Finals Preview: History in the Making
November 14, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Ten of 16 teams traveling to this weekend's Volleyball Semifinals are seeking their first MHSAA championships. Nine are hoping to advance to Saturday's title games for the first time.
And only Kellogg Arena regular Battle Creek St. Philip returns from last season's winners. But although the Tigers aren't among those going for first-time stardom, they're looking to make a little history as well; a seventh straight Class D title would be the second-longest such streak in any class in MHSAA volleyball history.
Below is a look at all 16 teams playing this weekend. Class B and C Semifinals are Thursday, with Class A and D on Friday and all four Finals on Saturday. All four Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live and then archived at MHSAA.tv. Click here for a full schedule of this weekend's games, plus links to brackets from every round of the tournament.
Tickets cost $6 for Semifinals and $7 for Finals, with a Semifinal-Final ticket available for $15.
(NOTE: Rankings are those published by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association. Player statistics are through Regional Finals.)
Class A
GRAND HAVEN
Record/rank: 44-16-1, No. 8
Coach: Aaron Smaka, sixth season (206-101-3)
League finish: First in O-K Red
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over Rockford, 3-1 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Abby Cole 6-5 sr. MH (567 kills, 176 blocks, .455 hitting %) Krysteena Davis, 6-0 jr. MH (364 kills, 108 blocks), Jami Hogoboom 5-10 jr. S (1,506 assists, 322 digs).
Finals forecast: Grand Haven is coming off its first Regional championship and didn't give up a game in the tournament until allowing Grand Rapids Christian one in the Quarterfinal. Cole, also a standout on the Buccaneers’ Class A basketball champion team in March, was the runner-up for the Miss Volleyball award and has committed to the University of Michigan.
MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 57-5, No. 3
Coach: Tracie Ferguson, fifth season (166-79-12)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-1, 2-1, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 10 Lake Orion, 2-0 over No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-0 over No. 6 East Grand Rapids, 2-1 over honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over Class B No. 2 North Branch, 3-0 over Class B No. 5 Marysville.
Players to watch: Carli Snyder, 6-1 jr. OH (863 kills, .405 hitting %, 615 digs, 174 aces), Megan Manierski, 5-11 jr. S (1,396 assists, 96 aces), Megan Downey, 5-8 sr. OH (269 kills, 496 digs).
Finals forecast: Macomb Dakota has beaten a number of the best teams in Michigan this fall, and earned four victories against Lake Orion – which beat Dakota 3-2 in last season’s Quarterfinal. Snyder is a two-time all-stater and has committed already to sign with the University of Florida. She and three other junior starters will likely make the Cougars the favorite for the 2013 championship as well.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 49-3-4, honorable mention
Coach: Amanda Yaklin, fourth season (132-61-20)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Central
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1, 3-0 and 3-1 (District Final) over honorable mention Novi, 3-2 over No. 9 Livonia Churchill, 2-1 over Dearborn Divine Child.
Players to watch: Symone Abbott, 6-0 jr. OH (565 kills), Rebecca Martin, 5-10 sr. S (181 kills, 1,280 assists, 108 blocks, 280 digs).
Finals forecast: Northville steadily has improved under Yaklin from a team that went just 16-23-6 in her first season of 2009 to one that has reached 40 wins the last two seasons. The Mustangs also won the KLAA Kensington Conference (made up of the Central and South divisions) before falling to Novi for the overall league championship – although they then beat Novi in the District.
TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 64-12-3, unranked
Coach: Jodi Manore, 28th season (1,677-281-48)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Championship game history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2005), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 9 Livonia Churchill, 2-0 over No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 3-1 over honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy (Quarterfinal), 2-1 over Class C No. 1 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Ellen Hays, 5-7 sr. L (1,208 digs), Taylor Foster, 5-10 sr. RH (379 kills, .305 hitting %, 143 blocks), Mackenzie Andrews, 5-7 jr. S (1,309 assists), Nicole Rightnowar 5-10 soph. MH (371 kills, 177 blocks).
Finals forecast: Bedford was unranked at the end of the regular season, but that’s obviously deceiving. The Kicking Mules pushed as high as No. 6 but finished with three losses over their final four matches while facing top competition. Manore is the second-winningest coach in MHSAA volleyball history, and has two more hitters who also put down more than 350 kills this fall. Hays was a Miss Volleyball finalist and has committed to Toledo.
Class B
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
Record/rank: 27-9-1, unranked
Coach: Sarah Schmitt, third season (47-25-1)
League finish: Tied for first in Detroit Catholic League AA
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-2 over honorable mention Pontiac Notre Dame, 3-1 over New Boston Huron (Regional Final), 3-1 over Haslett (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Christina Porada, 5-6 jr. L (717 digs), Megan Marcini, 5-3 sr. S (146 kills, 683 assists, .356 hitting %, 444 digs), Morgan Blair, 5-10 sr. OH (275 kills, 324 digs).
