High Performance Nike 17-1 2024 Club Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High Performance Nike 17-1 is bringing a strong group of largely Oakland County players together this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a nice mix of size and athleticism, this team has the potential to be something special come the end of the club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Morgan Anderson – Country Day</td><td>Elizabeth Grajewski – North Farmington</td><td>Cecilia Kowalski – West Bloomfield</td></tr><tr><td>Arianna Lang – Goodrich</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490025' first='Alexandra' last='Mazzola'] – Stoney Creek</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='224602' first='Kennedi' last='Miller'] – Lake Orion</td></tr><tr><td>Allison O'Rourke – Lake Orion</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='384508' first='Hanna' last='Pardon'] – Brandon</td><td>Charlotte Peplowski – Lake Orion</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='224603' first='Anna' last='Rich'] – Troy</td><td>Carley Zibell – Lake Orion</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lake Orion-led roster</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What you'll notice about High Performance 17-1 right away is the heavy Oakland County influence, led mostly by Lake Orion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dragon program has four members on this roster. They are middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224602' first='Kennedi' last='Miller'] </strong>and <strong>Carley Zibell</strong>, along with outside <strong>Charlotte Peplowski </strong>and L/DS <strong>Allison O'Rourke</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miller missed the 2023 prep season, but still has the ability to bounce back before 2024 is done. The 6'3” Miller had a great 2022 prep season and shows a lot of promise to become a dominant middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zibell is another middle from the Lake Orion program that has shown an all-around game that she can tap into for the club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peplowski was a breakout star for Lake Orion this fall, as she took major strides with her attack and her defensively play. She comes into the club season with plenty of momentum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Rourke is also an eager defender that is ready for more reps and more chances to shine. So far she's making great reads in the back row and adding some key aces in tight matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Added power arms</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":437774,"width":"206px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/718-Hanna-Pardon.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-437774" style="width:206px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='384508' first='Hanna' last='Pardon']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lake Orion group is surrounded by a lot of fellow talent from neighboring areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384508' first='Hanna' last='Pardon'] </strong>is a big-time power arm that comes from the Brandon program. Pardon can play either pin and is going to be aggressive at the net. Parson is a player that can really get on a hot streak offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arianna Lang </strong>is another outside option that can play on both ends. She's also been a valuable defensive asset that can make some tough digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elizabeth Grazjewski </strong>and <strong>Cecilia Kowalski </strong>provide a nice mix of size and explosion. Kowalski comes from West Bloomfield and brings a 6-foot frame to the middle and she has a powerful windup. Grazjewski is from North Farmington and only stands 5'7”, but she gets off the floor and can win the tough 50-50 balls at the net. Grazjewski is also able to slide to the right side and finish consistently there as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Setting and defense</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High Performance has Troy's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224603' first='Anna' last='Rich'] </strong>and Country Day's <strong>Morgan Anderson </strong>to handle setting duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rich is a hitter/setter combo that is coming off a big season with Troy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rich has a good feel for the play and knows when to call her own number. She's got a lot of athleticism as a setter and naturally transitions to the outside and defensively play well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson got a chance to run the DCD offense this year and work with some truly elite hitters. That helped her confidence grow and get a good feel for where the ball needs to be during a hectic point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, along with O'Rourke, Nike 17-1 has Stoney Creek's <strong>Alexandra Mazzolla. </strong>Mazzolla has a tremendous motor and determination in the back row. She's going to give everything she has each point and that leads to a lot of impressive defensive plays and digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Early results</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High Performance opened its season at the JVA Rock N' Rumble in Cleveland a few weeks ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They finished in 19^th place of the 17 Premier Division, suffering a pair of losses to open things up before rallying to win back-to-back matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their final outing of the day was a tough three-set loss in the Silver Bracket to SKY Elite 17 Black that saw the third set decided 17-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->