Coach Inspires 'Attack' as Team Surges On
By
Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
November 3, 2016
By Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
When the going gets tough for the Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central volleyball team, all the players have to do is look over to the bench to see a symbol of strength and courage and the will to fight and never give up.
Second-year head coach Karen O'Brien is battling ovarian cancer for the second time in less than two years. She first was diagnosed in February of 2015. The disease went into remission that summer, and she was declared cancer-free – but it returned this summer. She completed her six rounds of chemotherapy treatments last week, which turned out to be good timing with the District tournament beginning for her team Tuesday.
“I'm getting there,” she said. “I still have my tired days.”
St. Mary Catholic Central entered the tournament ranked No. 1 in the Class C state poll, and it is led by senior hitters Merina Poupard and Leah Ritchie and junior setter Lauren Kemmerling.
The Kestrels have won five MHSAA championships since 2003, and the last three came in the past three even-numbered years (2010, 2012, 2014). That is a good sign for 2016, and good omens are welcome – but not taken as anything that is a given.
“We're going to take one day at a time,” O'Brien said. “That is what the cancer has also taught me. One day at a time. It doesn't matter where you are ranked in September or October; it's where you are November 19th.”
Initial diagnosis
St. Mary Catholic Central won all five of its MHSAA titles under coach Diane Tuller, who retired after the 2014 season. O'Brien, an assistant in 2014, took over as head coach in 2015 and praised Tuller for making it a smooth transition.
“I'm very grateful to Diane Tuller for giving me the opportunity to be her assistant in 2014 and showing me the ropes of the Huron League and also of the state tournament,” O'Brien said. “Winning the state title in her last year and her allowing me to continue the tradition that she has started there has been amazing.”
It also has been challenging because of the news she received in February of 2015. But after being declared cancer-free that summer, she had hopes of a smoother 2016. It didn't happen, and the return of the cancer made O'Brien reflect on exactly what she wanted to do and not do.
“When I was diagnosed in July, I sat down with my husband and said, ‘OK, option one is to stop coaching. Option two is to find somebody that wants to take over as head coach, and I would be the assistant. Option three is stay the head coach and find somebody that wants to be my assistant.’
“I really felt option 3 was the best for me so that I had something to look forward to.”
O'Brien turned to junior varsity head coach Lindsay Notario to be a co-coach. It was a fine match as Notario had been the JV coach for several years and knew the players well.
“I was nervous,” Notario said. “I had never been on varsity before, but I knew she wouldn't just leave me hanging. She hasn't missed too much time, and she has really been there for most of the season, so it's been nice that she hasn't missed out on a whole lot.
“Her mind is always on the team. When she does miss, she will call and give me this idea or that idea or a lineup we can work on. She is always coaching me through it, too.”
O'Brien then had to explain the changes to her players.
“I had told them this summer that we were making some coaching changes,” she said. “Lindsay was familiar with the JV kids who would then be on varsity, and I pretty much told them, 'My cancer is back, and I have to go through six rounds of treatment.
“I'll have my good days and bad days, and I will miss some days, but I'll be here all the time that I can.”
O'Brien has been involved in volleyball and sports in general for more than 30 years. She has a full and impressive resume. She is a 1981 graduate of Livonia Stevenson High School and was the first female athlete in school history to earn nine varsity letters (volleyball, basketball and track), and she was first-team all-state in volleyball in 1981.
In college, O'Brien played at Schoolcraft Community College before moving on to the University of Georgia, where she made the all-Southeastern Conference team in 1983 and 1984. She has been head coach at Dundee High School, the University of Toledo and Siena Heights University, and she was an assistant at Eastern Michigan University before coming to St. Mary Catholic Central.
She also is a businesswoman. She owns two Subway stores, one in Dundee and the other in Monroe. All of that has helped give her an escape from her daily battle with ovarian cancer, and her background in athletics has given her a fighting attitude when faced with adversity.
“I think as an athlete, some adversity hits you and you right away go into warrior mode to do whatever it takes to survive and get through this,” she said. “Being an athlete, you are more organized, which definitely helps also.”
Fighting back with Teal Attack
As if keeping a positive attitude and enduring the energy-sapping treatments wasn't enough, O'Brien launched an all-out assault on ovarian cancer. Teal is the official color of ovarian cancer awareness, and she started a “teal attack” in the region.
