Mruzik, Robinson Lead Four Wolverines Receiving AVCA North All-Region Recognition
12/6/2022 11:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Four University of Michigan volleyball players were honored with American Volleyball Coaches Association recognition, the organization announced Tuesday (Dec. 6). Jess Mruzik and Jess Robinson were named to the North All-region Team, while May Pertofsky and Hannah Grant earned honorable mention honors.
With their All-Region selections, both Mruzik and Robinson are now up for AVCA All-America consideration.
Junior Mruzik earned the honor for the second year in a row, following her first team All-Big Ten selection. She started every match this season and recorded an impressive nine double-doubles. Mruzik led the team this year, recording 394 kills with a season-high of 22 against Illinois (Nov. 12). In her third year as a Wolverine, she reached double-digit kills in 26 matches and notched 448.5 points. She ended the season sixth in the Big Ten in both kills and points. The opposite hitter also is second in digs (250) behind starting libero Grant. Mruzik was dominant defensively as well, posting 55 block assists and seven solo blocks.
"We are very excited that Jess Mruzik has been named to the AVCA North All-Region team for the second consecutive year," said head coach Mark Rosen. "She has had an outstanding season and for her to be recognized for her efforts is tremendous. In her role as a six rotation outside hitter, she contributes to our team's success in so many ways, and we are very proud of Jess's accomplishments.
Robinson earns her first All-Region team nod after she led the NCAA in hitting percentage for eight weeks this season and was in the top-three for 14 of 15 weeks. She ended the season with an impressive .438 percentage, along with 10 matches above .500. Robinson reached her season high of .750 against Toledo (Sep. 2) and matched it against Morehead State (Sep.3) and Michigan State (Oct. 14). Also starting all 30 matches this year, the middle blocker recorded 10+ kills in 14 matches. Robinson finished her senior season second on the team in kills and points, with 239 and 311, respectively. A public policy major, she also excels in academics, having earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors.
"We are so proud to have Jess Robinson selected to the AVCA North All-Region team," said Rosen. "She has had an outstanding career and it is great to see her being recognized by the other coaches in the region. Her level of attack for the entire season was unprecedented in the history of our program, which is a direct reflection of her hard work and commitment. For her to play at the level she did, night in and night out, is not surprising because she does that in our gym every day."
Pertofsky had a stellar senior season, appearing in 27 matches (25 starts). Pertofsky hit above .300 in nine matches including a season-high .545 against Nebraska (Oct.8). She finished third on the team with 214 kills, including a season-high 16 against Wisconsin (Oct. 23). Pertofsky also has a strong defensive impact with 76 blocks that featured a season-best seven against Mississippi State (Sep. 16)
"Having May selected as an honorable mention AVCA North All-Region team member for the second year in a row is a great accomplishment for her and our program," said Rosen. "May has had her best season this year as a senior and for her to be recognized for that makes us all proud. Her consistent impact as an attacker and blocker this season was critical to our success."
Grant, the Wolverine's starting libero, finished the season with 119 assists. She led the team with 44 aces and is second in the Big Ten. With 474 digs, Grant led the team and is third in the Big Ten. The junior recorded 27 matches with 10+ digs. In 10 of those matches, Grant notched 20+ digs with a season-high 32 vs. Maryland (Nov. 19). She reached the 1,000-career dig milestone against Minnesota on Nov. 4 with 22 digs, leading all players that match.
"Hannah had an outstanding season and it is very exciting to see her recognized by the AVCA as an honorable mention North All-Region player," said Rosen. "She broke through to a new level of play this season and we appreciate that other coaches in the region felt she was deserving of this honor, we agree."
• AVCA Release
