Club Breakdown: Michigan Elite 18 Mizuno

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club season has officially begun and we are off to the races in 2023!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at one of the top returning teams in the 18s Division this season. A USAV Open qualifying team in 2022, 18 Mizuno will surely look to continue their "Elite" ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>18 Mizuno</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='66328' first='Ava' last='Sarafa']</td><td>6'0 S</td><td>Marian (Kentucky)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='66316' first='Remi' last='Madison']</td><td>5'11 OH</td><td>Grand Blanc</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='66334' first='Neele'ge'' last='Sims']</td><td>6'0 MB</td><td>Corunna (Missouri State)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='66297' first='Kalliann' last='Cook']</td><td>5'5 L</td><td>Birch Run (Austin Peay)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='108714' first='Taryn' last='Rice']</td><td>5'9 L </td><td>Northville (Northern Iowa)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='173600' first='Sawyer' last='Jones']</td><td>6'1 UT</td><td>Berkley</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='169506' first='Hannah' last='Howard']</td><td>5'6 L</td><td>St. Ursula</td><td><strong>Quinn Robak</strong></td><td>6'1 OH</td><td>Our Lady of Lakes (Winona State)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray']</td><td>6'2 MB</td><td>Bedford</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='152524' first='Molly' last='Banta']</td><td>6'0 OH</td><td>Marian</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Breakdown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1614346215629508608?s=20u0026amp;t=4nqME1iSEWmlDJNJ0KptkA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true,"align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed alignright is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1614346215629508608?s=20&amp;t=4nqME1iSEWmlDJNJ0KptkA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As previewed, this 18 Mizuno squad is coming off of a great 2022 season. One of the top teams in the country, qualifying for the Open Division at USAV's and just narrowly missing out on the Gold bracket at AAU Nationals. This <strong>Vince Muscat</strong> led team boasts one of the top players in the country, [player_tooltip player_id='66328' first='Ava' last='Sarafa'], and brings on a talented roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Returners</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Mizuno returns just about everybody from their 17 Mizuno team a season ago. Led by the Kentucky bound, Division 1 Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='66328' first='Ava' last='Sarafa']. She'll look to round out her career at MiElite on a high note. Of her returning weapons, MB [player_tooltip player_id='66334' first='Neele'ge'' last='Sims'] (Missouri State), OH [player_tooltip player_id='66316' first='Remi' last='Madison'] and UT [player_tooltip player_id='173600' first='Sawyer' last='Jones'] return. Sims and Madison are long time members of this group and bring a lot of fire to the offense. Jones returns after joining Elite last season. As athletic as they come, Jones can bring the heat up the middle but is just as insane on the pins! Jones' versatile nature could play a huge role in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's 17 Mizuno team boasted one of the best defensive lines in the country including [player_tooltip player_id='66297' first='Kalliann' last='Cook'] (Austin Peay), [player_tooltip player_id='108714' first='Taryn' last='Rice'] (UNI) and [player_tooltip player_id='169506' first='Hannah' last='Howard']. All three return for their last seasons. The three were lightning in a bottle for the group. Cook brings the scrappy defense, while Rice is a more steady, silent killer, and Howard is a combination of both! All three compliment each other SO well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>New Kids on the Block</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joining an already impressive roster comes OH <strong>Quinn Robak</strong> (Winona State), OH [player_tooltip player_id='152524' first='Molly' last='Banta'], and Sophomore MB [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray']. Both Robak and Banta are in-house pick-ups from last year's 18 Elite and 17 Elite teams. Robak has a whip of an arm that showed a lot of promise last winter. Banta is coming off of a championship season with Marian as the team's OH2. Gray is a recent addition and huge get for the team. One of the top rated middle blockers in the state and top basketball player for her class, Gray will give some much needed size. For Bedford in the fall, Gray had over 300 kills on a tune of a .500 hit percentage!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->