Oxford High School senior Marissa Manzella’s years of hard work and dedication to the game of Volleyball paid off as she received a two-year scholarship to play Volleyball for Macomb Community College.
‘You never really expect to move on to the next level…it really took me by surprise to get picked up by a college because I used to be a middle hitter and this my first year playing outside hitter,? said Manzella.
She made the transition to outside hitter from middle hitter at the beginning of her senior year.
‘We are very excited,? said her father John Manzella. ‘She never complained, she never wanted to quit. She always was focused.
She got noticed by MCC Volleyball Coach Terri Szur during Oxford’s district semifinal game against Rochester Adams.
Szur was there scouting someone else when she spotted Manzella and personally invited her to come to a tryout.
Oxford Volleyball Head Coach Kristi McDevitt think that MCC is going to be a great fit for Manzella. ‘She really came around her senior year and really found her groove…Marissa really wanted to play at the next level and it was kind of like a God-send that Terri showed up.?
She celebrated with her teammates and coaches in the high school cafeteria on Thursday, Feb. 11. Szur was there to oversee Marissa signing her letter of intent.
In her final season with the Wildcats, she finished with a team high 375 kills, 316 blocks and 36 solo blocks. She was voted team Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player, and was unanimously voted to first team Flint Metro League and First team all region.
‘Melissa is a player that continued to blossom during her career at Oxford,? said McDevitt. ‘She was a joy to coach and an exciting player to watch play the game. Any one of her hard hits could ignite the crowd and her team in an instant.?
‘It’s been really good to have the support of my team and my coach,? Marissa added. ‘I know I’m going to miss it next year and I’m going to miss all the girls I played with. I’m going to miss my coach especially because she taught me a lot.?
‘I’m glad my last year I got to be in the Flint Metro League, which was the last year that Oxford got to be in it. So it’s kind of cool to leave on a good note,? she added.
When she has not been striking the ball for the Wildcats, she has played on some Amateur Athletic Union teams, the Oxford Heat and Oakland Elite.
‘She paid an enormous price to get there. We went to every AAU practice. She showed up on time and paid her dues,? said John Manzella.
She has been playing volleyball for six years, four of which were with the Wildcats.
Upon graduation from Oxford, Marissa will be pursuing a career as a physician’s assistant.