“After my first round of chemo in 2015, it was like, 'OK, what can I do?'” she said. “I knew one person with ovarian cancer.
“I didn't know the signs and symptoms and didn't know what to look for. I was not well-educated, and I wanted to use athletics as a way to bring awareness and raise funds for ovarian cancer, so teal attack started. Basically in 14 months we've raised about $80,000 at sporting events.”
In that time, more than 40 sporting events have been teal attack games, where T-shirts are worn and sold, donations are accepted and the word is spread about the signs and symptoms. Spreading the word is just as important as the funds to O'Brien.
“Everybody thinks that ovarian cancer is an old lady's disease, and it's not,” said O'Brien, who, at 53, is far from an old lady. Neither was 8-year-old Mariel Almendras of Ann Arbor, who at age 5 was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008 and died three years later.
“It's just about educating, and I have become much more educated in the last year and a half,” O’Brien said. “It is what teal attack is all about, teaching women about the symptoms.
“The outpouring just in Monroe County has been unbelievable. Monroe High School, Bedford, Ida, we had a huge golf outing in Dundee that raised $15,000 on its own.”
As co-coach, Notario has seen a lot of teal attack up close.
“Teal attack has been amazing,” she said. “She alone brought awareness to the whole county of Monroe, and at every game she is always going over and talking to coaches and trying to spread awareness.
“Every day of September, she would wear something teal as it was ovarian cancer awareness month. People would mention that they liked the color of her shirt, and she would say it was about ovarian cancer awareness and make them aware.”
O'Brien teamed with the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA), and there is a link to all the teal attack events on the web page – www.mioca.org – along with a way to donate. Her dedication to the fight against ovarian cancer while fighting it herself has impressed many around her.
“It has been phenomenal,” said Chad Myers, athletic director and dean of students at St. Mary Catholic Central. “Her thing is to try to make more awareness about it and do the best that she can possibly do.
“On top of that, she has so much passion for teaching these girls and teaching volleyball. When you think you are having a bad day and then you go into the gym and see her pushing the girls and giving it everything that she has, (it) puts things in perspective. The girls are very excited to see her come back and coach.”
The next step
With the conclusion of the treatments, O'Brien can focus on St. Mary Catholic Central's drive for its sixth championship. But she doesn't want any “Win one for Coach” attitudes.
“They see me on my good days, and I think part of the way through the season they wanted to play for me, and I told them they need to play for themselves,” she said.
St. Mary Catholic Central opened the District tournament Tuesday with a three-set victory over Britton-Deerfield. The Kestrels downed Blissfield in a Semifinal on Thursday and will face host Ottawa Lake Whiteford at 10 a.m. Saturday for the District title.
“The cool thing about the team is that we don't have a go-to hitter this year; we have a bunch of really talented girls,” Notario said. “No matter who is up there, we don't have to worry about the ball getting to a specific person.”
Notario said the girls text her occasionally with questions about how O'Brien is doing, but for the most part it is not a common topic.
“Karen is kind of a private person, and I did not want to overstep any boundaries,” Notario said. “She talked to them when she felt the need to talk to them, but every now and then I'll get a text asking if she is doing OK. I do have little talks with them when she's not around to make sure they are taking care of their health.”
As far as O'Brien is concerned, the players and their families have given her a lot of support.
“I truly believe in faith, family and friends, and I've had the support of all three really since February of my first diagnosis,” she said. “The community and the school have all been very supportive.
“My volleyball parents bring me and my family meals during my first couple of days of chemo. I have a son who is 16 and plays football and now is going into basketball, and my husband coaches football and now will go into coaching basketball, and those meals have been awesome.
“I have lots of good people around who support and help me. It's been such a help.”
If O'Brien and the Kestrels win the Class C championship in two weeks, it would cap an incredible inspirational story. But she isn't ready to look that far into the future – although she does want to continue to spearhead teal attack.
“I believe I'm headed in the right direction, just finishing up the chemo,” she said. “I am glad the second chapter is done.
“I look at teal attack as something that I really want to promote throughout the state. We've had matches in North Branch and Berrien Springs, and I would really, really like to get a lot more in the state of Michigan going.
“It's not all about raising money; it's about raising awareness.”
