It was another successful summer for the Long Beach Mizuno Volleyball Club, the elite club owned by Long Beach State women’s volleyball coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer and her husband, Matt. Mizuno sent six teams to the Girls Junior National Championships in Indianapolis, with five of them finishing in the top 10 and one winning a national championship.
In addition, three Mizuno players earned All-Tournament honors at the GJNC, all of whom have Long Beach ties.
The Mizuno 13s won the championship this year to make it back-to-back titles for that group, which won the 12s national title last year for Mizuno. The team features a number of local players including students at Hughes, Stanford, and Rogers middle schools.
Front row (L-R): Summer Suppik, Taylor Mercado, Lindsey Du
Middle row (L-R): Sade Ilawole, Erin Inskeep, Charlie Fuerbringer, Isabella Jeffery, Kaia Herweg, Halie McGinest, Malyssa Cawa
Back row (L-R): Assistant coach Alicia Nelson, assistant coach Fayth Rascon-Ryn, Gabriella Gubbins, Ayden Ames, head coach Lance Aoki
In addition to the success of the 13s team, the Mizuno 14s finished second after falling in the gold medal match to the top team from Texas.
Front row (L-R): Carly Greskovics, Giselle Groe, Katherine Jester
Middle row (L-R): Quincy Wedbush, Carly Weber, Samarah Dacoud, Julia Capps, Ameena Campbell, Imajaleah Goggins, Kianna Check
Back row (L-R): Assistant coach Heather Weiss, Neriah Tualaulelei-Malele, Grace Thrower, Nicole Lankton, Gianna Tagoai, head coach Mike Campbell
The other Mizuno teams to make it were the 12s (17th place), 15s (5th), 16s (9th), and 17s (5th). Adonia Faumuina and Rylie McGinest, both sophomores-to-be at Long Beach Poly, earned All-Tournament honors for the 15s team while Starr Williams, a Los Al player who’s committed to Long Beach State, was All-Tournament for the 17s team.
