December 21, 2022

Determining the Senior Player of the Year was a difficult decision given the depth and talent of this year’s 18 finalists. Every one of them contributed majorly for programs which captured state championships. It was a season where multiple award winners could be named. However, as grueling of a process as it was we eventually picked a single winner. Marian entered the season as the two-time defending Michigan Division 1 state champion and with key pieces returning was part of the national championship conversation. The biggest reason for that was senior setter Ava Sarafa was among those back. The 4-star Kentucky recruit had guided Marian to two consecutive state titles, including a one-loss season a year ago. An undefeated campaign this past fall wasn’t unrealistic but that possibility ended with a loss to Northville in mid-October. When the Division 1 state final rolled around, it was Northville standing in the way of Marian’s three-peat. Behind 43 assists from Sarafa, the Mustangs avenged their prior loss, downing Northville in four sets and keeping their state streak alive. There’s no questioning Sarafa was as essential to her team’s success this fall as anyone. She’s a deceptive setter with the ability to dish from pin-to-pin effortlessly. She totaled 1,359 assists on the year, averaging 11.0 per set. With Marian finishing No. 5 in our final Top 50 national rankings, Sarafa beat out an incredible field of finalists to earn vballrecruiter.com’s 2022 High School Senior Player of the Year award.