Set Up for Success
Ava Sarafa (second from left) shares a laugh with fellow University of Kentucky signees (from left) Brooklyn DeLete, Brooke Bultema, Molly Tuozzo and Jordyn Dailey. Photo courtesy of University of Kentucky
Ava Sarafa heads to the University of Kentucky
By Steve Stein
Ava Sarafa’s storied volleyball career at Birmingham Marian High School is over. Now she’s getting ready for the next stop in her journey.
Soon, she’ll be off to the University of Kentucky to play volleyball for the national powerhouse Wildcats.
“Time has gone by so quickly since I verbally committed then signed, especially since I signed,” she said, referring to September 4, 2021, when she made a verbal commitment to Kentucky just one day after completing an official three-day visit, and November 9, when she signed her national letter of intent.
“It’s weird. It’s hit me that I’m getting close to graduation,” she said. “Marian has been great to me. The school is like one big old family. Everyone has your best interests at heart and are rooting for you so you can be your best self.”
Ava Sarafa won three state volleyball championships at Marian.
Sarafa, a setter, was a member of three state championship teams at Marian. The Mustangs won titles in 2020-22, Sarafa’s sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.
Those are team accomplishments. She has some impressive individual ones, too.
She finished second in the voting for the 2022 Miss Volleyball award to Ann Arbor Skyline’s Harper Murray, the No. 1-ranked player in the country, but she was named player of the year in the state by MaxPreps, an All-American by MaxPreps, and the Division I Player of the Year in the state by Prep Dig Michigan. Recently, Sarafa was named one of the 25 All-USA Team members who will be honored as nominees for national Girls Volleyball Player of the Year. The winner will be revealed this summer.
Marian, ranked No. 7 in the country, defeated Northville 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-11 for the 2022 state championship at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, averaging its only loss of the season and finishing 49-1.
When Northville beat Marian at the Beast of the East Tournament, the Mustangs were missing two starters because of injuries. They had something to prove in the rematch.
Sarafa had 45 assists and 10 digs in the championship match.
As a setter, she was in charge of orchestrating the team’s offense, making sure hitter each gets the ball in the best position to do damage. She has had more than 5,000 assists in her career.
Sarafa started in varsity as a freshman, not typical of the sport. She was one of eight seniors on the team this year. All were four-year starters.
“We didn’t make a big deal out of saying this was the last time we were going to do something. The last time playing in Marian’s gym, the last time in a Marian uniform, the last time driving to a random gym for a quarterfinal match,” she said. “We were focused on winning a state championship.”
Sarafa will report to Kentucky on June 8 for team workouts.
While she’s in Lexington, she’ll meet with her academic counselor, go through orientation with the rest of the incoming Kentucky students, and take classes during the summer semester so she doesn’t have a full load during the season.
She plans on studying business there.
She’s already met the four other recruits to the Kentucky volleyball program. She’s the only setter. Kentucky brings in a setter only every other year because of its style of play.
At 6-feet tall, Sarafa is taller than only one other player who is coming into the program.
“That’s going to be something I need to adjust to,” Sarafa said. “The girls at that level are all tall and talented.”
Several attempts were made to contact Marian volleyball coach Mayassa Cook for this story.