in the 18U roster are 2022 prospects <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24838" first="Lyse" last="Bates"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24864" first="Alia" last="Mastromatteo"] </strong>and <strong>Olivia Sturgeon</strong>.</p> <h4><strong>14 Open</strong></h4> <p>For a sign of things to come in the Class of 2025, Michigan landed two teams in the top eight of the 14 Open. <strong>Legacy 14-1 ADIDAS </strong>came through with the Open championship, going a perfect 7-0 on the weekend. <strong>Michigan Elite 14 Mizuno </strong>finished fifth with a 5-1 record.</p> <p>Legacy dropped just a single set the entire weekend, which came in a 25-23, 20-25, 16-14 win over <strong>Boiler Jrs 141E Gold </strong>in the championship match. Setter <strong>Campbell Flynn </strong>capped off a strong weekend showing with a dump to score championship point.</p> <p>Michigan Elite saw its only loss come against <strong>NKYVC 14-1 Tsumani</strong> by scores of 29-27, 25-16. Those were the only two set the team dropped for the weekend. They hit .237 as a team for the weekend, with outside hitter <strong>Isabelle Busignani </strong>leading the way with 50 kills while hitting .347.</p>