2021 Club Preview: Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy

The talent-rich East side of the state of Michigan will be on full display during the club season with Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy. Always one of the most competitive clubs in Michigan each year, Michigan Elite returns a lot of top-end talent for the 2021 club season. Some of their Mizuno squads will have national aspirations this year and their more veteran squads feature future Division 1 stars. Here’s a look at what Michigan Elite is bringing to the court in 2021. 18 Mizuno [player_tooltip player_id="50288" first="Mikayla" last="Haut"] Coached by Vince Muscat, this unit returns its entire team from 2020 and adds in a talented outside hitter in Kaylin CollinsKaylinCollins5'11" | OHMercy | 2021StateMI (College of Charleston), who was out last year with a knee injury. This group is pretty strong at all points. Leading the team is 2020 Miss Volleyball winner Julia BishopJuliaBishop5'10" | SMercy | 2021StateMI (Michigan State) at setter. Bishop will lead a fast offense that includes hitters Collins, Mikayla HautMikaylaHaut5'11" | OHSMCC | 2021StateMI (Fairfield), Jenna O’BrienJennaO’Brien6'0" | OHRegina | 2021StateMI and Jenna VaskeJennaVaske5'11" | SCharyl Stockwell | 2021StateMI on the outsides while Ellie TiskoEllieTisko6'0" | MHMercy | 2021StateMI, Charli Atiemo (Northern Illinois) and Ashley Nordman (Bellarmine) can hit from the middle or the outside. Bishop has worked with many of these hitters for year at Michigan Elite and at Farmington Hills Mercy. Defensively, 18 Mizuno has some of the best the state can offer in Rachel JenningsRachelJennings5'9" | LNovi | 2021StateMI (Ohio Northern) and Olivia KowalkowskiOliviaKowalkowski5'4" | LNotre Dame Prep | 2021StateMI (Georgia State). Their defensive play, combined with the leadership skills of Bishop makes 18 Mizuno arguably the best unit in the state and should be highly competitive on the regional and national stages. 17 Mizuno [player_tooltip player_id="24842" first="Josie" last="Bloom"] Coached by Mayssa Cook, this squad features three players that Cook coaches at Marian High School in outside power arms Ava BrizardAvaBrizard6'0" | OHMarian | 2022StateMI (NC State) and Sophia TrederSophiaTreder6'0" | OHMarian | 2022StateMI, as well as 6’3” middle Sarah SylvesterSarahSylvester6'3" | MHMarian | 2022StateMI (TCU). This team added in outside hitter Madison GebhardtMadisonGebhardt6'0" | OHFlint Powers CC | 2022StateMI, who has a lot of pop in her swing as well. Kimani JohnsonKimaniJohnson6'2" | MHCass Tech | 2022StateMI is another strong player on the outside that stands 6’3”, while Aly Borellis is a do-everything player that can finish points and also run the offense at setter. Along with Sylvester, Amanda GlantonAmandaGlanton6'4" | MHDavison | 2022StateMI is a 6’3” middle that creates a lot of problems for opponents. Defensively, this squad added in Josie BloomJosieBloom5'6" | LNotre Dame Prep | 2022StateMI, our highest-ranked libero in the Class of 2022. She joins Amina RobinsonAminaRobinson5'9" | LMercy | 2022StateMI and Kendyl AndrewsKendylAndrews5'8" | SFlushing | 2022StateMI for a stacked set of defenders. Andrews can also play setter when Borellis is on the outside. This team looks very balanced and fundamentally sound. The Class of 2022 is highly talented in the state and 17 Mizuno should be pushing to earn the top honors in the state this club season, which also should push them toward a top 20 spot on the national scene. 16 Mizuno Coached by Neil Rucinski, 16 Mizuno won’t have the size of some of their opponents, but they will try to offset that by running a fast 5-1 led by setter Ava SarafaAvaSarafa5'11" | SMarian | 2023StateMI. Sarafa has a lot of playing experience at the varsity and elite club level. Neele’ge’ Sims would be a middle Sarafa would normally get to work with, but the talented player is continuing to recover from injuries suffered this fall and is hopefully to make an appearance later in the club season. Still, 16 Mizuno isn’t lacking in talented hitters. On the outside, Remi MadisonRemiMadison5'9" | OHGrand Blanc | 2023StateMI, Ella SchomerEllaSchomer6'0" | RSMarian | 2023StateMI, Megan GroseMeganGrose5'10" | SSt. Catherine | 2023StateMI and Paige GiehtbrockPaigeGiehtbrock6'0" | OHClarkston | 2023StateMI are explosive outsides that are building on great prep seasons. Giehtbrock is a new addition to the roster. Olivia GardnerOliviaGardner6'0" | MHDakota | 2023StateMI and Reagan SassReaganSass5'10" | OHMarian | 2023StateMI are both players that can play the middle or the outside. Defensively, Taryn RiceTarynRice5'8" | LNorthville | 2023StateMI and Kalliann Cook handle the defensive duties. Rice is a new addition to the team while Cook has a lot of big-match experience over her time with Michigan Elite and Birch Run. This team should be one of the stronger 16’s in Michigan, but has some gelling to do with new pieces getting mixed in. Expect some impressive wins toward the end of the season. 15 Mizuno Coached by Kristin Eddy, this team provides some unknowns for Michigan Elite, as they have added three from last year’s 14 Mizuno team. What will help bring the squad together is their setters, Emery KueblerEmeryKuebler5'7" | SClarkston | 2024MI and Avery WoodardAveryWoodard5'7" | SMarysville | 2024MI. Kuebler has been part of a two-setter system at Clarkston this fall, while Woodard is a lefty setter from Marysville. The team also returns their defensive pair of Greta McKeeGretaMcKee5'6" | LNorthville | 2024MI and Kiley GallagherKileyGallagher5'5" | LClarkston | 2024MI. On the outside, Cameron HermanCameronHerman5'11" | OHHartland | 2024MI and Devin BrunkDevinBrunk5'9" | OHLake Orion | 2024MI return while Rayna Powers is a new addition. Mia Eickholdt also returns. She can play anywhere across the net. Karlie VogelheimKarlieVogelheim5'11" | MHBrighton | 2024MI and Alison ParachekAlisonParachek6'0" | MHDexter | 2024MI are newly-added middles for the squad. Vogelheim can also settle in at OPP. While there are a lot of unknowns entering the club season, this is a scrappy group that has a good work ethic. That should lead to some good things as the season progresses. Michigan Elite is always competitive in the state and the same can be said on the regional level for this team. If things click quickly, perhaps greater goals nationally can be set. Related: Legacy Volleyball Club Preview Related: FaR Out Club Preview