2023 Club Profile: MVA 16 Black

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a stacked Class of 2025, MVA has its work cut out for it in the 2023 club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a deep roster of talent throughout the state, MVA has a lot of promise for this year, but has to develop some chemistry with its squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately, there won't be a lot of forgiveness from its opponents this year, but the early struggles should lead to great success down the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>MVA 16 Black</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emily Williams will be coaching this year's squad, which features a lot of raw talent with high ceilings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a lot of molding going on with the hitters, this team is going to have to rely on its ball control and defense to lead the way. That shouldn't be much of a problem with <strong>Madison Peal</strong> in the back row as the primary defender. The Grand Rapids Christian talent has plenty of experience taking on big hitters and being able to dig out the toughest attacks. She will do her part to keep MVA 16 Black in sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While MVA will be a bit raw, they still have a lot of hitting talent that picked up some varsity experience in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224601' first='Grace' last='Allen']</strong>, <strong>Adelee Kaiton</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156303' first='Alissa' last='Hulst'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156333' first='Jillian' last='Swierbut']</strong> can all play the outside, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156334' first='Ella' last='Taatjes'] </strong>and <strong>Carley Hersberger </strong>can play the right side or the middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224599' first='Avery' last='Powers']</strong> is also a middle option for MVA this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the hitting depth, a number are showing a lot of explosiveness off the court, with some approaching a 10-foot touch that could come in the next year. Swierbut is also someone that can make a big impact in the back row. She's got a lot of good defensive instincts and is willing to take on a few bumps and bruises for her team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At setter, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487147' first='Myleigh' last='McClary'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224600' first='Cali' last='Stevons'] </strong>are the options for 16 Black. McClary is a 6-foot setter that helps amplify the size that MVA has to work with this year. Hersberger and Hulst each stand 6'1” while Powers and Taatjes are each 6'0”.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McClary has a long reach and can play a very up-tempo offense. She is able to get a lot of quickness and power out of her hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevons is 5'6”, but a really quick mover with a high court IQ. When she's not at setter, she is a big defensive asset for the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team opened the season with some struggles at the JVA Rock ‘N Rumble, but still manufactured a pair of wins to show it could learn from its losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was followed up with a few more bumps in the road at the Central Zone Invitational, but these early setbacks were to be expected. As 16 Black continues to develop its hitting and strengthen its ball control, it is a dark horse squad to upset to high profile teams throughout the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->