Chip Mundy served as sports editor at the Brooklyn Exponent and Albion Recorder from 1980-86, and then as a reporter and later copy editor at the Jackson Citizen-Patriot from 1986-2011. He also co-authored Michigan Sports Trivia. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Karen O’Brien and her husband Dan are all smiles after her last chemotherapy treatment last month. (Middle) Senior Merina Poupard puts up a block during a match this season. (Below) Poupard (middle) celebrates the point with teammates including Abby Jackson (2) and Lauren Kemmerling (11). (Match photos courtesy of Kortney Poupard).
Preview: Kellogg Arena to Set Stage Again for 16 Historic Opportunities
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 20, 2024
An opportunity to play this Finals weekend at Kellogg Arena, much less win a championship, will be historic for all 16 volleyball teams taking the court.
But there are a few storylines that especially pop out as we head into Thursday’s first matches.
In Division 4, Clarkston Everest Collegiate is playing for a repeat – and to become the first undefeated champion since Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard in Class B in 2015.
In Division 3, all four semifinalists are back from a year ago – but this time the bracket features a rematch of last year’s title decider, with reigning champion Kalamazoo Christian taking on Traverse City St. Francis.
In Division 2, two teams are making their first trips to the Semifinals, and we are guaranteed a first-time champion – in fact, out of 16 teams total over the four divisions, 10 are playing for a first Finals title this weekend. Among those as well is Northville in Division 1, which finished runner-up two seasons ago.
Action begins Thursday with Division 1 and 4 Semifinals, with Divisions 3 and 2 on Friday and all four title matches Saturday. Tickets cost $11 for both rounds, and one ticket is good for all four matches that day. All 12 matches also will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv. Find more information, including how to purchase tickets, on the Volleyball page.
This weekend’s schedule:
Division 1 – Thursday
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Northville, 4:30 p.m.
Rockford vs. Fenton, 6:30 p.m.
Division 2 - Friday
Tecumseh vs. Essexville Garber, 4:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Harper Creek vs. Detroit Country Day, 6:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central vs. Cass City, Noon
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 2 p.m.
Division 4 – Thursday
Clarkston Everest Collegiate vs. Hancock, Noon
St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1, Noon
Division 2, 4:30 p.m.
Division 3, 2:30 p.m.
Division 4, 10 a.m.
Below is a glance at contenders in each division. (Statistics are through Regional Finals.)
Division 1
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 46-7, No. 4
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Mayssa Cook, seventh season (315-41-2)
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Allie Davison, 5-11 jr. S/RS (948 assists, 240 digs); Sophia Smith, 6-2 soph. RS (266 kills, 67 blocks, 207 digs); Isabelle Busignani, 6-1 sr. OH (548 kills, .304 hitting %, 276 digs).
Finals forecast: After winning three straight Division 1 championships from 2020-22, Marian was stopped by rival Farmington Hills Mercy in the Quarterfinals last year – but has returned to Battle Creek with wins over No. 5 Clarkston and No. 7 Utica Eisenhower among others during this run. The win over Eisenhower avenged a pair of regular-season losses, and the other defeats also all came against top-10 teams in Division 1 – as did four regular-season wins. Busignani made the all-state first team last season, and sophomore outside hitter Calli LeFevre (172 kills) made the third team. Busignani has committed to continue at Cincinnati and was a candidate for the Miss Volleyball Award.
FENTON
Record/rank: 37-4, honorable mention
Michigan Power Rating: No. 8
Coach: Jenna Long, fifth season (137-42-9)
League finish: First in Flint Metro League Stripes and overall
Championship history: Three Class B runner-up finishes (most recent 1992).
Players to watch: Eva Long, 5-11 jr. S (784 assists, 205 kills, .365 hitting %, 238 digs); Megan Gornick, 6-1 sr. MH (222 kills, .439 hitting %, 89 blocks); Anna Logan, 5-8 sr. OH (269 kills).
Finals forecast: Fenton will play in its first Semifinal since 2016 coming off a repeat league title and first District and Regional championships under Jenna Long’s leadership. The Tigers’ only losses this fall were to Mercy, Northville twice and Country Day, and Fenton otherwise has given up only five more sets all season. One of several sweeps came over honorable mention Brighton in the District Final. Eva Long earned an all-state honorable mention last season. Junior middle Marley Pihlstrom (191 kills, 54 blocks) is another key contributor at the net.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 39-2, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Sarah Lindstrom, fourth season (182-14)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West and overall
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Molly Reck, 6-0 sr. OH (9.2 kills per game, .327 hitting %, 2.1 aces per game, 7.0 digs per game); Ella Craggs, 5-10 sr. S (23.6 assists per game, .387 hitting %, 8.4 digs per game); Mallory Reck, 6-0 sr. OH (10 kills per game, 7.7 digs per game).
