MIVCA announces the 10 Miss Volleyball finalists for 2019

<p>The 10 finalists for the 2019 Miss Volleyball Award were announced this past weekend. Here’s a closer look at each of the 10 players.</p> <p><strong>Celia Cullen, Brighton S/OH: </strong>Cullen is a future setter for Michigan State, but she does a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs. She posted nearly 400 kills and over 600 assists in the 2018 fall season and then was part of the Legacy 18-Elite club squad that won a national championship.</p> <p><strong>Jordyn Gates, Grand Rapids Christian S: </strong>The future Arkansas Razorback has run the Grand Rapids Christian attack since she was a sophomore. Gates helped lead the Eagles to a Division 2 state championship last season and was a first team All-State pick. In 2017, Gates was second team All-State. She is approaching 3,000 assists for her career.</p> <p><strong>Jess Mruzik, Farmington Hills Mercy OH: </strong>Mruzik established herself as a freshman for the Marlins in 2016 and has been improving since. A University of Michigan commit, Mruzik was a third team All-State honoree as a freshman and a first team All-State pick the last two years. She helped lead the Marlins to the Division 1 state semifinals in 2018 is currently making her second stint with the U.S. Junior National Volleyball team. She also was the 2018 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and was part of the Legacy 18-Elite club squad that won a national championship this past club season.</p> <p><strong>Kendall Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline MH/OH: </strong>Murray is a future Michigan Wolverine that is hitting nearly .300 for her prep career. She put up over 700 kills as a junior and already has 187 just a few weeks into this season. Murray was second team All-State in 2018.</p> <p><strong>Elizabeth Norris, Corunna S/OH: </strong>The four-year varsity player for the Cavs is committed to North Dakota. She led the state in kills in the 2018 prep season, putting up 879 while leading Corunna to the Division 2 state semifinals. Norris has amassed over 1,600 kills and 1,100 digs in her prep career. She was first team All-State in 2018.</p> <p><strong>Alexa Rousseau, Bloomfield Hills S: </strong>The 6’3” setter is committed to Northwestern and is in her fourth year of varsity play with the Black Hawks. An aggressive left-handed setter, Rousseau has earned All-State honors her last two seasons. She has over 2,650 assists in her prep career and is approaching 300 blocks and 1,000 kills. Rousseau also has an impressive serve that led to 154 aces in 2018.</p> <p><strong>Keona Salesman, Bronson OH: </strong>A Ferris State commit, Salesman has been part of the Bronson program that has won three consecutive state championships, including the 2018 D3 title. Salesman was first team All-State in 2017 and 2018, while earning third team All-State honors as a freshman in 2016.</p> <p><strong>Andelyn Simkins, Schoolcraft OH: </strong>A 5’10” outside hitter that plays well above her size, Simkins was first team All-State in 2018 and 2017 and second team in 2016. A Western Michigan commit, Simkins has helped the Eagles be a top contender in Class C/Division 3 in recent years.</p> <p><strong>Ashley Slater, Grand Haven OH: </strong>Off to a hot start to 2019 with 194 kills in 41 sets, Slater has been a go-to hitter for the Bucs over the past three years. A Wake Forest commit, Slater was second team All-State in Division 1 last season with over 450 kills and over 110 aces.</p> <p><strong>Allie Wiese, Mattawan L: </strong>The lone libero amongst the finalists, Wiese has amassed over 1,600 digs in her first three years with Mattawan and has over 200 aces in her career. A future member of the Hillsdale College volleyball team, Wiese was a first team All-State selection for Division 1 in 2018.</p>