Finals forecast: Divine Child prepared for its tournament run by facing a number of tough teams – its losses were to Class A powers Lake Orion, Farmington Hills Mercy, Northville and Bloomfield Hills Marian, plus Class B Semifinalist Whitehall and Pontiac Notre Dame (in their first of two matches), among others. The Falcons are 23-4-1 since seeing some of those at the start of the fall, and boast an all-state second teamer from last season in Porada and an honorable mention in Marcini.
LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 50-4, No. 1
Coach: Kellie Rowland, 15th season (785-115)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Championship game history: Class B runner-up in 1995.
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 8 Cadillac, 3-1 over No. 6 Wayland (District Semifinal), 3-2 over No. 7 Holland Christian (Regional Semifinal), 3-2 over No. 3 Ada Forest Hills Eastern (Regional Final), 2-1 and 2-0 over Class C No. 2 St. Louis, 3-0 and 2-0 over Class A No. 8 Grand Haven, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 2-1 over Class A No. 7 Mattawan.
Players to watch: Emily Kutch, 6-0 sr. OH (611 kills, .404 hitting %, 101 blocks), Brooke Wieland, 5-6 sr. S (309 kills, 1,117 assists, 78 blocks), Olivia Davis, 6-1 sr. OH (363 kills, 73 aces).
Finals forecast: The Vikings have won eight Regional championships during two tenures under Rowland, who stepped away from the program from 2002-09. Like most of her teams over the years, the Vikings loaded up with tough competition from the west side of the state, and also beat Class C No. 9 Morley Stanwood in tournament play. Kutch was an all-state third teamer last season and along with Wieland and Davis have been varsity standouts all four years of high school.
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 67-7-1, No. 2
Coach: James Fish, 13th season (739-125-37)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference East
Championship game history: Class B champion 2009, two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 5 Marysville (Regional Semifinal), 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Mount Morris, 3-0 over honorable mention Pontiac Notre Dame (Quarterfinal), 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class A No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-0 over Temperance Bedford, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class C No. 2 St. Louis.
Players to watch: Laura Wilson, 6-0 soph. OH (652 kills, .397 hitting %, 131 aces), Micaela Deshetsky, 5-10 sr. MH (549 kills, .326 hitting %, 104 blocks), Rachel Fish, 5-7 sr. L (113 aces, 808 digs).
Finals forecast: North Branch has made three championship game appearances over the last six seasons, and both Deshetsky and Rachel Fish were contributors on the 2010 team that finished runner-up to Fruitport. Fish also earned all-state honorable mention last season. The Broncos are 33-2 over their last 35 matches, and all seven losses were to Class A teams. They run through two setters, senior Ally Ruhlman and junior Jamie Barrows, who combine for nearly 10 assists per game.
WHITEHALL
Record/rank: 43-11-2, No. 4
Coach: Ted Edsall, 16th season (526-264-29)
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 over Dearborn Divine Child, 2-0 and 2-0 over Fruitport, 3-2 over No. 8 Cadillac (Quarterfinal), 2-0 over Class C No. 9 Morley Stanwood.
Players to watch: Autumn Christenson, 6-4 sr. MH (390 kills, .431 hitting %, 140 blocks, 300 digs, 90 aces), Hope Rillema, 5-9 sr. OH (200 kills, .340 hitting %, 402 digs), Alyssa Myers, 5-9 fr. S (990 assists, 90 aces).
Finals forecast: Like Divine Child – which Whitehall defeated earlier this season – the Vikings gained plenty of experience against tough teams despite taking a few losses including two from Grand Haven and one each from East Grand Rapids and Holland Christian. Rillema made the all-state first team last season and Christenson made the second, and they’re joined by 5-9 senior Bailey Seeger – the second-leading hitter this fall with 220 kills plus a team-high 120 aces.
Class C
CONCORD
Record/rank: 57-6-2, No. 3
Coach: Kathy Lehman, ninth season (325-125-31)
League finish: First in Big 8 Conference
Championship game history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 1992).
Best wins: 2-0, 2-0, 2-0 and 3-1 (Regional Semifinal) over No. 8 Bronson, 2-0 over No. 6 Pewamo-Westphalia, 2-0 over Class D No. 3 Beal City.
Players to watch: Maycee Brigham, 5-9 sr. OH (525 kills, .322 hitting %, 107 aces, 506 digs); Andrea Brigham, 5-10 sr. OH (573 kills, 441 digs), Julayne Brigham, 5-8 sr. S (1,323 assists); Sydney Martines, 5-10 sr. MB (334 kills, 134 aces, 123 blocks).
