Legacy highlights Michigan’s 16U Play at MEQ
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The Legacy 16-1 ADIDAS squad has set the bar high for itself in 2024. After coming up just short of event titles, they rallied to win the 16 Open at Triple Crown. Last week at the Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis,…
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Continue ReadingThe Legacy 16-1 ADIDAS squad has set the bar high for itself in 2024.
After coming up just short of event titles, they rallied to win the 16 Open at Triple Crown.
Last week at the Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis, Legacy again played at a high level, as it dropped just one match the entire weekend.
Unfortunately, that match prevented it from contending for the title, falling to Boiler Jrs 161 in a three-set battle.
That put Legacy 16-1 ADIDAS fifth for the weekend, but doesn’t diminish an impressive overall showing where it won its first 15 sets of play.
As has been the case most of the season, Legacy had a total team effort throughout the weekend.
Their blocking was a highlight, as they continue to game plan well defensively for opposing hitters.
Kayla Nwabueze Kayla Nwabueze 6'2" | MB Bloomfield Hills | 2026 State MI and Ella Andrews are a dominant pair in the middle that allow Legacy to stay persistent and fresh with its play on offense and defense. Both are fierce blockers with great timing and their offensive power is tough to match.
Gabby DiVita Gabby DiVita 6'1" | OH Grosse Pt. South | 2026 State MI is playing about as well as any outside in the country at 16U and that didn’t change this weekend either. Her feel for the game and consistent ability to make the right choice earns her a lot of trust and you can see that play out when she’s on the floor. There’s no shred of hesitation from her.
It would be easy to overlook some of the other hitting contributors with such explosive players leading the way. However, Aubrey Deshetsky, Gina Fedrigo Gina Fedrigo 6'0" | MB Utica Eisenhower | 2026 State MI and Elise Hiemstra Elise Hiemstra 5'11" | OH Detroit Country Day | 2026 State MI each find their ways to make an impact and come through with timely kills or blocks.
Eva Long Eva Long 5'9" | S Fenton | 2026 State MI is getting the best out of a lot of these hitters as well. When you have this kind of talent to work with, sometimes they can make a setter, but in this case both positions are benefitting from each other and pushing one another to higher levels of play. Long has raised her game to compete with the top setters in the country at the 16U level.
Defensively, Legacy has been able to rely on its depth with Meredith Martin Meredith Martin 5'7" | DS/L Marian | 2026 State MI , Jadyn Kennedy and Kayla Ostrander Kayla Ostrander 5'8" | DS/L Utica Eisenhower | 2026 State MI . Martin sports the libero jersey and has played at an elite level this club season to get Legacy as a top national contender. But, Kennedy and Ostrander have been valuable in their DS roles as well. Both have the ability to play libero almost anywhere, and their serving contributions have provided some key swings for Legacy.
Legacy 16-2 ADIDAS places top 10
On top of the 16-1 ADIDAS performance, Legacy 16-2 ADIDAS finished ninth in the 16 USA Division. Also like its fellow club team, 16-2 ADIDAS also went 7-1 on the weekend. The lone loss came against A5 16-2, the eventual runner-up, to end Legacy’s weekend.
In the prior seven matches, Legacy dropped just one set.
Morgin Parsley Morgin Parsley 5'10" | S Walled Lake Northern | 2026 State MI makes a lot of good decisions at setter and spread the ball out well to the Legacy hitters this weekend. Legacy has a lot of good arms to work with on this squad as well. Jillian Ferrill Jillian Ferrill 6'1" | OH Lake Fenton | 2026 State MI , Madison Geer Madison Geer 5'9" | OH Frankenmuth | 2026 State MI and Ashley Verhey Ashley Verhey 6'0" | MB Milford | 2026 State MI all can put the ball down well on the outside.
In the middle, Riley Copenhaver Riley Copenhaver 6'0" | MB Brighton | 2026 State MI was a strong blocking presence and timed out her attempts well. Liliana Gegovic Liliana Gegovic 5'10" | OH Utica | 2026 State MI was putting down consistent kills totals as well to balance out the hitting in the middle.
Abbigayl Sells Abbigayl Sells 5'3" | DS/L Lake Fenton | 2026 State MI has led the way defensively and has sharpened her play a lot this club season to help keep this offense moving along smoothly.