2025 Club Preview: Michigan Elite 18 Mizuno

<p><em><strong>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>Michigan Elite boasts one of the top returning 18s teams in the entire country. This is a squad that boasts a long line of winning history. For each of the last four seasons, this group has managed to place within the Top 5 at AAU Nationals, including a Runner-Up finish in the 16 Open. </p>   <p>This year, they add on some more winning depth and look to make a big splash for their final season. Michigan Elite loses the likes of powerhouse players, [player_tooltip player_id='156287' first='Isabelle' last='Busignani'] & [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] due to early graduation. Despite this, they add on the Reck twins who are coming off of a huge fall alongside [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'] and Northville, winning the Division 1 title. </p>   <p>18 Mizuno is coached by HC and Club Director, <strong>Vince Muscat</strong> and is assisted by longtime assistant, <strong>Erin Craggs</strong>.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] - Cass City</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] - Bedford</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='224604' first='Katerina' last='Stout'] - Dakota</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156284' first='Gabriella' last='Babinski'] - South Lyon East</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156326' first='Mallory' last='Reck'] - Northville</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156325' first='Molly' last='Reck'] - Northville</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'] - Northville</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] - St. Mary Catholic Central</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='156319' first='Addison' last='Newblatt'] - Clarkston</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Powerhouse Returners</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/gabby-babinski-.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-733862" style="width:265px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156284' first='Gabriella' last='Babinski']</figcaption></figure>   <p>Despite the loss of leading scorer in Busignani, MIElite returns a star studded cast of attackers. Leading the way looks to be the team's mainstay in the opposite position, [player_tooltip player_id='156284' first='Gabriella' last='Babinski'] (Georgia Southern). Not only does Babinski bring the points, but she brings the emotion to her team. Always known for her vocality on the court and constant energy, she even looked to take things up a notch this past fall with South Lyon East where you really saw a powerful leadership role blossom. </p>   <p>Alongside Babinski, 18 Mizuno owns a trifecta of power in the middle. One of the leaders of this trio is one that saw herself sidelined at the tail-end of last club season due to injury. Back and better, [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] (Texas Tech), the future slide queen of the NCAA, leads the middle group. Alongside her, she is joined by [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] (Indiana) and [player_tooltip player_id='224604' first='Katerina' last='Stout'] (Wayne State).</p>   <p>The three middles offers up so many different looks for Muscat and company to dispose of. All comfortable in front of and behind the setter, the variety of routes these three could run and terminate in is top notch. </p>   <p>Ignash maybe had the best fall of the middles, leading Cass City to a D3 Final Four appearance. For Gray, a majority of the season was relied upon recovering from an injury. However, she was able to return in time to lead Bedford to an Elite 8 run. Stout led Dakota to a respectable conference finish.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1-2 Punch in the Back Court</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC03063-crop-5138x3374-1736714565.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-741287" style="width:275px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156319' first='Addison' last='Newblatt']</figcaption></figure>   <p>18 Mizuno will be without their longtime defensive leader, [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] (Utah). However, there is little to worry about with what is to be expected from their back court this season. Equipped with the team's long time DS, [player_tooltip player_id='156319' first='Addison' last='Newblatt'] (Fordham), MIElite will also utilize [player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] (Toledo) in more of a DS/Lib role this season. Costlow has been an integral part to this group's success over the years due to her incredible first contact and craft shot selection. The slide into this 'new' position should be more than seemless.</p>   <p>Both Newblatt and Costlow are coming off of big fall seasons. Newblatt, in a six rotation attacking role for Clarkston, was the team's leading scorer and defensive option. Newblatt showed off just how versatile her game is throughout the last several years, playing out of every zone in the back court and proving to be a lethal attacker.</p>   <p>Costlow, alongside Payne, finally overcame the four year drought and won the Division 3 championship. Costlow, as the Kenstrel's leading scorer, was deservedly named both Prep Dig's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC2nQlLM6Yp/?img_index=3">Most Outstanding Player of the MHSAA tournament</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/12/2024-division-3-player-coach-of-the-year/">Division 3 Player of the Year</a>. She's another player that could easily slide in and out of positions during this club season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'] (Illinois State) was seemingly the unanimous Player of the Year for her incredible fall campaign. Craggs has been the longtime quarterback to this Michigan Elite squad and has cemented her as one of the best players in the 2025 class, nationally. She enters her final club season with a lot of momentum and confidence on her side. She is the Player of the Year according to both Prep Dig and State Champs!. However, Craggs most important accolade from the fall was defeating the reigning D1 champs en route to winning Northville their first ever state championship. Maybe we could see Craggs lead Elite to their first ever USA Open title this April?</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newbies Bring More Winning to the Mix</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/DSC07167_Original.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-733784" style="width:189px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156326' first='Mallory' last='Reck'] </figcaption></figure>   <p>It's not unknown that the Reck twins are two of the top outside prospects in Michigan. [player_tooltip player_id='156325' first='Molly' last='Reck'] (Oakland) and [player_tooltip player_id='156326' first='Mallory' last='Reck'] (Marist) were two of the catalysts to Northville's groundbreaking season. On the offensive and defensive end, the two bring quite the spark to whatever court they step on. Hence why so many of the teams they have been on have found so much success.</p>   <p>While most think that these two are brand new to Michigan Elite, the Recks actually were a part of the top five finishing 14 Mizuno team a few years ago. Not too long thereafter, with another local club, the twins would charge the way alongside Newblatt to win a 15 Open title. Winning is nothing new for these two. </p>   <p>It also helps that both Molly and Mallorry have had extensive connections with multiple players on this 18s team. One of the most critical is the well formed setter to hitter connection with Craggs which has been cooking up for multiple years with Northville. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Season Predictions </h2>   <p>Once again, this group is title chasing. They've come awfully close to it multiple times, the closest was during their 16s year, losing to KIVA in the finals. Last year season also saw them awfully close, narrowly falling to the eventual champions, Tribe, in the quarterfinals of AAU Nationals. That was without their M1, Ignash. They then went on to make a club high finish at USAV Nationals, just barely losing to Houston Skyline in three sets in the gold bracket opener.</p>   <p>Even despite the early grad losses, this team brings on a lot of good energy and a lot of athleticism. An 18 Mizuno crew at full health is a dangerous one. They are easily a top 5 rated team in the country and early favorites to win the Open Division.</p>

Be sure to follow @lshotvb on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!