The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1323349
JANUARY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 13 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Getting To Know Volleyball Freshman Outside Hitter Jess Mruzik Volleyball freshman outside hitter Jess Mruzik didn't have to journey far for her collegiate career, traveling just 29 min- utes from her hometown of Livonia, Mich., to Ann Arbor. She brought quite the prep résumé with her to the Maize and Blue, earning not only the state of Michigan's Gatorade Player of the Year Award for the second straight year in 2019, but also winning the na- tional honor as a prep senior. She was also selected as the MVP of the Under Armour All- American Game in 2019. Her freshman campaign at U-M that was originally slated to tip off this past August was unfortunately canceled, and it is not yet known when the Wolverines will resume competition. Whenever that happens, she will be one to watch. Here are a few other interesting facts you may not have known about her: Nickname: "My real name is Jessica, so everyone calls me Jess. There's another Jess on the team as well, so we're trying to figure out how to differentiate be- tween the two of us." Favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor: "I really like Pretzel Bell. I'm from Livonia, and we have Olive Gardens there, but the Olive Garden in Ann Arbor seems to be so much better than the ones by my house. My family really likes to go there." Best meal she can cook by herself: "I like to think I'm a pretty good cook. I'm big into baking and made a good shrimp scampi over quarantine for my family." Hobbies: "I've been getting into painting lately, and it's been very relaxing. I also watch movies, hang out with friends and listen to music, though volleyball takes up most of my time." Favorite TV show: "'Grey's Anatomy,' for sure." Favorite movie: "'The Blind Side.'" Dream vacation: "I've wanted to go to Paris ever since I was little. My mom decorated my room and made it just like the country when I was younger." Favorite place she's been to: "I liked California when I went on vacation there with some of my friends this summer. We traveled up and down the coast, and it was a lot of fun." Favorite professional athlete: "[Detroit Red Wings center] Dylan Larkin." Role model: "My brother. He's my best friend. I learned about both life and the sports world from him." Why she chose Michigan: "I grew up a Michigan fan and was the ball girl there when I was younger. I was always around U-M volleyball and the program, and liked what they had to offer. It felt like a second home to me. During the recruit- ing process, everything felt like it was always being compared to Michigan." What she hopes to do after volleyball: "I'm hoping to do my Master's in ath- letic training and hopefully become an athletic trainer." Her overall experience at Michigan: "It's been one of the best experiences of my life. This year has been different from the normal collegiate experience, but everyone at Michigan has been super supportive. My friends and family have also helped make the experience amazing so far." — Austin Fox Mruzik was named the 2019 National Gatorade Player of the Year and an Under Armour All- American, and earned MVP honors at that all-star contest as a prep senior. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY DID YOU DID YOU KNOW... KNOW... Your home address will be automatically changed to the mailing address on file with the US Postal Service? ALL addresses are cross-referenced with the USPS National Change of Address database. It can take up to 7 days for the USPS to update your address in their database? To prevent missed issues, please notify the US Postal Service ASAP. Your postal forwarding order expires in 60 days or less? Most forwarding requests expire in 60 days and DO NOT always include periodical mail. Issues are discarded at their discretion. You should call your local post office to verify your delivery address? Don't assume the post office knows your vacation or moving schedule. AVOID COSTLY DELAYS & REPLACEMENTS! Wolverine Customer Service: 1–800–421–7751 We are happy to assist, but due to privacy laws all postal address changes must be completed by you.