Collino excited to join NCMC volleyball program next season

CHEBOYGAN – When you’re at the top of your game, you probably never want to stop playing.

For Cheboygan High School senior volleyball player Mya Collino, she was at her absolute best during her final season with the program this past fall.

But while Collino’s high school volleyball career came to a close in November, she’s not quite done playing just yet.

Collino, one of Cheboygan’s top stars on the court during the 2022 campaign, will continue her volleyball career when she joins the North Central Michigan College women’s volleyball team next season.

“I was really excited and I honestly didn’t think I made it, but working with Coach Shannon (Flippin), the coach said he was looking at me for the position, so I was really excited,” said Collino, who earned a spot on the team during a tryout back in November. “I just wanted to continue my career in volleyball.”

Following her senior campaign with the Chiefs, Collino went and participated in a tryout for the Timberwolves, a new program that features several players from Northern Michigan.

While originally nervous going in, Collino enjoyed the unique experience of trying to make the NCMC squad.

“There were like four middles (hitters) and a lot of setters, and it was just really fast-paced, and when (Flippin) got to the middle, he was doing flicks and things like that, and he’d be like, ‘Just run to me,’ and he was just feeding us balls and it was a really exciting experience,” Collino said.

As a result of a strong tryout, Collino earned herself a spot on the team.

For Collino, NCMC seemed like a good fit for a few reasons.

“It’s close to my house, I’m going to there anyways, but my mom was like, ‘Oh, you should try out because it’s a new team and it's a good opportunity,’ so I just did it because I just wanted to keep playing volleyball,” Collino said.

Collino becoming a member of the Timberwolves comes on the heels of an outstanding senior season which saw her earn All-Region, All-Area and All-Straits Area Conference accolades as Cheboygan’s top middle hitter. As a senior, Collino was first on the team in total blocks (71), solo blocks (36) and blocks per set (0.59), and second in total kills (270) and kills per set (2.23). Serving-wise, Collino served at 95 percent and ranked third on the team in total service points (212).

Collino’s contributions were pivotal for a Cheboygan team that ended up winning the Straits Area Conference title and a first district championship since 2005.

Coaching Collino the last three seasons was Kris Jewell, who couldn’t be any happier for the versatile Cheboygan player.

“I’m ecstatic for her,” said Jewell. “Especially because she really came into her own during her senior season. She is young for her grade. I wish she was only a junior this year so I could have another year with her. She’s still improving. She’s getting more aggressive and confident in her play. And she honestly has potential to be a really good all-around player, not just front row. So I’m thrilled for her to get to continue to play and see how much better she will be in another year or two.

“It’s exciting.”

As she prepares for the next level, Collino can’t wait to be a member of a NCMC squad that continues to grow each season.

“It’ll be a lot of competitive work, but I feel like I can keep up with them and help the team win,” Collino said. “I’m excited to play on a team with people I used to play against, and to be able to play on a completely new team and to learn from them. And the fact I get to play at a higher level is super exciting.

“I definitely want to be a top blocker and top hitter, but I don’t know if I will be my first year.”

While Collino will join NCMC, she’ll always cherish her time with the Cheboygan program, which helped develop her into a top-notch talent.

“Playing for Coach Jewell was super competitive, which helped me at the tryouts,” Collino said. “The fact that Coach Jewell brought me up my sophomore year just showed that I can really go somewhere with my volleyball career.

“I’m also going to miss it a lot because we won a bunch. They were my family, so I will miss them.”

As for Jewell, she can’t wait to see what kind of player Collino develops into at the next level.

“NCMC will be getting a girl who truly wants to work hard and be the best player she can be for her team,” Jewell said. "She is not selfish. She is a team player. She is also intelligent and has a great voice both on and off the court. So she will be an asset in numerous ways, whether on the court in the front row with her great hitting and phenomenal blocking skills, or off the court encouraging teammates during practice or a game.

“Her skillset will benefit NCMC in so many ways.”

Collino, who wants to become a marine biologist, said she intends to earn an Associate’s Degree of Science while at NCMC.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Collino excited to join NCMC volleyball program next season