Finals forecast: Concord has given up just one game during the tournament so far and won 11 straight matches led in large part by the talented Brigham cousins. Andrea Brigham made the all-state first team last season and Maycee made the third, and those three plus senior defensive specialist Megan Redman also started on Concord's Class C semifinalist basketball team in March. All but eight of Concord’s wins this fall have been sweeps.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 47-6, No. 1
Coach: Diane E. Tuller, 15th season (496-177-50)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship game history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2010), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 5 Manchester (Regional Semifinal), 2-0 and 2-1 over Temperance Bedford, 3-1 and 3-1 over New Boston Huron.
Players to watch: Alexis Thompson, 5-8 sr. L/RH (117 kills, 96 blocks, 236 digs); Cassandra Haut, 6-2 soph. MH (438 kills, .377 hitting %, 241 blocks); Clare McMillan, 5-5 sr. S (889 assists), Taylor Vuich, 6-0 sr. MH (371 kills, 119 blocks).
Finals forecast: The Kestrels have made at least the Semifinals seven of the last eight seasons and finished runners-up last season after losing in five games to Morley-Stanwood. Thompson made the all-state first team as a libero after that run, and McMillan and Haut both earned honorable mentions. Although St. Mary has just one win over a ranked Class C team, that’s in large part because it played almost all Class A and B teams this fall – half of the Kestrels' losses came either to Class A No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian or No. 10 Lake Orion.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 41-7-3, No. 10
Co-coaches: Heather Simpson and Rita Jones, first seasons (40-7-3)
League finish: First in Lake Michigan Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 4 Calumet (Quarterfinal), 2-0, 3-0 and 3-1 over Charlevoix, 2-0 over Class D No. 3 Beal City, 2-0 over Class D No. 4 Leland.
Players to watch: Bridget Bussell, 6-1 sr. OH/MH (517 kills, .370 hitting %, 110 aces), Kaitlyn Hegawald, 5-10 sr. S (957 assists, 120 aces).
Finals forecast: Calumet in the Quarterfinal broke an 11-match sweep streak by the Gladiators, who have surged under Simpson and Jones. They were hired in July after coaching the junior varsity the last two seasons, an inherited all-state second teamer Bussell and third-teamer Hegawald. They are two of only three seniors on a team that could be back over the next few seasons – the second and third-leading hitters are among six underclassmen on the roster.
UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING
Record/rank: 38-8-4, honorable mention
Coach: Teresa Rose, fifth season (155-52-26)
League finish: Tied for first in the Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 2 St. Louis (Regional Final), 3-1 over No. 6 Pewamo-Westphalia (Quarterfinal). Players to watch: Miranda Fuerst, 6-1 sr. MH (404 kills, .399 hitting %, 128 blocks), Erica Treiber, 6-1 soph. MH (280 kills, 128 blocks, 233 digs, 87 aces), Chelsey Bitzer, 5-6 sr. S (843 assists, 186 digs).
Finals forecast: Four seniors anchor a lineup that won its second Regional title in five seasons, but was 15-21-6 only three seasons ago. USA has won 15 straight matches on the way to tying its longest run ever – the 2008 Regional title was the only other one in program history, but both have come under Rose. Fuerst made the all-state third team in 2011.
Class D
BATTLE CREEK ST. PHILIP
Record/rank: 71-2-1, No. 1
Coach: Vicky Groat, 15th season (843-170-74)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Championship game history: 17 MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), eight runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 4 Leland (Quarterfinal), 3-0 over No. 6 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (Regional Semifinal), 2-0 over No. 10 Waterford Our Lady, 2-0 over No. 2 Mendon, 2-0 over Class A No. 1 Richland Gull Lake, 2-0 over Class B No. 8 Cadillac, 2-0 over Class B No. 6 Wayland, 2-0 over Class B No. 9 Grand Rapids South Christian, 2-0 over Class C No. 3 Concord.
Players to watch: Lenae Lesiow, 5-6 sr. S (1,193 assists, 237 digs); Amanda McKinzie, 6-0 sr. OH (700 kills, 429 digs, 130 aces, .360 hitting %); Sierra Hubbard-Neil, 5-9 jr. OH (535 kills, .360 hitting %, 524 digs, 90 aces).
