Gatorade names Michigan student Campbell Flynn best high school volleyball player in US

Farmington Hills Mercy senior volleyball player Campbell Flynn continues to add athletic accolades to her resumé.

Three-time Olympic medalist April Ross presented the 18-year-old with the 2024-25 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year trophy during a surprise ceremony Friday at Flynn's high school gymnasium in Farmington Hills, where her family and teammates already knew and had gathered to support her.

"It was crazy," Flynn said about seeing Ross hand her the award. "I didn't think that this was ever gonna like — I had a little feeling, but I didn't know if I ever was gonna get an award as amazing as this. So just getting it from April, too, is crazy. I'm just so happy."

The national nod from Gatorade follows the company's announcement Thursday that Flynn was the Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year for the second year in a row. She joined former Mercy star Jess Mruzik to win the state honor in back-to-back years and win the national honor (2019-20).

In November, Flynn was named Michigan Miss Volleyball.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes one high school player from each state and the District of Columbia across 12 sports and awards one national player from each sport, according to a release.

More: Michigan high school volleyball 2024 state finals: How they won

Flynn led the Marlins to their first Catholic High School League championship since 2019 and a third straight district championship, according to the school's website. During the 2024 season, the 6-foot-3 setter logged 730 assists, 188 digs, 131 kills, 52 blocks and 36 aces and maintained a 3.94 GPA.

Flynn was also a member of the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team that won gold at the North, Central America and Caribbean (NORCECA) Volleyball Confederation championships last summer. After she graduates, Flynn plans to attend Nebraska, where she will play volleyball for the Cornhuskers.

More: Farmington Hills Mercy setter Campbell Flynn named 2024 Michigan Miss Volleyball

Flynn's family learned about the award five day's prior to Friday's surprise. Her mother Shayne Flynn, 49, of Rochester Hills was teary-eyed as she recalled what Gatorade's representative told her was the defining factor.

"The thing I remember, he just said that obviously she's a talented athlete, but her character is what stood out head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates," she said.

Ross, who retired from the sport in November, shared some "basic but important" advice for Flynn to make sure she "takes care of the stuff surrounding volleyball" to maintain her success at the next level.

"I feel like she has everything ... she needs to succeed in volleyball," Ross said. "So I just said, 'make sure you take care of your body when you go to college, you know the volume increases, the stress increases a little bit. And so just get in the training room, get your rehab, rehab (and) recovery'."

As her high school chapter comes to a close, Flynn reflected on how important the sport has been to her.

"It means everything. So many life lessons I've learned from volleyball. And … everyone, I feel, should do a sport at least once in their life," she said, "cause it just — there's highs and there's low, but you also have time management and everything. So I think this sport has taught me so much."

Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X: @EricGuzman90.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Farmington Hills Mercy's Campbell Flynn wins Gatorade national honors