Mia Litzenberg '22 Recruiting Profile

I fell in love with playing volleyball and although I have played multiple sports, volleyball is definitely my favorite sport. I am a Captain and currently play as a Middle Blocker on my high school team but play all around on the court and also play Opposite and Outside Hitter (and even defensively in the back row).  This makes me a very versatile player on the court. My coaches have all told me that I am one the hardest working members of each of these teams and that I am very coachable.  I love to learn from my coaches how I can become better and I value their constructive feedback and I work just as hard in the gym as I know how important conditioning and strength are on the court. I will play to win every game and am a very competitive athlete. I was recently recognized with All-Region SEC 1st team, All County 1st Team, AVCA All-American Watch List, Team MVP, Team Offense MVP, All-Around MVP, and MVP Blocker.

I also pride myself in being a team player and I am very supportive  and encouraging of my team members and want them to succeed. I am often seen as a leader on a team because I am very vocal in communicating guidance and support to my team members--especially in team sports where collaboration is important. I also play for the top 18s L2 team (open division) for my club team (Legends Volleyball). My height  (5' 7") is a bit deceptive because I have one of the highest vertical jumps (26.5" +)  on my team.

Outside of volleyball, I am a  well-rounded and very social person. I get along well with others and have formed close friendships with many of my teammates. I am also a strong student who takes academics seriously. I currently have a 3.95 GPA and was named on the "AVCA Best + Brightest 1st Team," MIVCA Senior All-Academic, and SEC All-Academic. My other interests include learning about other cultures, listening to music and eating good food. I am proud of my entire team for performing well in the classroom as we were awarded AVCA Team Academic and MIVCA Team Academic. On top of everything else, I am proud to balance work--previously as a manager of a local farm stand and then as a waitress at a local diner.

Ever since I was little, I have set ambitious goals. In Kindergarten through 2nd grade, I was the top raffle ticket seller in my school for three years in a row which earned me a ride on a fire truck to school and the opportunity to serve as "Principal for the Day." I care deeply about making a difference in the world.

One year, I  raised funds for the National Eczema Association in place of birthday gifts. I also sang in a benefit concert to raise funds for a music therapy program at University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital after benefiting from music therapy during several hospitalizations for chronic eczema that I had suffered when I was younger. I am currently raising funds with my best friend to support the building of a school for orphans in Tanzania. You can read about it in an article included on my profile.

I am a deep thinker who loves to turn ideas upside down and change my thinking frequently. I am seeking an academic program that challenges me but that is based in applied learning and has strong global study abroad programs. I would love to see the education system change to a more applied experience than solely learning in classrooms. I love to travel the world which has shaped and expanded my thinking.  I have traveled to Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Hong Kong), Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Canada, and across the U.S. in a pop-up camper. Additionally, I have taken four years of Spanish and I love to speak Spanish with locals on my travels. I believe that global travel can shape and expand your perspectives and make you a better citizen of the world.