Finals forecast: The Tigers have won the last six MHSAA Class D championships, and with another this weekend can pull within one of Marysville’s record eight titles in a row from 1997-2004. Two more wins also would give them the 10th most for one season in MHSAA volleyball history. And this is a history-making sort of team. McKinzie – who has committed to Virginia Tech – was named Miss Volleyball on Monday and will rank high in a number of all-time hitting categories, and Hubbard-Neil also made the all-state first team last season with Lesiow making the second. They and two more of this weekend’s starters also started in last season’s Final.
BEAL CITY
Record/rank: 44-10-1, No. 3
Coach: Kelly David, first season (44-10-1)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 10 Waterford Our Lady (Quarterfinal), 2-0 over Class C No. 2 St. Louis, 2-1 over Class C No. 6 Pewamo-Westphalia.
Players to watch: Addie Schumacher, 6-0 jr. MB (442 kills, .370 hitting %, 144 blocks, 389 digs); Monica David, 5-8 sr. MB (229 kills, .330 hitting %, 427 assists, 95 blocks, 345 digs); Jade Kennedy, 5-5 sr. S (768 assists).
Finals forecast: Three seasons ago, Kelly David set the Aggies into the Class D Semifinals with sister Monica and Kennedy on the bench as freshman call-ups to varsity. Now they’ll try to take the program into its first championship game. Coach David can call on a number of players to contribute, with six totaling at least 100 kills and sophomore Jordan Schneider joining two others with at least 90 blocks. Junior hitter Melanie Schafer has been a defensive ace with 673 digs.
ONAWAY
Record/rank: 48-4-3, No. 5
Coach: Steve Watson, 10th season (278-148-43)
League finish: First in Ski Valley Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0, 3-1 and 3-1 (Regional Semifinal) over No. 8 Pellston, 3-0 over honorable mention Crystal Falls Forest Park (Quarterfinal).
Players to watch: Mariah Ehrke, 5-8 jr. OH (389 kills, 548 digs), Megan Estep, 5-7 sr. S (915 assists, 90 aces, 290 digs), Emily Estep, 5-3 sr. L (333 digs).
Finals forecast: Onaway has won five District titles under Watson, but this will be the first Semifinal appearance in program history – and comes only two seasons after it finished 20-21-6. Ehrke is the team’s tallest player, but the Cardinals are loaded with three more hitters who have at least 190 kills this fall. And a pair of sisters provides plenty of defensive support and setup: Emily Estep made the all-state third team last season and Megan earned honorable mention.
MENDON
Record/rank: 47-6-1, No. 2
Coach: Kathy Trenary, 19th season (675-290-123)
League finish: First in St. Joseph Valley League
Championship game history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2001).
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 7 Ann Arbor Rudolf Steiner (Quarterfinal), 3-0 over No. 9 Adrian Lenawee Christian (Regional Final), 3-1 over Class C No. 8 Bronson, 2-1, 2-0 and 2-0 over Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: Amanda Lovell, 5-9 sr. OH (427 kills, .344 hitting %, 86 aces), Brooke Howard, 5-10 jr. MH (344 kills, .348 hitting %), Loryn Baughman, 5-8 jr. S (1,055 assists).
Finals forecast: Like a number of the other top small-school teams, Mendon played most of its matches against much larger opponents this season, and that competition has paid off with another long run that began with a 12th-straight District title. Lovell made the all-state third team in 2011 and is one of four hitters with at least 200 kills this fall.
PHOTO: Temperance Bedford's Nicole Rightnowar (5) and Kayla Gwozdz (15) block a kill attempt during their team's 3-0 Class A Regional Final win over Dearborn. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Set for Memorable Finishes
November 18, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend's Volleyball Finals at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena will be filled with history-making opportunities, in addition to the usual significance that comes with winning an MHSAA championship.
In Class B, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard is seeking to finish a perfect season with its first MHSAA title since 1991. In Class D, Battle Creek St. Philip will try to continue its record nine-season championship streak, starting with a Semifinal against top-ranked Plymouth Christian.
And make sure to watch these seniors before they move on: Miss Volleyball Gia Milana of Romeo is back for the reigning Class A champion, while Novi's Victoria Iacobelli, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central's Skylar Iott, Grand Rapids Christian's Dylynn Otte and Gabriel Richard's Emily Tanski also were finalists for the award.
Click for the schedule in full plus information on live broadcasts of all 12 matches on MHSAA.tv and MHSAANetwork.com. Below is a glance at all 16 contenders, with statistics through last week's Regional Finals.
