22 Athletes from Michigan to Watch in 2023
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2022 was easily one for the books! After an explosive year for volleyball in the Mitten state, it is time to look forward to what we can expect in 2023. Multiple national titles and All-Americans coming out of the club…
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Continue Reading2022 was easily one for the books! After an explosive year for volleyball in the Mitten state, it is time to look forward to what we can expect in 2023.
Multiple national titles and All-Americans coming out of the club season. The Fall saw new champions crowned while also looking over to the perennial powers. All of this, means we’re in for another big year of volleyball.
Here are some of the top players from Michigan that shined in 2022, that you need to keep on eye on in 2023.
Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI – 5’11 OPP – North Branch/Michigan Elite
2022 was a breakout year for this Bronco opposite. Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI become a crucial cog in the winning season for North Branch. As a leading scorer, Gyomory has elevated her game immensely and will be a huge piece for Michigan Elite’s 17 Elite this club season.
Marie Laurio Marie Laurio 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State #147 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – Saline/Legacy
From a primary DS for Saline in her freshman campaign, 2022 saw Marie Laurio Marie Laurio 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State #147 Nation MI catapult into a bonafide six rotation threat. A huge arm in Legacy’s 15 Open AAU National Championship and the leading scorer in Saline’s historic semi-final run. Laurio is poised for a giant 2023.
Victoria Gray Victoria Gray 6'2" | MB Bedford | 2025 State #100 Nation MI – 6’2 MB – Bedford/Michigan Elite
If you don’t have this name atop your recruiting list, you’re missing out! In a stacked group if we’re being honest, she’s one of the hottest middles in the 2025 class. Victoria Gray Victoria Gray 6'2" | MB Bedford | 2025 State #100 Nation MI was the driving force for Bedford this past fall, hitting .500 on 300 kills. A power player on the basketball courts too, Gray will be playing up with Michigan Elite 18 Mizuno this club season.
Kacee Gray Kacee Gray 5'7" | OH Cass City | 2025 State MI – 5’8 OH – Cass City/Fusion
While she may be small, Kacee Gray Kacee Gray 5'7" | OH Cass City | 2025 State MI is mighty on the court. With impressive hops and a heightened range from her freshman season, Gray’s game has skyrocketed this past fall. Leading Cass City to their first semifinal in the rally-scoring era and earning All-Huron County player of the year, keep an eye out for Gray.
Kayla Nwabueze Kayla Nwabueze 6'2" | MB Bloomfield Hills | 2026 State MI – 6’2 MB – Bloomfield Hills/Legacy
She’s already tabbed as one of the top blockers in the entire 2026 class, nationally. Kayla Nwabueze Kayla Nwabueze 6'2" | MB Bloomfield Hills | 2026 State MI ‘s is just going to keep on shining in 2023. After leading all players in Michigan in total blocks, Nwabueze will be on the hunt to repeat Legacy dominance in the 15 Open.
Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI – 5’11 OH – Forest Hills Central/FaR Out
While a huge contributor to FaR Out 16 Black’s big run in the tournament at AAU Nationals. Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI really blossomed this past fall with Forest Hills Central. Known for her superb ball control, Weslow had to step up as a primary scorer for the Rangers and flourished in the role. Look out for her with 18 Black.
Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #73 Nation MI – 6’1 OH – Marian/Michigan Elite
Third place finish at AAU Nationals, second straight All-American honors, a state championship with Marian and a First-Team All-State honor later, shall I go on? Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #73 Nation MI is coming in hot and you better be ready. Busignani leads a supremely talented Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno group this club season. A squad that, I predict, will be heavy favorites for a national title come June.
Emma Keeping Emma Keeping 5'11" | S Imlay City | 2026 State MI – 5’10 S/OPP – Imlay City/Michigan Elite
Not many can make such a mark on the court their freshman year, let alone turn a program around within their debut. Emma Keeping Emma Keeping 5'11" | S Imlay City | 2026 State MI was a game changer for Imlay City this fall. Keeping was the spark that nearly saw the Spartans upset eventual champions, North Branch in the district rounds and will be a huge piece for 15 Mizuno.
Gabby DiVita Gabby DiVita 6'1" | OH Grosse Pt. South | 2026 State MI – 6’2 OH – Grosse Pointe South/Legacy
One of the top outsides in the 15s division last spring, Gabby DiVita Gabby DiVita 6'1" | OH Grosse Pt. South | 2026 State MI not only was an All-American but led Legacy to the 15 Open Championship. A whip of an arm with a huge spring in her bounce, DiVita will be back in the 15s division. And while the season just started, DiVita is continuing her winning ways, leading Legacy to a Rock N Rumble title last weekend.
Isabelle Swiercz Isabelle Swiercz 6'2" | OH Hudsonville | 2024 State #110 Nation MI – 6’2 OH – Hudsonville/FaR Out
As a big time opposite last spring, Isabelle Swiercz Isabelle Swiercz 6'2" | OH Hudsonville | 2024 State #110 Nation MI came out of the high school season as one of the top six rotation outsides in the state. Amongst one of the top scorers in Michigan, Swiercz kicked things into a whole other gear this last fall. Now, going into the club season with FaR Out 18 Black, look out for Swiercz game to continue to propel.
