This 2025 season of Mavs volleyball is coming together as the Varsity team has started the season off very strongly with a 12-3-1 record overall, including an impressive win against South Lyon East, the top team in the Lakes Valley Conference. The Mavs took them in four games, with Junior Lexa Pierson leading the team with 18 kills. Pierson is a two-year captain on Varsity and the starting outside hitter.
“ Beating South Lyon East was my top moment so far because they were top in our conference, and it felt really nice just to win against a good team,” Pierson
said..
Our Mavs have been turning heads this season as they grow stronger. The connections made along the way are helping to communicate better on the court as they go through their games. As head coach, Annie Malburg leads the team to many victories. Many fans have come to watch the games and support the Mavs throughout the season by showing up to the games dressed as the themes that they have given for every game. Mavs are preparing themselves for the Lakes Valley Conference, which is the most important part of the season. They have had struggles in the past at the LVC, but so far this season looks great, as they have already beaten their hardest competition. Mavs also have big competition coming up as they battle our rival school Lakeland, who has beaten them in the past.
Many Mavs have talked about the change in the season from last year, which had a big growth. The team and level have grown through the season as well as the team’s spirit.
“ I think it has changed a lot because the people I’m playing with are a lot different because the level of competition has advanced while I was on JV last year, so it’s like a whole different group of people, and that definitely makes it more fun,” said Sophomore Addie Frost.
This new season brings new players as there have been many sophomores pulled up to varsity. This year is a rebuilding of the team and bringing up these younger players really sets the team for next year as the team will be losing their libero of two years Millie Ashcroft. The libero is one of the most important positions of a team as it shows leader ship among the court. This year there are only two seniors Millie Ashcroft the libero and Delaney Heflin who is our starting setter, so it’s a lot younger of a team, and with bringing up these four sophomores they have shown that just because they are young doesn’t mean they can’t keep up. Brielle Stankov, a sophomore coming up to varsity as a rightside hitter, has had an impressive run as she has really played well despite her inexperience on the varsity level. . Many say she is the sweetest and is such an encouraging teammate.
“She’s really sweet and kind, she’s good at volleyball and a good fit for right side as she impacts our team every game.” Said Junior Brynlei Gunn.
Milford volleyball doesn’t just become a team when the season starts. They run open gyms for the majority of the summer where players begin working with one another and the coaching staff. The players also participate in summer strength training, run by JV Coach Rick Browne. After tryouts are over the team starts a book club where they learn how to be a good teammate and overall player. This grows the team as they start tournaments during the summer as a preseason. They also have team dinners, which leads to the bonds you see on the court.
Players have both individual and team goals.
“ Our team goal is to win our LVC, but we can’t do that if we don’t set personal goals to help us be a better teammate and player,” said Sophomore Mira Bender.
Milford’s planning on keeping mistakes limited and using their smart plays to keep up. Districts are their top priority and main goal but also the games they play are what are getting them ready for districts, so every game is taken seriously. Coming up is a big games against Walled lake Northern October 7th, and Lakeland on October 9th.