Class A
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 50-4, No. 3
Coach: Tiffannie Gates, fifth season (197-53)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 8 Rockford, 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Semifinal) over No. 5 Grand Haven, 2-1 and 3-1 (Quarterfinal) over No. 2 Mattawan, 3-0 over No. 9 Hudsonville in the Regional Final, 3-1 over Class B No. 4 Battle Creek Harper Creek, 2-1 over Class B No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood, 2-0 over Class B No. 5 Cadillac, 2-1 over Class C Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Dylynn Otte, 5-11 sr. OH (619 kills, 42.5 blocks, 390 digs); Maddy Gates, 5-8 soph. S (1,148 assists, 357 digs); Samantha McLean, 5-8 sr. L (269 kills, 464 digs); Ellen Long, 5-8 sr. OH (294 kills, 19.5 blocks, 189 digs).
Finals forecast: Half of Grand Rapids Christian’s wins this season have come against teams ranked or receiving honorable mentions in the final statewide coaches polls. Five of those wins came over the last three weeks in tournament play as the Eagles eliminated three top-10 teams. Christian earned its second Regional title in five seasons under Gates, a former setter at Arizona State University, but this will be the Eagles’ first Semifinal appearance ever. Otte was an all-state first-teamer last season, and McLean made the second team as an outside hitter.
LIVONIA CHURCHILL
Record/rank: 35-19, unranked
Coach: Mark Grenier, 20th season, first of second tenure (759-211-43)
League finish: Tied for first in Kensington Lakes Activities Association South.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2007-winter), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 2-0 over honorable mention Northville, 3-0 over Canton, 3-0 over Monroe in the Quarterfinal.
Players to watch: Rayna Yetts, 5-8 sr. OH/S (484 kills, .401 hitting %, 239 assists, 354 digs); Annabelle Dunn, 5-10 soph. M (104 kills, .360 hitting %); Alyssa Facione, 5-6 jr. L (551 digs); Brianna Fulton, 5-5 jr. S (769 assists, 51 aces, 216 digs).
Finals forecast: Churchill built on last season’s District title with its first Regional championship since 2010. Grenier entered this season 22nd in MHSAA history for volleyball coaching wins, and after two seasons off before re-taking over the program. The Chargers are on a 21-6 run after opening against a tough slate that included some of the best teams from all over the Lower Peninsula. Juniors Annie Yost and Samantha Zonca add big hitting off the bench – both had more than 220 kills heading into this week, and Zonca had 13 in the Quarterfinal win.
NOVI
Record/rank: 53-2, No. 1
Coach: Jennifer Cottrill, fourth season (176-20-2)
League finish: First in KLAA Central, Kensington and overall.
Championship history: Class A runner-up 2014.
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 9 Hudsonville, 2-0 over No. 5 Grand Haven, 2-0 over honorable mention Temperance Bedford, 3-0, 3-1, 2-1 and 3-0 (District Final) over honorable mention Northville; 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy.
Players to watch: Victoria Iacobelli, 5-10 sr. OH (513 kills, .407 hitting %, 31 blocks, 79 aces, 487 digs); Paulina Iacobelli, 5-10 sr. OH (324 kills, .329 hitting %, 90 aces, 27 blocks, 503 digs); Ally Cummings, 5-11 jr. RS (385 kills, .405 hitting %, 62 blocks, 293 digs); Erin O’Leary, 5-10 soph. S (1,136 assists, 252 kills, 42 blocks, 307 digs).
Finals forecast: Novi returned its top three hitters and setter from last season’s first trip to the MHSAA Finals, including Miss Volleyball candidate Victoria Iacobelli. She, Paulina Iacobelli and O’Leary all earned some level of all-state recognition after last fall, and the Wildcats have lost this season only to Farmington Hills Mercy and Class B top-ranked Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. In addition to the big hitters and experienced setter, Novi has a wall in the middle with 6-0 sophomore Kathryn Ellison (101 blocks) and 5-10 junior Emmy Robinson (79).
ROMEO
Record/rank: 47-7-1, No. 6
Coach: Stacy Williams, 10th season (284-139-34)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red.
Championship history: Class A champion 2014, Lower Peninsula Class A runner-up 1997 (tournament unified in 2000).
Best wins: 3-2 over No. 4 Lake Orion in Regional Semifinal, 3-0 over honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay in District Final, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0 and 3-2 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Utica Eisenhower, 2-0 over honorable mention Saline, 2-1 over Class B No. 2 Mount Morris, 2-0 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Gia Milana, 6-2 sr. OH (852 kills, .528 hitting %, 39 blocks, 345 digs, 110 aces); Erica LaBaere, 5-11 sr. MB (256 kills, 42 aces, 54 blocks); Jodie Kelly, 5-10 jr. OH/L (286 kills, 45 aces, 148 digs); Breanna Olley, 5-8 sr. S (987 assists, 40 aces).
