Michigan High School Volleyball Player Named Nation’s Best

For the first time, a high school volleyball player from Michigan has been named the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year.

The 2019-20 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year has been awarded to Jess Mruzik from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills. The award recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement and high character on and off the court. 

Mruzik is a 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter. She led the Mercy Marlins to a 59-1 record and the Division 1 state championship this past season. She had 495 kills, 209 digs, 47 service aces and 19 blocks with a .635 kill percentage and a .540 hitting percentage.

Mruzik is also the captain of the USA Volleyball Youth National Team. She led Team USA to the gold medal at the U18 World Championships in Egypt where she was named tournament MVP.

Off the court Mruzik is a member of the Science Club and Spirit Club. She participated in a community cleanup effort and has also donated her time instructing youth players through her volleyball club and her local grade school. She has served as part of a local quilting initiative to benefit children of families in need. In school, Mruzik has a 3.47 GPA and will play volleyball at the University of Michigan this fall.

Mruzki is now a finalist for the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year award, which is announced at a ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.