Michigan Teams Dominate Wave 4 at AAU Nationals: Michigan Elite

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;<strong>@lshotvb&nbsp;</strong>on Instagram and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">Use code&nbsp;<strong>LSHOTVBUSAV&nbsp;</strong>and get $10 off your registration for Prep Dig's USAV Showcases,&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&event_id=765">Session 1</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&event_id=766">Session 2</a>!</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 50th AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships have finally come to an end. After a long two weeks of non-stop action, kicking off with the 14 and 18s age group. It was wave 4, that featured the 16s age group, that really ended the hotly anticipated tournament with a bang.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams from across the country send the best of the best of what got to AAUs. But if we were to point out a standout state state, it was the Mitten state directly 956 miles north that had an explosive showing in Wave 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the top two divisions at the championships, Open and Premier, Michigan showcased five teams that placed within the upper echelon of the field. Here's the break down of how they did. Starting off with Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":411241,"width":267,"height":178,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/A3783325-7824-428F-8951-1FF67F59A8B8.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-411241" width="267" height="178" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno Takes Runner-Up in 16 Open</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 2025 class is one of the most stacked groups, not just in Michigan, but nationally. On this Michigan Elite team, they have several of the top kids, nationally. Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno came into this one on a mission. Determined and still with a bitter taste of last year's loss in the semifinal, this team showed up!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting off day 1, you could tell that 16MIZ tasted the blood in the water. In the very opening set of the entire tournament, Elite won it by the tune of 25-10! They would go on to cruise throughout both day 1 and 2 completely unblemished and unbothered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 3 would roll around before Elite was truly tested. MiElite was placed in a gold medal pool with VCNebraska, GamePoint and Mintonette. Cruising past VCN, Elite would drop their first, and only loss in the first three days, to a feisty GamePoint squad. Elite would then turn it around to defeat Mintonette in three, the decider going 15-5!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":411548,"width":156,"height":234,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/DSC01269.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-411548" width="156" height="234" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This would put Mizuno in a striking position to earn a berth into the elite 8 of the Open Division if they win their challenge match later on Day 3. Fast forward nearly 3-4 hours later, what looked like a struggling 16 Mizuno team came firing with vengeance. In straight sets, Mizuno would glide past Sports Performance 16 Elite in straight, 25-20, sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 4 would open up with yet another 3-set match versus No Name, a very familiar opponent to Elite. One that they had defeated several times throughout the regular season. In dominating fashion in the third set, 15-5, Elite would set themselves perfectly at a shot to battle for a championship appearance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only would they advance to the semi-final, but they would have the shot to take on in-state foe, Legacy 16-1s, or the team that ended their run in last year's tournament in the semifinals, OT 16 JP Tampa. They would take on the latter in straight sets, avenging the bitter 3 set loss they had exactly a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On to the championship, at ESPN Wide World of Sports, the scene was set with Michigan Elite versus KIVA. This was one exciting match, one I wish had more fans in the stands to add to the excitement. After coming out hot in the first set, a mid-set lull from Elite and a late set surge from KIVA, KIVA would not only escape with set 1, but run away with the second with all the momentum. 16 Mizuno was crowned the 16 Open Runner-Ups for the 50th Anniversary of the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":5} --> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Player Highlights</h5> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":411549,"width":266,"height":177,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/DSC00056.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-411549" width="266" height="177" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156309' first='Lauren' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AAU named three members from Michigan Elite to the All-America list. OH [player_tooltip player_id='156287' first='Isabelle' last='Busignani'], S [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'], and L [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne']. Busignani was rock solid all tournament long, while really picking it up in the gold medal and challenge rounds, where their win against Sport Performance may have been a career definer. Craggs and Payne both had stellar outings as well. Craggs continually proves to be one of the top setters, and maybe most underrated, in her class. Meanwhile much like Busignani, Payne too, knew how to turn up in the big matches, combining for 25 digs between both sweeps of Sports Performance and OT JP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You could easily list all of these kids as standouts, because they all had big moments. The middles for this team prove to be game changers. [player_tooltip player_id='156309' first='Lauren' last='Johnson'] had one of the best outings I've seen all season. Her blocking was absolutely stunning. The sound the ball would make when it made contact with her block was amazing! [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] really turned things up on Championship Day with both her blocking and offense. After missing the entire third day due to illness, Gray managed to comeback almost better than ever. DS [player_tooltip player_id='156319' first='Addison' last='Newblatt'] was, too, a real revelation. After a rough first days in reception, when it came to that championship run, her receive and defense were top tier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>–</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PrepDig is putting on the Stock Up Showcase series across the country for Class of 2024-26 prospects AND Freshmen Showcase Series for 2027s throughout the month of July.&nbsp;</em><a href="https://prepdig.com/stock-up-showcases/?type=Showcase&amp;state=&amp;start_date="><strong><em>Click here</em></strong></a><em>&nbsp;to sign up for YOUR event. You can use promo code “LshotDig2023” for $10 off your registration.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->