Finals forecast: Milana, this season’s Miss Volleyball and the center of most conversation during last season’s Class A title run, will finish her career as one of the top hitters in MHSAA history – her kills this season rank 10th-most since rally scoring was introduced in 2004-05. She will play after high school for the University of Maryland. Kelly was the second-leading hitter in last season’s Final, and together their championship experience should be valuable this weekend combined with that of four more who saw the floor during the deciding match against Novi.
Class B
ANN ARBOR GABRIEL RICHARD
Record/rank: 41-0, No. 1
Coach: Mayssa Bazzi, third season (94-21-1)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Championship history: Class D champion 1991, Class C runner-up 1986.
Best wins: 3-0, 2-1 and 3-1 over No. 6 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 2-0 and 3-0 (District opener) over No. 10 Chelsea, 3-1 over No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over Class A No. 1 Novi, 2-0 over Class A No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian, 2-0 and 2-1 over Class A No. 4 Lake Orion, 3-0 over Class A honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-1 and 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Clarkston.
Players to watch: Emily Tanski, 5-9 sr. OH (501 kills, .365 hitting %, 354 digs); Jurnee Tipton, 5-8 jr. OH (426 kills, .346 hitting %, 201 digs); Emma Nowak, 5-10 jr. S (1,079 assists, 42 blocks, 294 digs).
Finals forecast: The Fighting Irish were a respectable 22-7-1 a year ago and won their Regional, but to go undefeated against a slate including most of the best in Class A as well is nearly unfathomable. Tanski, an all-state second-teamer last season, will play collegiately at the University of New Hampshire and gets plenty of help from Tipton and 5-11 senior middle Sydney Burton (221 kills, 65 blocks).
BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK
Record/rank: 53-5-2, No. 4
Coach: Terra King, 10th season (345-206-54)
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0, 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Semifinal) over honorable mention Buchanan, 2-0 over honorable mention Plainwell, 2-0, 2-0, 3-1, 3-0 and 3-0 (District Final) over honorable mention Marshall; 3-0 over honorable mention Coopersville in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Temperance Bedford, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Portage Central, 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D No. 2 Battle Creek St. Philip. 2-0 over Class C No. 1 Bronson.
Players to watch: Charley Andrews, 5-10 jr. MB (755 kills, .492 hitting %, 73 aces, 122 blocks, 294 digs); Olivia Leson, 5-9 sr. OH (517 kills, 77 aces, 425 digs); Katie Wade, 5-8 sr. S (1,385 assists, 97 aces, 211 digs).
Finals forecast: Harper Creek will head just down the road for a Semifinal for the second straight season after never making it past the Regional before 2014. And this group is familiar with the level as well as the locale – four seniors start, with Jess Cadena and Kim Kusler joining Wade, Andrews and Leson among five who saw the court most during last season’s Semifinals loss. Leson made the all-state second team, and Andrews was honorable mention. All but one of the Beavers' losses this fall were to Class A teams, three ranked. The lone Class B defeat was to No. 5 Cadillac.
GOODRICH
Record/rank: 39-9-1, No. 7
Coach: Robyn Batterbee, ninth season (299-143-37)
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Red.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-1 and 2-0 over No. 8 North Branch, 3-2 over No. 2 Mount Morris, 2-0 over honorable mention Frankenmuth, 3-0, 3-0 and 3-2 (District Final) over honorable mention Corunna; 3-0 over honorable mention Marysville in Regional Final.
Players to watch: Abby Francis, 5-10 jr. OH (407 kills, .354 hitting %, 61 blocks, 255 digs); Kamryn Wallace, 5-9 sr. S (630 assists, 152 kills, 220 digs); Kristi Doherty, 5-8 sr. S (500 assists, 260 kills, 64 aces, 260 digs).
Finals forecast: This is the first time Goodrich has advanced to the final week of the season; in fact, the Martians have made great strides since posting a sub-.500 record only two seasons ago. They also went 3-4-1 over their final eight matches of this regular season, but stormed through the playoffs sweeping four of six matches. And this could be just the start, as three seniors mix with three more starters who should gain valuable experience for another run in 2016.
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 56-11-2, No. 8
Coach: James Fish, 16th season (917-151-46)
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference East.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 5 Cadillac in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over No. 2 Mount Morris in District Final, 2-0 and 3-0 (District Semifinal) over honorable mention Frankenmuth, 2-1 over No. 10 Chelsea, 2-1 over Class A No. 8 Rockford, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Saline, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Clarkston, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 2-1 over Class A honor able mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay.
Players to watch: Olivia Fike, 6-1 jr. MH (476 kills, .427 hitting %, 103 blocks); Allyson Severance, 6-0 fr. OH (403 kills, 356 digs); Madee Miner, 5-7 jr. S (1,375 assists, 117 aces, 248 digs).
