Former Michigan Prep Players in the Transfer Portal
While it’s all fun and games while they’re in high school, the real fun begins once they go off to college. Michigan has been producing some of the most elite level players in the NCAA for quite some time now.…
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Continue ReadingWhile it’s all fun and games while they’re in high school, the real fun begins once they go off to college.
Michigan has been producing some of the most elite level players in the NCAA for quite some time now. Within the last few years, college athletics has been turned on its head with the emergence of the transfer portal and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic pausing all sports, almost all collegiate athletes with eligibility at that time were granted an extra year to excuse for the lost time.
Now, some of the best talent to emerge from the state of Michigan are joining fun and jumping into the portal. Here’s a little transfer portal check up on some of our favorite volleyball alumni from the Mitten state.
Jessica Robinson (2019) – Michigan to ??
Now, we may not know where this stud will be going yet. Needless to say, whoever gets her is hitting the jackpot. Jess Robinson will be looking to use her final year of eligibility elsewhere in the NCAA. Just in this last season, Robinson led the entire NCAA in hitting percentage up until the last month of the regular season. She’s a record holder for career hit percentage (.341) and single season hit percentage (.388). Robinson comes with USA experience and will be a game-changer in her final go around.
Aubrey O’Gorman (2021) – Michigan State to LSU (Beach)
A 2021 grad from Lakewood, Aubrey O’Gorman was one of the most decorated players in Viking history. After being committed to Michigan State since middle school, O’Gorman will be heading to the beach. After two years with State, after redshirting her freshman season, O’Gorman joins one of the top beach programs in the nation.
Jess Mruzik (2020) – Michigan to Penn State
This is one of the biggest transfers of the 2022 season. The 2020 National Gatorade Player of the Year will no longer be a wolverine, but a Nittany Lion. Jess Mruzik comes to Happy Valley very well decorated, earning First Team Big Ten honors, twice, and Third Team All-American honors in 2021. Mruzik is a Mercy grad that wrapped her Marlin career winning the program’s first state title. Who’s to say she won’t lead Penn State back to their old winning ways?
Josie Bloom (2022) – Virginia Tech to Ball State
Coming from a long line of big names from the Notre Dame Prep cannon, Josie Bloom was one of the top rated liberos coming out of the 2022 class. Originally committed to Virginia Tech, a knee injury had Bloom sidelined for much of her time. After just one season, Bloom is heading back to the midwest. Following another notable NDP alumni, Natalie Risi, Bloom will be playing for the Ball State Cardinals this fall. The Cardinal are on their second straight season making the NCAA tournament as of 2022.
Abby Olin (2021) – Michigan State to Central Michigan
Another standout from the west side of Michigan to take her talents down to East Lansing. Abby Olin will be taking her her remaining years of eligibility just 68 miles north to Central Michigan. Olin saw her first two seasons with State plagued with injuries, but a healthy Olin on a growing Chippewa roster makes CMU a real power player in the MAC in 2023.
Gracie Danziger (2021) – Michigan State to Jacksonville State
Make that three former prep standouts to don the Green and White to exit after the 2022 season. Gracie Danziger, an early enrollee to MSU in the spring of 2021, will be taking her remaining eligibility down to Jacksonville, Alabama. Danziger will be giving this team much needed depth on defense. Jacksonville State finished the 2022 season with a 24-6 record.
Addie Vanderweide (2021) – Iowa to Hope College
One of the biggest pick ups we’ll maybe ever see in the Division 3 volleyball world. One of the top recruits out of Michigan will be returning home. From the corn fields of Iowa, to the shores of Western Michigan, Hope College has themselves something special going into 2023. Hope finished the 2022 season in the Division 3 Elite 8.
Francesca McBride (2020) – Mississippi State to Eastern Carolina
This is quite the exciting transfer for Eastern Carolina to nab. Francesca McBride had quite the career at Mississippi State. A main stay in the rotation throughout her time, McBride was a part of MSU’s first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2021. McBride oozes athleticism and will surely shine for the Pirates.
Maddy Gates (2018) – Purdue Fort Wayne to Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State has been on a hot streak with their Division 1 finds in the portal the last few years. Maddy Gates will be using her last year of eligibility to play alongside her sister Jordyn Gates in the Laker Blue. Maddy comes to GVSU after amassing over 2,000 assists at IPFW and earning First Team All-Horizon League honors in 2021. Younger sister Jordyn just wrapped up her first season with GV after a two year stint with Arkansas. Jordyn earned All-GLIAC honors and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American in her debut with the Lakers.