Four things to watch for the 2020 club season
The 2020 club volleyball season is upon us. If 2019 was any sort of indicator, the state of Michigan could have some big things occur in 2020. Here’s four things to keep an eye on for the club season. How…
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Continue ReadingThe 2020 club volleyball season is upon us.
If 2019 was any sort of indicator, the state of Michigan could have some big things occur in 2020.
Here’s four things to keep an eye on for the club season.
How Will Legacy Respond in 2020?
It certainly was a banner year for Legacy Volleyball Center in 2019, claiming the 18 Open AAU National Championship while also bringing in a Club National Championship in the 17’s. It would be hard to see Legacy being able to match that in 2020, but it’s not completely out of the realm of possibilities. Their Adidas squads are all very talented and last year they had their 17’s and 14’s place in the top 5 of the AAU finals and their 15’s finish in the top 10. Legacy 18-1 Adidas looks to be a solid group at every position and many have spent years playing together. The roster includes two future members of the Big Ten (S Alexa Rousseau, OH Kendall Murray), one of the SEC (MB Ellie Ruprich) and one of the Big 12 (MB Meghan Dombrowski). If they can find the serving and passing that 18-Elite had last season, Legacy could be a national title contender once again. Legacy 15-1 Adidas also should make waves nationally as the team will have one of the best players in the Class of 2023, Harper Murray. The majority of this group played together last year and finished fifth in the AAU championships and third in the USAV championships. With six-rotation options Nina Horning and Sarah Vellucci getting a lot of experience at the varsity level this fall, you have to think Legacy is a national contender.
Will Michigan Elite get to the top?
Michigan Elite has reasons to believe it can claim an Open national championship this year after its 16-Mizuno and 15-Mizuno squads earned top-5 finishes in the AAU finals a year ago. The 15’s squad finished third and translates into this year’s Michigan Elite 16-Mizuno squad. The team features five of our top 10 in the Class of 2022 and looks to be stacked at each position. They have hitting for days with the likes of Ava Brizard, Kimani Johnson, Serena Nyambio and Sarah Sylvester. They also have outside/setter Aly Borellis that can play anywhere at a high level. If defense and serving can match the hitting, 16-Mizuno is definitely going to be a force on the national scene. Michigan Elite 17-Mizuno also should be a player with a team entirely back from 2019’s successful season. Julia Bishop (Michigan State) will run the offense and be the leader we’ve all seen her be. She has a great defense behind her in Rachel Jennings and Olivia Kowalkowski. With plenty of dynamic hitters, this team has a lot of expectations for 2020.
Can FaR Out piece things together?
FaR Out had some strong moments in 2019, but this year the program has put together a very intriguing roster for its FaR Out 18 Black squad. Comprised of members from the Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022, this truly is the top club roster from the west side of Michigan. Headlined by future Arkansas Razorback, Jordyn Gates at setter, 18 Black includes players that dominated their respective divisions this prep season in OH Andelyn Simkins and Anna Smith, as well as 2021 standout OH Jenna Reitsma, and sisters Aubrey and Maradith O’Gorman at the net. There will be a lot of timing and chemistry to work out, but on paper this team is a true All-Star collection and I am excited to see what it can do.
Who will breakout?
I think it’s fair to say that the level of play in the state of Michigan has been improving each year and I would expect that trend to continue. The mitten is becoming a hotbed for Division 1 volleyball talent and that is going to continue to trickle throughout other clubs in the state of Michigan. While the powers are still the powers in this state, there are a lot of clubs in Michigan that are growing and poised to take the next step this year or the next. We have already seen the likes of Team Detroit and MVA have top national finishes in their respective classifications. Programs like Five:1, Unified, Inside Out, Dead Frog, GLVBC, Impact and others had some encouraging showings last year and it could be a sign of what’s to come. Will any break through and earn some podium finishes on the national level in 2020?