Finals forecast: Northville’s run over the last four seasons has included league, District and Regional titles all four years, and Craggs set for the 2022 runner-up team while the Reck twins were contributors and now-junior libero Giselle Burlingame also saw the floor. Craggs made the all-state first team last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate, and Molly Reck earned an all-state honorable mention in 2023. Molly Reck signed with Oakland, Mallory Reck signed with Marist (N.Y.), and Craggs will continue at Illinois State. Northville has lost only nine sets all season and eliminated top-ranked Mercy in the Regional Semifinal, with the lone losses to No. 5 Clarkston and No. 8 Jenison.
ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 39-9, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 3
Coach: Kelly Delacher, 20th season (769-321-15)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Class A champion 2011, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Mallory Wandel, 6-1 soph OH (493 kills, 224 digs); Isabella Delacher, 5-9 jr. S (922 assists, 231 digs, 117 kills); Olivia Hosford, 6-0 j. OH (464 kills, 386 digs).
Finals forecast: After winning its third Regional title in four seasons, Rockford is back at Battle Creek for the first time since finishing Division 1 runner-up in 2018. The Rams defeated No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, No. 8 Jenison, No. 10 Grand Rapids Northview and honorable mention Traverse City Central over their last four matches to advance – with the Jenison win avenging a pair of regular-season losses. Seven of Rockford’s nine defeats came to top-10 teams in Division 1, and an eighth came to a top-10 team in Division 2. Hosford made the all-state second team last season.
Division 2
BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK
Record/rank: 52-4, No. 3
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Terra King, 19th season (563-385-80)
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Activities Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cassidy Pratley, 6-1 sr. MB (719 kills, .392 hitting %, 110 blocks, 206 digs); Taegen Anderson, 5-9 jr. S (1,391 assists, 72 aces); Camille Robinson, 5-9 soph. OH (500 kills, 70 aces, 325 digs).
Finals forecast: After playing in Division 1 the last two seasons – and winning a District title a year ago – Harper Creek moved back into Division 2 this fall and advanced to its first Semifinals since 2015. Pratley made the Division 1 all-state third team last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate this fall, and she has signed with Western Michigan. The Beavers defeated No. 6 Grand Rapids South Christian on Tuesday to reach this weekend, and their only losses were to Division 1 teams – and Harper Creek also owns wins over No. 8 Lake Odessa Lakewood, No. 9 Hudsonville Unity Christian and Division 1 No. 8 Jenison.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank: 34-1, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 6
Coach: Kim Lockhart, 10th season (254-101-16)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Elise Heimstra, 6-0 jr. OH (320 kills, .308 hitting %, 86 aces, 226 digs); Olivia Grenadier, 6-1 sr. MH (378 kills, .478 hitting %, 245 digs); Payton Woodruff, 5-8 fr. S (890 assists).
Finals forecast: After winning its first Regional title in this sport three years ago, Country Day is making its first trip to the Semifinals and has been considered among championship favorites all season. The Yellowjackets defeated No. 4 North Branch and honorable mentions Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Richmond during this tournament run, and their only loss came to Mercy during a season-opening quad. Grenadier earned an all-state honorable mention last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate, and she’s signed with Colorado.
ESSEXVILLE GARBER
Record/rank: 43-12-2, honorable mention
Michigan Power Rating: No. 17
Coach: Kim Kokaly, 11th season (383-162-30)
League finish: Third in Tri-Valley Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Audrey Ball, 5-11 sr. MB (492 kills, 93 blocks, 583 digs); Ella Kokaly, 5-6 jr. S (1,233 assists, 91 aces, 326 digs); Jeana Lenhard, 6-0 soph. OH (699 kills, .311 hitting %, 75 aces, 351 digs).
Finals forecast: Garber emerged from a league that included Division 2 honorable mentions Freeland and Frankenmuth, later defeated Freeland in a District Final and Tuesday swept honorable mention Fruitport to earn a trip to the Semifinals for the first time. The Dukes have won 12 straight matches and are 17-2-1 since the start of October. Lenhard made the all-state third team last season and adds a sophomore to a starting lineup with two seniors and one player from all four classes. Senior libero Rylee Jatczak (470 digs) is another important defender.
