By Cooper Chadwick
Junior Halle Mizner and the Rock Hills Grizzlies are looking to return to the top third in the league after placing third in 2023, their highest finish in school history.
Mizner, an outside hitter, believes the chemistry of her team and some of its more skilled players will be the key to advancing further into the postseason.
“We can read each other well,” Mizner said. “We have worked very hard and I am excited to see how far we will go this season. We have a very talented team. Our libero, Ally Beck, is one of the best liberos in the state. And my setter, Bethany Simmelink, just recently reached 500 assists. Our team has so many talented players who play their position well.”
Her primary goal, though, is first.
“To hang a banner, whether it is a league champion banner, a sub-state champion banner or a state champion banner,” Mizner said.
In 2023, Mizner was named first team Northern Plains League with 274 kills, 316 digs, 41 aces and 86 percent on serving. But she’s still been putting in work to make sure she gets her team where they need to go.
“Over the summer I hit the weight room three days a week and most days I stayed after to work on hitting,” Mizner said. “The main area I want to improve on this year is blocking. I like to say I have a high vertical, but my blocking timing is off. I want to be more consistent with blocking to help my teammates out. I think putting in work in the offseason is one of the most important things in being a better player.”
