Annie Mitchem’s quiet confidence has become the spark that powered Akari’s pair of statement victories early into the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference. 

With the American spiker at the helm, Akari surged to a 2-0 start in Pool B, headlined by their first-ever franchise victory against the Creamline Cool Smashers after 10 matches. 

Playing in her first official PVL match, Mitchem made quite the impression against the Cool Smashers, putting up a game-high 33 points, including the game-winning kill in Akari’s 23-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-12 breakthrough victory over the defending champions. 

Three days later, Mitchem remained as a steady contributor, pouring in 17 points and 15 digs in another five-setter escape for Akari over the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers, 25-11, 22-25, 29-27, 17-25, 15-7. 

The 31-year-old American, who played in Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, and Italy, is having a great time in her first stint in the Philippines. 

“I’m really happy and proud of us because this team is really good,” Mitchem said. 

“This is like one of the (leagues I played before) in Brazil and Indonesia. The crowd was big like this. The fans are really interactive and like screaming so it’s really fun. I enjoyed it a lot.” 

For her solid start, Mitchem was rewarded with the first PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of 9 to 18 October in the import-laden tournament. 

The towering hitter says that she draws confidence from Akari’s pre-game preparations, as well as the time she is spending with her new teammates. 

“I think just going to practice and just being with everyone is really helpful, and just like enjoying our time while we’re practicing,” Mitchem said. 

Mitchem edged out fellow imports in Farm Fresh’s Eli Rousseaux, ZUS Coffee’s Anna DeBeer, and Capital1’s Sasha Bytsenko, along with local aces in PLDT’s Savi Davison and Petro Gazz’s Brooke Van Sickle for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering professional volleyball league organized by Sports Vision. 

Even with a steady import, Akari coach Tina Salak knows that their locals must step up in helping Mitchem shoulder the offensive load. 

“Our goal is to help our import in scoring. We don’t have to rely on Annie, we also have to lean on our locals in producing and scoring,” Salak said. 

Mitchem and the Chargers will look to sustain their solid start as they face the Petro Gazz Angels on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.