Ossining High School Freshman is Already a Volleyball Team Veteran

Although she is only a freshman at Ossining High School this year, Mychael Vernon will be returning to the varsity volleyball team for her third season.

When she was a seventh-grader, Mychael successfully made the varsity team as a middle blocker and performed well. In her second year, she led the team in kills, was second in digs, second in aces and third in blocks.

“Mychael is an all-around player, strong on defense with great blocks and quick digs, a consistent and competitive server, but she is something to be reckoned with at the net,” said Lauren Riccardi, varsity coach and a teacher at OHS. “She is able to hit the ball with such force and precisely in specific locations as to make any team tremble. I look forward to watching her grow as an athlete and shine as she will.”

Ms. Riccardi said Ossining volleyball is off to a good start this season. “The team is motivated and hungry, working hard every day. We have a competitive schedule ahead of us, which we look forward to.”

In the off-season, Mychael plays club volleyball and beach volleyball and attends various camps and clinics. She tried out for two elite programs this past summer. She was selected to be on the Garden Empire Volleyball Association team and played against the best girls in the country at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in Florida. The Garden Empire Volleyball Association is the local Regional Volleyball Authority of USA Volleyball.

Mychael was one of 128 girls selected (out of thousands who tried out) for the USA Volleyball Girls’ Select National A2 Invitational Team Program. However, she declined the offer because only the A1 team would compete at the High Performance Championships and she wanted to play. USA Volleyball is the national governing body for the sport and selects the Olympic team.

Mychael was recently named one of the top 15 volleyball players to watch by the Journal News.