TECUMSEH
Record/rank: 56-2-1, No. 7
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Morgan Skelton, fourth season (153-47-9)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Championship history: Class B runner-up 2011.
Players to watch: Maddy Vanblack, 5-11 jr. OH/DS (337 kills, 68 aces, 309 digs); Lily Gnodtke, 5-7 jr. S (1,186 assists); Emma Eldred 5-11 jr. OH/MB (524 kills, 250 digs).
Finals forecast: Tecumseh won a third-straight league championship this season before beginning the program’s longest tournament run since the 2011 runner-up finish. The only losses this fall came to Dexter and Division 3 top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and the former was avenged a week later. The starting lineup includes five juniors, with the lone senior middle Lauren Kilbarger (201 kills, 83 blocks). Senior Alli Zajac – who has signed to play basketball at Eastern Michigan – adds another 6-2 presence in the middle and entering the week had added 300 kills and 105 blocks.
Division 3
CASS CITY
Record/rank: 37-9-1, No. 5
Michigan Power Rating: No. 8
Coach: Amy Cuthrell, ninth season (209-64-15)
League finish: First in Big Thumb Conference White
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Isabelle Phillips, 5-7 sr. S (656 assists, 253 digs); Kacee Gray, 5-8 sr. OH/DS (412 kills, 344 digs); Shelby Ignash, 6-1 sr. M/DS (451 kills, .305 hitting %, 81 blocks, 353 digs).
Finals forecast: Cass City has reached the Semifinals for the third-straight season and will attempt to take another step with five seniors anchoring the starting lineup including Miss Volleyball Award candidate Ignash. She made the all-state first team last season, and Gray made the third. Another of those seniors, Lexi Champagne, entered the week with 234 kills, 57 aces and 241 digs. Six of the nine losses this fall came to teams ranked or honorable mentions in Divisions 1 and 2, with the only loss to a team in Division 3 or 4 coming against potential championship match opponent Kalamazoo Christian – and Cass City also defeated K-Christian during tournament play that day.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 31-8-2, No. 3
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Carlie Southland, third season (110-20-8)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2023, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Reagan Zuiderveen, 5-8 jr. S (998 assists, 294 digs); Hayden Deming, 5-11 sr. OH (301 kills, 67 aces); Annelise de Jong, 6-0 sr. OH (493 kills, .326 hitting %, 63 aces, 322 digs).
Finals forecast: Kalamazoo Christian graduated three players who earned all-state recognition during last season’s championship run, but is right back at the Semifinals for the third-straight year after also finishing Division 3 runner-up in 2022. Deming and de Jong were in the starting lineup for last year’s Final, and they’ve taken top hitting roles for a team that’s won 10 of its last 11 matches. Only two losses this fall came against opponents in Division 3 or 4, including one in the split with Cass City noted above. Sophomore hitter Elliana VanDusen had added another 220 kills entering the week.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 37-4-1, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Kim Windham, first season (37-4-1)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jessica Costlow, 5-11 sr. OH (469 kills, .405 hitting %, 381 digs); McKenna Payne, 5-7 sr. S/RS (330 assists, 163 kills, 224 digs); Madeline Dettling, 6-0 jr. OH (217 kills, 290 digs).
Finals forecast: Make it five Semifinals trips in six seasons for the Kestrels, this time returning its top three players from a year ago with Costlow and Payne coming off all-state first-team selections and Dettling making the second team in 2023. Costlow and Payne also were Miss Volleyball Award candidates this fall; Costlow will continue at Illinois State, and Payne has signed with Utah. SMCC hasn’t lost a set over five tournament matches, including a sweep of No. 2 Plymouth Christian Academy in the Regional Final. The only losses were to top-10 or honorable mention Division 1 teams, and the Kestrels have wins over Division 1 No. 3 Forest Hills Northern and No. 7 Eisenhower. Sophomore Alexa Turner had a team-leading 662 assists heading into the week.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 34-12-3, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 3
Coach: Kathleen Nance, sixth season (173-79-10)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2023, Class C runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Quinn Yenshaw, 6-0 jr. OH (463 kills, 91 aces, 302 digs); Reese Jones, 5-4 jr. S (655 assists, 274 digs); Avery Nance, 5-4 sr. L (101 aces, 530 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season’s runner-up is back with four starters and the libero from last season’s championship match lineup, with Avery Nance a returning all-state first-team selection and Yenshaw a third-teamer. Nance is the only senior in this season’s starting lineup as the Gladiators advanced with wins over No. 7 Elk Rapids in the District Final, No. 4 Calumet in the Regional Final and honorable mention Roscommon in the Quarterfinal. The subs are super, as senior Landry Fouch is second on the team with 246 kills, and senior Tessah Konas had 529 assists entering the week.
