2024 Central Zone Invitational Open Standouts
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The Central Zone Invite was a successful one for Michigan’s top club teams. Along with the 15 Open title going to Legacy, the club also competed for 16 Open and 17 Open titles, while Michigan Elite was right in the…
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Continue ReadingThe Central Zone Invite was a successful one for Michigan’s top club teams.
Along with the 15 Open title going to Legacy, the club also competed for 16 Open and 17 Open titles, while Michigan Elite was right in the hunt in the 17 Open as well.
Here’s some of the players that shined and led their respective teams to success in Indianapolis last weekend.
Marlie Smith Marlie Smith 5'10" | S Clarkston | 2027 State MI , S Legacy 15-1 ADIDAS
Legacy had a championship weekend in Indianapolis, taking the 15 Open by winning all eight sets it had in Gold Bracket play. As was the theme of the weekend, strong results were typically associated with strong setter play. Smith is as fierce of a competitor as it gets and she just has a great feel for the game. She’s able to make a great set out of difficult spots and she’s getting dozens of highlight-reel kills out of her hitters each match. Smith also mixes herself into the offense seamlessly and remains a constant threat from the service line.
Kate Kalczynski Kate Kalczynski 6'1" | OH Mercy | 2027 State MI , OH Legacy 15-1 ADIDAS
Kalczynski has to consider herself very blessed. She’s spent her freshman year playing alongside Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI during the prep season and now Marlie Smith Marlie Smith 5'10" | S Clarkston | 2027 State MI in club season. It’s really brought out the best in the young hitter. We’ve seen her dial up a lot of power shots that can’t be stopped, but she’s showing a great mixture of offspeed attacks and different swing angles to keep from being predictable. She gets a lot of high-percentage balls and she’s making sure she finishes them. She approached 70 kills on the championship weekend.
Cynthia Ockerman Cynthia Ockerman 6'3" | MB Brighton | 2027 State MI , MH Legacy 15-1 ADIDAS
Ockerman was also a big part of Legacy’s title run last weekend. The 6’3” middle was an imposing presence throughout the event, racking up block after block. If she didn’t put the ball away, she certainly made life a lot easier for her defenders. Smith also had a good connection with Ockerman offensively, as their fast timing couldn’t be matched by opposing blockers. Ockerman’s footwork continues to get better and better, making her one of the top middles in the class.
Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI , S Legacy 17-1 ADIDAS
What more can you really say about Flynn. She’s as valuable a player as there is in the country. Not only does she bring the best out of her hitters, but she’s a tenacious defender and server on top of being able to disguise her dumps and attack attempts as well as anyone. She had defenses guessing a lot during the weekend despite facing some of the best 17U players in the nation. Flynn has all the tools and is a great leader. The team really feeds off her energy and play. She guided Legacy to a second-place finish in the 17 Open, as the team fell to KIVA 17 Red in the final, but played five incredibly close sets with them over the weekend.
Marie Laurio Marie Laurio 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State #147 Nation MI , OH Legacy 17-1 ADIDAS
Already a well-established outside, Laurio looks to be taking her game to another level early on in this club season. Legacy hasn’t been shy about going to her in pressure situations and Laurio has been coming through in a big way. She’s added velocity to her swings, but is placing the ball at tough angles that defenses can’t dig up. Flynn and her have developed a lot of chemistry that allows Laurio to really showcase her finishing ability.
McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #105 Nation MI , L Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno
Michigan Elite suffered just one loss on the weekend, which came against KIVA 17 Red in a three-set semifinal. But, it was still a strong weekend and McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #105 Nation MI showcased her ability as one of the best liberos in the state. Payne was a dig machine in Indianapolis and kept her squad in a number of long rallies with her play. She makes eye-popping sprawls and splits to get to a ball and keep the up-tempo offense rolling. With an offense that can get good swings from out-of-system balls, Payne knows what her team needs from her and she meets those expectations every time.
Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #127 Nation MI , S Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno
Craggs is right up there with elite setters in this class. She doesn’t have the size of Flynn, but she does have top-level instincts and touch. She really gels well with all of her hitters and you can see she is able to raise the game of her middles. Craggs communicates well and is able to push her middles to another level with speed and power. She’s also an underrated defender that can slow down a lot of attacks at the net.
Gabby DiVita Gabby DiVita 6'1" | OH Grosse Pt. South | 2026 State MI , OH Legacy 16-1 ADIDAS
DiVita has been performing at a high level on the national stage for a while, but her ability to raise her game in the biggest matches is always impressive. DiVita was a consistent finisher all weekend, but put up double-digit kills in each of Legacy’s last three matchups of the weekend. If you’re looking to teach a young player how to swing, watching DiVita’s swing is where to start. She’s got flawless motion and makes it look effortless despite delivering some of the hardest shots of the event time after time. A slight hiccup to open Gold Bracket play dropped Legacy to ninth in the 16 Open, but they dropped just one match and DiVita was certainly among the best in the Open.