Club Breakdown: Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno
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The club season has officially begun and we are off to the races in 2023! The state of Michigan has quickly become one of the top hot beds of volleyball in the nation. Prep Dig has you covered on who’s…
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Continue ReadingThe club season has officially begun and we are off to the races in 2023!
The state of Michigan has quickly become one of the top hot beds of volleyball in the nation. Prep Dig has you covered on who’s who and what names you need to keep on your radar.
Let’s take a look at rebound 17 Mizuno team from Michigan Elite. A team, I have a feeling, will be turning plenty of heads this season.
17 Mizuno
Kaela Chingwa Kaela Chingwa 6'3" | MB North Branch | 2024 State MI | 6’3 MB | North Branch (Central Michigan) | Angie Butler Angie Butler 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2024 State MI | 5’10 OH | Mercy |
Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI | 5’1 L | North Branch | Avery Woodard Avery Woodard 5'7" | S Marysville | 2024 State MI | 5’8 S | Marysville |
Adrienne Greschaw Adrienne Greschaw 5'9" | S North Branch | 2024 State MI | 5’8 S | North Branch | Jackie Scheiber Jackie Scheiber 6'0" | S Riverview | 2024 State MI | 5’11 OPP/S | Riverview |
Allison Pilat Allison Pilat 6'2" | OH Plymouth Christian | 2024 State MI | 6’1 OH | Plymouth Christian Academy | Johanna Tillman Johanna Tillman 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2024 State MI | 6’2 MB | Dakota |
Ella Jensen Ella Jensen 5'4" | DS/L Lakeview | 2024 State MI | 5’5 L | Lakeview | Sydney Ryan Sydney Ryan 6'3" | RS Seaholm | 2024 State MI | 6’3 OPP | Seaholm |
Breakdown
Expectations may not be very high for this team coming into 2023. 2022 was real tough on this group, two ACL injures amongst other injuries had players sidelined throughout the season. Despite this, I would not count 17 Mizuno out. While the returning core is rather small, Michigan Elite brings on a lot of promising talent to steer the tide. With top coaches like Kristin Eddy and Lauryn Gibbs, this team will be one to watch for sure.
Returners
Looking at the returning core in question are OH Allison Pilat Allison Pilat 6'2" | OH Plymouth Christian | 2024 State MI , OH Angie Butler Angie Butler 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2024 State MI , OPP Jackie Scheiber Jackie Scheiber 6'0" | S Riverview | 2024 State MI , L Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI and S Avery Woodard Avery Woodard 5'7" | S Marysville | 2024 State MI . With the injury riddled season in 2022, Pilat saw a majority of her time slotted in the middle, although a stellar pin attacker. Pilat will join Butler on the left pin this season, the two can both terminate at a high level while holding their own in the back court. Scheiber will look to fill in on the right pin full time after running the offense last season.
Green is the returning libero, coming off of a huge fall with North Branch, and earning Division 2 Player of the Year honors. Rounding out the returning crew, Woodard returns to the squad after sustaining an ACL tear early last club season. I caught a glimpse of Woodard at the Michigan Top 250 and was impressed! She’s looking very strong and will surely be a power player for 17 Mizuno.
New Kids on the Block
Alongside Green, coming from the powerhouse of North Branch Volleyball is MB Kaela Chingwa Kaela Chingwa 6'3" | MB North Branch | 2024 State MI (Central Michigan) and S Adrienne Greschaw Adrienne Greschaw 5'9" | S North Branch | 2024 State MI . Chingwa joins 17 Mizuno after an impressive Fall. One of the top blockers in the state and a developing offensive range, Chingwa is already committed to Central Michigan with no top club experience. Greschaw was a reinforcement from last club season that was a saving grace for this team, given all of the injuries. As a full-time player now, Greschaw’s championship experience will translate very well for the team.
Rounding out this team includes the likes of MB Johanna Tillman Johanna Tillman 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2024 State MI , OPP Sydney Ryan Sydney Ryan 6'3" | RS Seaholm | 2024 State MI and L Ella Jensen Ella Jensen 5'4" | DS/L Lakeview | 2024 State MI . Tillman is a top tier middle blocker coming over to Elite after a few seasons with Legacy. Ryan comes to Elite after spending last season at Unified. The two combining for a 6’2, 6’3 wall will be imposing, to say the least. Joining Green in the back court will be Ella Jensen Ella Jensen 5'4" | DS/L Lakeview | 2024 State MI , an in-house pick up from 16 Elite. Jensen has been with Elite for a few seasons now, serving as 16 Elite’s libero last season.