Division 4
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 36-0-1, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Danielle Walker, second season (67-4-3)
League finish: First in CHSL Intersectional #2
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2023.
Players to watch: Sarah Bradley, 6-0 sr. OH (394 kills, .345 hitting %, 104 aces, 213 digs); Erica Walker, sr. S/RS (828 assists); Madelyn Krappmann, 5-10 jr. OH (337 kills, .300 hitting %, 214 digs).
Finals forecast: A year after entering Finals weekend as the lowest-ranked of four remaining contenders and coming away with the program’s first title, Everest has been nearly perfect in its encore. Only a split with Division 2 No. 4 North Branch has kept the Mountaineers from a flawless record, and their tournament sweeps of No. 4 Fowler and No. 9 Ubly are part of a run of nine straight as Everest has lost only five sets all season. The entire starting lineup and seven of eight players who saw action for all five sets in last year’s Final are back this weekend. Bradley and Krappmann both made the all-state first team last season, and Bradley is committed to continue at Calvin University.
HANCOCK
Record/rank: 25-6-2, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Brian Lamppa, first season (25-6-2)
League finish: Second in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brooke Koskela, 5-7 sr. OH (385 kills, 100 aces, 320 digs); Emily L’Esperance, sr. S (542 assists); Alice Larson, jr DS (66 aces, 170 digs).
Finals forecast: After previously playing in Division 3, Hancock moved into Division 4 this fall and is making its first trip to the Semifinals after winning its first Regional title since 2009. Lamppa took over the program with more than two decades of college coaching experience including at the Division I level and after serving as head coach most recently at Finlandia. The Bulldogs stunned No. 5 Crystal Falls Forst Park in the Regional Final, avenging a September tournament sweep, and they’ve won 20 of their last 22 matches.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 42-4-2, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Krista Davis, 11th season (363-129-46)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2022.
Players to watch: Sophie Hauck, 5-7 sr. S (808 assists, 112 kills, .319 hitting %); Erin Judge, 5-10 sr. MH (304 kills, .314 hitting %, 63 blocks); Chelsea Lynch, 5-8 sr. OH (216 kills, 434 digs).
Finals forecast: Sacred Heart has reached at least the Quarterfinals the last four seasons, and now the Semifinals three of the last four. The Irish have won 12 straight matches, with all of their losses and one of their two ties to Division 2 or 3 teams. Hauck made the all-state second team and Judge the third team last year, and Hauck and Lynch both started for the 2022 championship team. Sophomore outside hitter Karis Terwilliger added 153 kills heading into this week, and junior libero Isabel Rookard (546 digs, 64 aces) keys the defense.
ST. JOSEPH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE
Record/rank: 32-3-1, No. 8
Michigan Power Rating: No. 15
Coach: Erin Cashen, second season (57-11-4)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Nora Proos, 5-10 sr. MH/OH (449 kills, 101 aces, 370 digs); Rachel Kalamaros, 5-8 sr. MB/OH (244 kills, 85 aces, 377 digs); Aislin Sargent, 5-5 sr. S (1,070 assists, 75 aces, 238 digs).
Finals forecast: Our Lady has reached the Quarterfinals twice in Cashen’s two seasons, winning the first two Regional titles in program history, and now has reached the Semifinals for the first time as well. The team has just seven players – five seniors and two eighth graders (allowed because of the school’s small enrollment). The Lakers defeated No. 7 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and No. 10 Concord during this tournament run. Proos made the all-state third team last season. Senior Jojo Marsh is another valuable hitter with 295 kills entering this week, as well as 109 aces and 323 digs.
PHOTO Fenton's Eva Long (2) sets during Tuesday's Division 1 Quarterfinal, as Battle Creek Lakeview's Karlee Gutsue (14) and her teammates anticipate the next hit. (Photo by John Johnson.)