Mruzik earns MVP honors at NORCECA U18 Continental Championship
As a freshman, it was easy to see that Farmington Hills Mercy outside hitter Jess Mruzik was going to garner national attention through her prep career. Mruzik has already gotten the national attention, as the junior is committed to play…
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Continue ReadingAs a freshman, it was easy to see that Farmington Hills Mercy outside hitter Jess Mruzik was going to garner national attention through her prep career.
Mruzik has already gotten the national attention, as the junior is committed to play for Michigan when her prep career ends.
This past month, Mruzik garnered international attention.
The 6-1 outside hitter was one of 12 girls selected to play for the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team as they competed in the 2018 NORCECA Girls’ U18 Continental Championship in Honduras from Aug. 25-Sept. 2.
“As soon as I found out I made the team, I started crying right away and then called my mom,” Mruzik said of being selected. “It was just such a humbling experience to be part of that team. It has just done wonders for my game on and off the court.”
Once with the squad, Mruzik quickly established herself as more than just another player. She was picked to be a team captain and then went on to earn MVP honors for the tournament after leading Team USA to the Continental Championship.
“You don’t really know what good is like until you play international competition. You are playing against players that are 6-7 and 6-8 and right in your face. That experience definitely gave me confidence when I came home,” Mruzik said of how the experience improved her as a player. “I knew that if I could play at a high level at that stage, that I could take that with me into this season.”
Her time in Honduras kept her from playing with Mercy to open the season, but she has returned to the Marlins’ lineup and has them looking like a top contender for the Division 1 state title this season.
“She’s just a strong foundation for us,” Mercy coach Loretta Vogel said of Mruzik. “Obviously returning from her training with the Olympic team, that has taken her game to another level. I think you can see a lot of confidence in her right now, for good reason. She’s a tremendous player.”
Mruzik helped lead the Marlins to a sweep of rival Birmingham Marian last week, avenging a loss in the 2017 Class A semifinals to the Mustangs last year.
“Ever since the loss in the semifinals (to Marian), we have been looking to get revenge. The motto this season is ‘bounce back’ and we have been preparing for (Marian) since the start of the season. We really wanted to come out strong and show them what we are about.”
Of all that Mruzik learned while playing with the U.S., it was the different styles of play that allowed her to become more adaptable on the court.
“The game is a lot different internationally. Other countries play the game much differently than we do, so you have to be able to adjust to the style of play you are up against and that can be challenging,” Mruzik said. “You are playing with great players that you’ve only known for a few weeks and facing great competition that has lived together and trained together for a long time. It really teaches you how to adjust quickly. I really learned more than I can even explain.”
Mruzik grew up dreaming of playing for Team USA at the Olympic games and those aspirations have grown even stronger through her experience last month.
“Ever since I was little I have wanted to be on the Olympic team and being able to put on a USA jersey for the first time was incredible,” Mruzik said. “It’s something I will never forget, but also something I want to pursue again.”