Finals forecast: This championship contender looks a lot different than last year’s title winner, with only two players back who saw major time in the 3-0 win over Lakewood – but that pair is an excellent one. Miner is back as the setter and Fike has taken over as the main hitter after finishing with the second-most kills in last year’s Final. And with North Branch playing its usual strong schedule, new contributors gained plenty of experience again top competition that has shown during a strong tournament run.
Class C
BRONSON
Record/rank: 56-10-3, No. 1
Coach: Jean LaClair, 16th season (724-283-67)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference East and overall.
Championship history: Class C champion 2009, LP Class C runner-up 1990.
Best wins: 2-0 and 3-0 (Quarterfinal) over No. 6 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 3-1 over No. 9 Schoolcraft in Regional Final, 2-1 over honorable mention St. Louis, 2-0 and 3-0 over Class D No. 2 Battle Creek St. Philip, 3-0 over Class D No. 8 Mendon, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D No. 5 North Adams-Jerome, 2-0 over Class B honorable mention Marshall.
Players to watch: Alexa Ratkowski, 5-9 sr. S (1,553 assists, 270 kills, 324 digs, 87 aces, 82 blocks); Kirin Cekander, 5-8 sr. OH (335 kills, 73 aces, 480 digs); Jill Pyles, 5-10 jr. MH (485 kills, .391 hitting %, 180 aces, 87 blocks, 150 digs).
Finals forecast: Bronson took over the top spot in Class C in mid-September and never gave it back. Despite graduating an all-state hitter from a year ago, the Vikings improved their win total for the third straight season while helping coach LaClair get the 1,000th of her career. Ratkowski, an all-state second-teamer in 2014, will finish with the third-most assists for one season in MHSAA rally scoring history, while Pyles, an honorable mention last year, will be top five for aces in a season.
BROWN CITY
Record/rank: 40-8-5, No. 8
Coach: Jenna Welke, third season (101-33-13)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference East.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over New Lothrop in Quarterfinal, 2-0, 3-0 and 3-1 (District Semifinal) over Marlette; 3-0 and 3-0 (District Final) over Sandusky.
Players to watch: Becki Krause, 5-8 jr. OH (511 kills, 79 aces, 271 digs); Kendal Muxlow, 5-7 fr. OH (245 kills, 76 aces, 202 digs); Alexia Mason, 5-6 jr. S (1,059 assists, 118 aces, 102 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season saw Brown City’s win its first Regional title; the Green Devils have taken another step into their first Semifinal despite also graduating an all-state hitter in the spring. A glance at this fall’s opponents isn’t as much about who Brown City has beaten, perhaps, as who it saw in losses – reigning Class B champion North Branch, Class B No. 2 Mount Morris, Class B honorable mention Frankenmuth and Class A honorable mentions Stoney Creek and Anchor Bay. After those matches, no team this weekend should intimidate Brown City during its first trip to Kellogg.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 36-8-1, No. 2
Coach: Karen O’Brien, first season (36-8-1)
League finish: Tied for first in Huron League.
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over honorable mention Laingsburg in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Northville, 3-2 and 3-0 over Class A honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 2-1 over Class B honorable mention Marshall, 2-1 over Class B honorable mention Corunna.
Players to watch: Skylar Iott, 6-0 sr. MH/OH (504 kills, 53 aces, 62 blocks, 314 digs); Regan Hodgson, 5-7 sr. OH (220 kills, 367 digs); Rose Kemmerling, 5-2 sr. S (499 assists, 127 digs); Lauren Kemmerling, 5-6 soph. S (639 assists, 192 digs).
Finals forecast: The Kestrels might have a new leader, but little has changed in terms of dominance. O’Brien was retired coach Diane Tuller’s assistant during last season’s title run and has been head volleyball coach at the University of Toledo and Siena Heights University in addition to multiple high schools over 30 years. She inherited Iott, an all-state first-teamer last year, and a group of new contributors who have stepped in for graduated standouts. Junior middles Merina Poupard and Leah Ritchie have combined for 287 blocks.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 51-6-3, No. 5
Co-coaches: Rita Jones and Heather Simpson, fourth seasons (182-35-10)
League finish: First in Lake Michigan Conference.
Championship history: Class C runner-up 2012.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Calumet in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over Class D No. 6 Waterford Our Lady, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D No. 3 Leland, 2-0 over Class B honorable mention Corunna.
Players to watch: Juliana Phillips, 6-4 jr. MB/OH (441 kills, .424 hitting %, 95 aces, 135 blocks); Madeline Rysztak, 5-11 sr. OH (459 kills, 105 aces, 277 digs); Ally Bradfield, 5-9 sr. S (1,059 assists, 55 aces).