Navea Gauthier Navea Gauthier 6'1" | OH Shelby | 2025 State #56 Nation MI – 6’2 OH – Shelby/FaR Out
After an ALL-American campaign at AAU Nationals in June, Navea Gauthier Navea Gauthier 6'1" | OH Shelby | 2025 State #56 Nation MI lit the entire state up in the fall. With nearly 900 kills on the season, hitting over .300, Gauthier was the definition of unstoppable. She’s one of the top prospects in the 2025 class nationally and will be a leading scorer on FaR Out’s 18 Black team.
Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #127 Nation MI – 5’9 S – Northville/Michigan Elite
When looking at the top game changers from this fall, the first name you see is Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #127 Nation MI . All Northville needed to break through the mold was an elite setter, no one better than Craggs. Before leading Northville to the title game in Division 1, Craggs was also an All-American in the 15 Open last spring.
Kiley Gallagher Kiley Gallagher 5'5" | DS/L Clarkston | 2024 State MI – 5’6 L – Clarkston/Legacy
One of the most unsung heroes to the 2022 high school season was easily this libero from Clarkston. Kiley Gallagher Kiley Gallagher 5'5" | DS/L Clarkston | 2024 State MI headed up an impressive defensive line for the Wolves. A consistent presence in serve receive and a strong defender, Gallagher’s play nearly led Clarkston to a Division 1 Final Four.
Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI – 6’0 MB – Forest Hills Northern/FaR Out
You could easily throw this player anywhere on the court and she will thrive. Primarily seen in the middle, Hopewell is a proven six rotation player with some of the best ball control you could find in a middle. This mighty hammer will be another FaR Out player playing up with 18 Black this club season.
Taylor Smith Taylor Smith 6'1" | S Pewamo Westphalia | 2024 State MI – 6’1 S – Pewamo-Westphalia/Five:1
Hot off of earning MVP of the Division 3 Final Four, Taylor Smith Taylor Smith 6'1" | S Pewamo Westphalia | 2024 State MI is looking top notch going into 2023. While Smith could be touted as one of the top setters in her class, she brings so much more to the table with her physicality as a blocker and attacker. Smith was the driving force in Pewamo-Westphalia’s first ever state title this fall.
Olivia Grenadier Olivia Grenadier 6'1" | MB Country Day | 2025 State #91 Nation MI – 6’1 MB – Detroit Country Day/Legacy
Another elite middle from the 2025 class, Olivia Grenadier Olivia Grenadier 6'1" | MB Country Day | 2025 State #91 Nation MI is lightning in a bottle when she steps onto the court. Her game consists of a lot of speed and pop, it’s not often she’s stopped . Grenadier returns to the 2023 club season with the reigning 15 Open AAU champions and an All-American.
Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #142 Nation MI – 5’11 OH – St. Mary Catholic Central/Michigan Elite
In her second year as a starter for St. Mary’s Catholic Central, Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #142 Nation MI again was the leading scorer for the Kestrels. A First-Team All-State performer, Costlow enters the club season with a lot of heat behind her. Costlow is projected to move from the middle to the pin this club season, a position where she’ll thrive immensely.
Olivia Behen Olivia Behen 5'5" | DS/L Saline | 2024 State MI – 5’6 L – Saline/L2
Spending a bulk of her time in the spring as an impact DS for L2’s 161 squad, it wasn’t until the fall where Olivia Behen Olivia Behen 5'5" | DS/L Saline | 2024 State MI ‘s game really began to blossom. Her game shot through the roof for Saline and was the difference maker in the Hornet’s second-ever semi-final run. In the post-season run alone, Behen passed well over a 2.2 and dug nearly 5.5 balls per set.
Fiona Moord Fiona Moord 6'2" | MB Leland | 2024 State MI – 6’2 MB – Leland/Northshore
Leland, Michigan, is a volleyball rich town up in the Leelanau Peninsula. Fiona Moord Fiona Moord 6'2" | MB Leland | 2024 State MI comes from a long line of top notch talent to come out of the Leland cannon. Large and in charge, Moord’s game is very domineering to say the least. She can get on top of the ball with the best of them and has vastly developing blocking range.
Abby Pickard Abby Pickard 5'10" | S Lakewood | 2025 State MI – 5’11 S – Lakewood/FaR Out
Not so often you hear of a sophomore stepping up to set a returning national championship-winning 18s team. After a huge freshman campaign in the spring for FaR Out, finishing top 5 in the 15 Open, Pickard nearly led Lakewood to another semifinal appearance in the fall. Pickard is talented and comes from another volleyball rich area to keep an eye on.
Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI – 6’2 S – Mercy/Legacy
She’s touted as one of the top 2025 players for several reasons. 2022 saw Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI run tables across the country setting for Legacy 15-1’s team. After leading her crew to National Title at AAUs, Flynn was honored with All-American honors too. She returns to Legacy after a fall season that saw her as the heart and soul of Mercy volleyball, leading the Marlins in nearly every statistical category.
Sophie Crawford Sophie Crawford 6'1" | S Gull Lake | 2024 State MI – 6’1 S – Gull Lake/Dead Frog
I have had my eye on Sophie Crawford Sophie Crawford 6'1" | S Gull Lake | 2024 State MI for quite sometime now, an underrated gem at the setting position, Crawford brings a lot to the table. After a huge high school season with Gull Lake, Crawford led her crew to an unprecedented quarter-final match, and earned herself All-State honors. Be on the look out for Crawford setting the pace for Dead Frog this club season.