Mruzik, Jones, Pertofsky Earn AVCA All-Region Honors
12/7/2021 11:00:00 AM | Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- University of Michigan volleyball sophomore Jess Mruzik was honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as an All-Region member, the organization announced Tuesday (Dec. 7). In addition, senior Paige Jones and junior May Pertofsky earned an All-Region honorable mention nods.
"It's always a great honor when any of our student-athletes get recognized for AVCA awards," said head coach Mark Rosen. "It's a reflection of the team and the team's success. This team did some really good things and is building in a direction that we feel is really exciting, and this is a great acknowledgement of those successes. We look forward to even greater accomplishments from these individuals and our entire team."
The All-Region accolade is the first for Mruzik, who now will be considered for AVCA All-America honors.
Mruzik, who was a first team All-Big Ten selection last week, led the Wolverines in points (446) and tied for the team's lead in kills (389) in her second campaign in the maize and blue. The Livonia, Mich., native was third on the team in both service aces (28) and digs (275) during the season, hit .243 as a primary scoring option from the pin and also ranked fourth on the team in blocking with a 0.50 blocks per set average (eight solos blocks, 42 block assists). The sophomore outside hitter started all 30 matches this season and played every set as a six-rotation player, posting 10 kill-dig double-doubles and leading the Wolverines in kills 13 times. Mruzik also registered 25 matches of double-digit kills, including a remarkable streak of 18 straight to finish the season. She won the final Big Ten Player of the Week honor in the Wolverines' final week of action and becomes just the fourth sophomore in program history to earn a spot on the AVCA All-Region team, joining Jones (2019), Abby Cole (2014) and Lexi Zimmerman (2008).
"Jess was so solid for our team all year," said Rosen. "Every team wanted to come after her and she had to handle that pressure. She was targeted defensively, and every opponent was focused on stopping her offensively, yet she rose to the occasion. I love the fact that she received this recognition and look forward to her having greater successes moving forward."
Jones returns to the All-North Region team as an honorable mention after leading the Wolverines in kills per set (3.67) and finishing with the second best points-per-set average (4.04) in the 2021 campaign. The senior registered 22 double-digit kill efforts on the season, leading Michigan in a team-high 17 matches. Her 389 total kills tied Mruzik for the team lead and pushed her career total to 1,433, good for sixth in Michigan volleyball history. The New Bremen, Ohio, native became just the third U-M volleyball player to earn a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team in November. Jones was the 2021 team captain and started all but one match in her career.
"Paige being recognized is awesome," said Rosen. "She had a very good year and was extremely impactful in our team's successes. I love the fact that she got recognition for that."
Pertofksy earns her first selection to the AVCA All-Region team with an honorable mention nod after an impressive junior campaign, averaging 2.24 kills with a .277 attack percentage from the right side and leading the Big Ten in service aces per set (0.46). The Los Angeles, Calif., native had nine matches with 10 kills or more on the season and set new single-game career highs in blocks (seven, twice), aces (seven vs. North Carolina) and attack percentage (10-0-13, .769 vs. Florida State) this season.
"May is a really exciting player to watch and coach," said Rosen. "It's great that she got recognized because of her major impact on our team as an attacker, blocker and server. She's made a huge impact on our program and I love that others have noticed that as well."
• AVCA Release
