2022 Club Preview: Michigan Elite 17 & 18 Mizuno

<p>These kids are not only the best of the best at <strong>Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy</strong> but they’re some of the best players in the country. </p> <p>State champions, Top 5 national finishes, All-Americans, the list goes on and on. These two teams fit the bill for "Elite" very well.</p> <p>Here’s a sneak peak to what might be expected for these squads in 2022. </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">17 MIZUNO</span></strong></p> <p>Michigan Elite’s 17 Mizuno squad has a lot of good on its side of the court. A bulk of this team has been together for a few years now, but the 2022 season sees a few fresh faces that level up this team. Headed by <strong>Kristin Eddy</strong> and assisted by Michigan State standout <strong>Lauryn Gibbs</strong>, the coaching staff is just as impressive as its bench of players. </p> [caption id="attachment_142922" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-142922 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC07748.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"][/caption] <p>Setting the standard for this crew is one of the top players in the country for the 2023 class, [player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"]. Committed to the University of Kentucky, Sarafa has the athleticism and IQ to elevate any team she’s on. Alongside her are her aces on the pins, [player_tooltip player_id="66330" first="Ella" last="Schomer"] (Wofford), [player_tooltip player_id="66316" first="Remi" last="Madison"], [player_tooltip player_id="66303" first="Paige" last="Giehtbrock"] and [player_tooltip player_id="66329" first="Reagan" last="Sass"]. Schomer has been Sarafa’s right hand woman all 12 months of the year, for a few years now, and getting more and more lethal on the right pin. Madison is a springy athlete with a whip of an arm that can really bring the boom. Giehtbrock is a steady player with great court vision and ball placement in her offense. And Sass is another Marian kid with Sarafa and Schomer that has really been coming into her own on both pins.</p> <p>In the middle are [player_tooltip player_id="66334" first="Neele’ge’" last="Sims"] and [player_tooltip player_id="173600" first="Sawyer" last="Jones"]. Sims is a familiar face to this squad and is looking to have a break out season. After a tough 2021 season that saw Sims sidelined to injury, when healthy, Sims can really levitate above the rest. Opposite of Sims is [player_tooltip player_id="173600" first="Sawyer" last="Jones"], new to the squad but she fits in like she’s always been there. Jones is an athletic middle that has superb IQ and can play an all-around game at a high level.</p> <p>Right behind them are the defensive trio of [player_tooltip player_id="66297" first="Kalliann" last="Cook"], [player_tooltip player_id="108714" first="Taryn" last="Rice"] and [player_tooltip player_id="169506" first="Hannah" last="Howard"]. The three really compliment each other quite nicely. Total scrappers on defense and rock solid in their reception game. Howard is a fresh face to this squad from St. Ursula Academy in Ohio and like her fellow newbie, Jones, has raised the bar for this 17 Mizuno’s team.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>18 MIZUNO</strong></span></p> <p>Where do you even start when you’re talking about one of the best 18s team in the country? Returning to the 2022 season after a runner-up finish at AAU Nationals, this team is made for the big lights. Coach <strong>Vince Muscat</strong> will be leading the 18 Mizuno squad for another season and he’s coming off of a third place finish at nationals and a state championship with Marian HS. This team has championship written all over them.</p> [caption id="attachment_172025" align="alignright" width="230"]<img class="wp-image-172025 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/12/NDP-vs-GRC-VB-25-1-230x300.jpg" alt="" width="230" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="24844" first="Alyssa" last="Borellis"][/caption] <p>On the pins are some big gunned attackers with Miss Volleyball [player_tooltip player_id="24846" first="Ava" last="Brizard"] (North Carolina State), [player_tooltip player_id="91611" first="Madison" last="Gebhardt"] (Central Michigan), [player_tooltip player_id="24883" first="Sophia" last="Treder"] (Brown University), and [player_tooltip player_id="24861" first="Kimani" last="Johnson"] (East Tennessee State). All four pack some serious heat behind their swings and can pass at pretty high level.</p> <p>In the middle are [player_tooltip player_id="24877" first="Sarah" last="Sylvester"] (Texas Christian), [player_tooltip player_id="60832" first="Amanda" last="Glanton"] (Western Michigan), and [player_tooltip player_id="60840" first="Anika" last="Prisby"] (Oakland). Sylvester is another Miss Volleyball candidate who can get it done in front of and behind the setter. Glanton is an attacker who is really coming into her own on both the offensive and defensive side of the position. Prisby is a new body to this squad and is pretty imposing, standing tall at 6’4, she brings depth to an already stacked team.</p> <p>Putting it all into motion is setter [player_tooltip player_id="24844" first="Alyssa" last="Borellis"] (Ole Miss), and libero/DS’s [player_tooltip player_id="24842" first="Josie" last="Bloom"] (Virginia Tech), [player_tooltip player_id="24835" first="Kendyl" last="Andrews"] (Wayne State) and [player_tooltip player_id="60859" first="Amina" last="Robinson"] (George Washington). Miss Volleyball nominees, Borellis and Bloom, have championship winning experience with Notre Dame Prep this past fall. Robinson also has had her hand in a championship with Mercy in 2019. Borellis sets a fast paced offense and is quite the dynamic player in all facets of the game. The trio of liberos lead the pack of what’s already a top notch passing team and gives Coach Muscat a lot of options in reception patterns.</p>