Finals forecast: St. Francis is making its second trip to Battle Creek under Jones and Simpson and has won league and District titles all four seasons with the co-coaches. Rysztak and Phillips made the all-state second and third teams, respectively, last season, as St. Francis finished 49-6-3 but fell short of the season’s final week. The Gladiators haven’t given up a set in their last 11 matches.
Class D
BATTLE CREEK ST. PHILIP
Record/rank: 45-16-2, No. 2
Coach: Vicky Groat, 18th season (1,007-205-82)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association.
Championship history: Twenty MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), eight runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 8 Mendon in Quarterfinal, 3-0, 3-0 and 3-0 (Regional Final) over No. 5 North Adams-Jerome; 3-0 and 3-1 (Regional Semifinal) over honorable mention Pittsford, 2-0 over No. 3 Leland, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Climax-Scotts, 3-0 over Class C No. 9 Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: Abby McKinzie, 5-9 sr. OH (630 kills, 58 aces, 518 digs); Taylor Pessetti, 5-0 jr. S (1,043 assists, 278 digs); Morgan Luoma, 5-7 sr. OH (316 kills, 416 digs); Kameron Haley, 5-7 jr. L (92 aces, 737 kills).
Finals forecast: St. Philip has twice as many MHSAA championships as the next most accomplished program, more than twice as many MHSAA championship match appearances, and last season set the MHSAA record with a ninth-straight title – despite also entering that postseason not ranked No. 1. McKinzie made the all-state first team last season and Haley was an honorable mention – and they’ve been joined by a number of new contributors on a team with only four seniors.
CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK
Record/rank: 39-1-3, honorable mention
Coach: Kim Bjork, 10th season (322-31-38)
League finish: First in Skyline Central Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 and 3-1 (Regional Final) over No. 10 Stephenson, 3-1 over Rogers City in Quarterfinal, 2-0, 2-0 and 3-1 (Regional Semifinal) over Munising.
Players to watch: Maria Stankewicz, 5-4 sr. S (844 assists, 78 aces, 277 digs); Michaela Steiro, 5-10 sr. OH (340 kills, .347 hitting %, 55 aces); Libby Shamion, 5-7 sr. OH (227 kills, 130 aces, 291 digs).
Finals forecast: Forest Park will be playing in its third Semifinal in five seasons and with its only loss this time – and one of the three ties as well – to Class C honorable mention Calumet. In fact, the Trojans have given up only nine sets this entire fall with a team featuring nine seniors. Stankewicz earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
LELAND
Record/rank: 47-7-4, No. 3
Coach: Laurie Glass, 21st season (827-248-83)
League finish: First in Northwest Conference.
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2006), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over Class C honorable mention Calumet, 2-0 over Class C No. 5 Traverse City St. Francis, 2-0 over Class C No. 3 Montague.
Players to watch: Maddie Trumbull, 5-10 sr. OH (546 kills, .331 hitting %, 73 aces, 376 digs); Eva Grobbel, 5-11 sr. MB (277 kills, 55 aces, 139 digs); Ella Siddall, 5-4 fr. S (1,084 assists, 83 aces, 146 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season’s runner-up is making its third straight appearance at Battle Creek with a pair of experienced leaders to go with a freshman setter. Trumbull made the all-state first team in 2014 and Grobbel made the second team, and senior middle ViAnna Hennig (202 kills) saw time in the Final a year ago. Freshman outside hitter Allie Martin also is part of the program's next chapter; she had 309 kills, 87 aces and 347 digs heading into this week.
PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 35-5-1, No. 1
Coach: DJ Kellogg, first season (35-5-1)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference.
Championship history: Class D runner-up 2010.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 9 Marine City Cardinal Mooney in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over No. 4 Lansing Christian in Regional Final, 3-0 over No. 6 Waterford Our Lady in Regional Semifinal, 2-0 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Olivia Mady, 5-8 jr. OH (321 kills, 61 aces, 190 digs); Grace Kellogg, 5-9 soph. OH (387 kills, 217 digs, 69 aces); Jessica Paulson, 5-11 jr. S (682 assists, 118 digs).
Finals forecast: Plymouth Christian took over the top spot in the rankings just less than a month ago and hasn’t disappointed. The Eagles haven’t given up a set during the MHSAA Tournament despite the hardest path in this class. Mady and Grace Kellogg earned all-state honorable mentions a year ago and could make this a multiple-season run; Plymouth Christian has only one senior.
PHOTO: Jenna Grabowski (9) and a Crystal Falls Forest Park teammate block a kill attempt by Munising during last week's Regional Semifinal win. (Click for more from Jarvinen Photos.)