2022 Club Preview: Michigan Elite 15 & 16 Mizuno

There’s been a lot of premier talent coming through Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy for years now. These young guns are keeping this tradition alive and well.

These two squads have already had a lot of success with Elite and without Elite and it makes the season even more exciting. 

Here’s a sneak peak to what might be expected for these young squads in 2022. 

15 Mizuno

This team returns to the 2022 club season with high expectations. After a fifth place finish at last year’s national tournament, this team returns a bulk of its roster and is now headed by reigning AVCA HS Coach of the Year, Mayssa Cook. Not only is this team returning another year older, another year stronger, they are also returning with championship experience.

The squad returns key players Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #74 Nation MI , Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #128 Nation MI and McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #107 Nation MI . All three were huge for their high school teams this past season as both Marian and SMCC made it to title games in their respective divisions. Marian winning in Division 1, SMCC finishing Runner-Ups in Division 3. Busignani returns as the team’s leading scorer and an All-American from last season. Costlow, while listed as a middle blocker, was superb as an outside for her high school team, earning All-State honors. Like Costlow, Payne also played out of position for her high school team and earned high honors. The three makes up a really solid core to a talented squad.

Joining them are setter-hitter hybrids, Chloe Giehtbrock Chloe Giehtbrock 6'2" | S Marian | 2025 State MI and Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #110 Nation MI . Both can play at a high level in both positions and make a big impact one way or another. Gabriella Babinski Gabriella Babinski 6'1" | RS/OH South Lyon East | 2025 State MI is name to take note of now, by time June rolls around, she may become a key player. This 15 Mizuno squad is rounded out by some heavy arms along the net with Kaitlyn Pallozzi Kaitlyn Pallozzi 5'11" | MB Mercy | 2025 MI , Tina Barnekova Tina Barnekova 5'10" | MB Rochester Adams | 2025 State MI , and Natalia Malewicz.

16 Mizuno

This 16 Mizuno squad is filled with a lot of new faces from the previous season. They’re fresh faced but they fit the club’s brand very well, Elite! Neil Rucinski is heading up Michigan Elite’s top 16s team for another season now and coming off of an impressive high school season. The fall saw Rucinski and his Dakota squad make the Division 1 Final Four. Like with Dakota, Coach Rucinski has quite a roster to bolster a strong 2022 club season. 

On the pins are Rayna Powers Rayna Powers 5'8" | OH Marysville | 2024 State MI , Angie Butler Angie Butler 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2024 State MI , Katelynn Rottman Katelynn Rottman 5'11" | OH North Oldham | 2024 KY and Mia Eickholdt Mia Eickholdt 5'11" | RS Country Day | 2024 State MI . Powers is an undersized, high flier that had a breakout season for Marysville in the fall. Butler is up with the Mizuno’s after a season with 15 Elite. She’s a springy athlete with a lot of pop to her play. Rottman is a new face to Elite and is a great offensive addition. A heavy arm and some range, Rottman makes a lot of noise. Eickholdt is a Michigan Elite regular that just moved to the pins and has a great shot selection to score. 

Holding it down in the middle are an impressive trio of Allison Pilat Allison Pilat 6'2" | OH Plymouth Christian | 2024 State MI , Alexis Norman Alexis Norman 6'0" | MB Lapeer | 2024 State MI and Taya Nordmann Taya Nordmann 6'2" | MB Dewitt | 2024 State MI . Pilat is in her first go-around in the club scene but has been lighting it up with her Plymouth Christian squad as their leading scorer the last two seasons. Norman and Nordmann have been regulars in the club circuit and over the last few years have vastly improved their blocking game. The two will provide a steady dose of net defense.

Rounding out the squad are setters, Avery Woodard Avery Woodard 5'7" | S Marysville | 2024 State MI and Jackie Scheiber Jackie Scheiber 6'0" | S Riverview | 2024 State MI , and libero, Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI . Woodard is an undersized lefty with a high IQ and great approach to the game. Scheiber is a great combination with Woodard. A taller setter with a great swing on the right pin, Scheiber has a great block and can be used as an attacker in a pinch. Green has made quite the name for herself already, currently ranked 5th in the 2024 class, and this is only her first club season. Green led her high school team to runner-up finish in Division 2 and will look to help this squad reach similar heights.