Preview: Serving Up MHSAA History
November 20, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It’s hard to remember the last time Battle Creek St. Philip didn’t win the MHSAA Class D volleyball championship – except perhaps for fellow semifinalist Leland, the last to claim the title before the Tigers won the last seven.
St. Philip can tie Marysville’s MHSAA record eight straight titles this weekend and is among three regular-season favorites making the trip to Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena – St. Philip, Mendon in Class C and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in Class B all were ranked No. 1 in their respective classes heading into the tournament three weeks ago.
There are plenty of opportunities for firsts as well this weekend – nine of 16 teams making the trip are seeking their first MHSAA titles. Also appearing on the Kellogg court are three of this season’s Miss Basketball finalists: St. Philip’s Sierra Hubbard-Neil, Bloomfield Hills Marian’s Jessie Kopmeyer and East Grand Rapids’ Maeve McDonald.
Below is a look at all 16 teams playing. Class D and A Semifinals are today, with Class B and C on Friday and all four Finals on Saturday. All four Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on a subscription bases 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 (both matches combined) and $7 per Final, 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
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 49-15, No. 3
Coach: Angela Kalczynski, first season (49-15)
League finish: Tied for first in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Championship game history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2010), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 2-1, 2-1 and 3-1 (Regional Final) over No. 10 Clarkston, 2-1 over No. 2 Portage Central, 2-0 over No. 9 Temperance Bedford, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 5 Novi, 2-0 over No. 6 Northville.
Players to watch: Jessie Kopmeyer, 5-10 sr. OH; Paige Carey, 6-1 sr. MH; Morgan Garmo, 5-6 jr. S/L. (Statistics not submitted).
Finals forecast: Marian is loaded with experience, with Kopmeyer a returning all-stater, Carey an all-state honorable mention in 2012 and Garmo an all-region pick. On top of its impressive list of wins is a similarly impressive list of losses – Marian has played most of the best teams in Class A and also owns a win over Class B No. 4 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central. The Mustangs made at least the Quarterfinals every season from 2004-05 through 2010, but this is their first appearance at the Finals since that last championship.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS
Record/rank: 48-5-3, No. 8
Coach: Christine Grunewald, third season (137-21-3)
League finish: First in O-K White.
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0, 3-0 and 3-0 (District Semifinal) over honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 2-0 and 2-1 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 2-0 over No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-0 over No. 2 Portage Central, 3-0 over honorable mention East Kentwood (District Quarterfinal), 3-1 over No.4 Rockford (Regional Final).
Players to watch: Maeve McDonald, 5-6 sr. S (1,133 assists, 404 digs); Caroline Knooihuizen, 5-9 sr. OH (576 kills, 317 digs); Jordan Clappison, 5-7 fr. OH (251 kills, 257 digs); Zoe Macartney, 6-1 soph. MH (245 kills, 107 blocks).
Finals forecast: East Grand Rapids has won three league, two District and two Regional titles under Grunewald, who previously coached Lake Odessa Lakewood and can win her 350th match in the Semifinal. The Pioneers made the semis in Class B in 2010 and 2011, both times losing to Fruitport including in five sets two years ago. McDonald was a Miss Volleyball candidate this fall, while Knooihuizen also is back in Battle Creek as one of the team’s top hitters after making all-region in 2012.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 51-11-12, No. 6
Coach: Amanda Yaklin, fifth season (183-54-31)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Central
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-1 and 2-0 over No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-0 over No. 9 Temperance Bedford, 2-1 over No. 10 Clarkston, 2-1 and 3-0 (District Final) over No. 5 Novi.
Players to watch: Symone Abbott, 6-0 sr. OH (701 kills 334 digs), Rachel Zawodny, 5-6 sr. S (855 assists, 247 digs); Olivia Boisineau, 6-1 jr. M (218 kills, 106 blocks).
Finals forecast: Northville will follow up last season’s first-ever Semifinal appearance with this second in a row and has now won 40 or more matches in each of the last three seasons. Abbott returns as the team’s best hitter and Zawodny and senior Katherine Boss have stepped in to replace the team’s graduated all-state setter. A current streak of 11 straight wins has included many of the team’s best as it grew from a 6-6-4 midseason stretch.
TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 65-9-2, No. 9
Coach: Jodi Manore, 29th season (1,744-292-50)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Championship game history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2005), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 2-1, 2-0 and 3-2 (District Semifinal) over No. 6 Northville, 3-2 over honorable mention Livonia Stevenson in the Quarterfinal, 2-1 and 2-1 over Class D No. 1 Battle Creek St. Philip, 2-0 over Class B No. 1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 2-0 over Class C No. 1 Mendon.
Players to watch: Mackenzie Andrews, 5-9 sr. S (1,839 assists), Nicole Rightnowar 5-11 jr. MH (486 kills, 175 blocks, 506 digs); Kayla Gwozdz, 5-11 jr. OH (635 kills, 503 digs).
Finals forecast: Bedford, last season's Class A runner-up, can claim the rare feat of beating the No. 1-ranked teams in Class B, C and D this season, and also took two matches from Class B No. 4 Monroe St. Mary. Bedford reached the 2012 Final while unranked, but voters did not overlook the Kicking Mules this season ranking them as high as No. 6. Rightnowar and Gwozdz both earned all-state honorable mentions last season as sophomores and are two of five on their team with at least 225 kills this fall.
Class B
CADILLAC
Record/rank: 45-7-1, No. 7
Coach: Michelle Brines, 14th season (572-183-32)
League finish: Second in Big North Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Holland West Ottawa, 2-0 over Class D No. 6 Leland, 2-0 over Class C honorable mention Bad Axe, 2-1 over Class C honorable mention Boyne City.
Players to watch: Selena Golnick, 5-11 sr. MH (566 kills, 140 blocks, 261 digs); Hannah Baker, 5-9 sr. S (1,083 assists, 295 digs); Morgan Briggs, 5-9 soph. OH (322 kills, 426 digs).
Finals forecast: Tuesday marked Cadillac’s fourth straight trip to the Quarterfinals, and this weekend will include its first Semifinal appearance since 2010. Golnick was an all-state honorable mention hitter last season and Baker an all-region setter, and they’ve led a team that beat most of the best from the northern Lower Peninsula. Cadillac also played a number of schools its size and larger at tournaments – they won two, their flight in a third and finished runner-up twice.
GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 45-11-1, No. 5
Coach: Allison Sagraves, fifth season (177-100-2)
League finish: Second in O-K Gold
Championship game history: Class B champion Winter 2007, runner-up 2006.
Best wins: 2-0, 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Semifinal) over No. 6 Holland Christian, 3-2 over Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 2-1 and 2-0 over Class A honorable mention East Kentwood, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class A No. 1 Hudsonville,
Players to watch: Danielle Oeverman, 5-11 sr. MB (387 kills, 139 blocks); Emily Blankespoor, 5-9 sr. S (1,187 assists, 339 digs); Taylor Wierenga, 6-0 sr. OH (346 kills, 129 digs); Cassidy Vredevoogd, 6-0 sr. OH (308 kills, 296 digs).
Finals forecast: The Sailors have improved their win total each season under Sagraves, a coaching legacy whose mother Deb Park led East Kentwood to a Class A runner-up finish in 1983. South Christian has shined against the best from the Grand Rapids area, beating the top-ranked team in Class A, Hudsonville, four times. Oeverman made the all-state third team last season and is part of a strong senior attack that’s helped key 10 wins in the Sailors’ last 11 matches.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Record/rank: 60-2-1, No. 1
Coach: Betty Wroubel, 20th season (770-188-81)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League AA
Championship game history: Class B champion Fall 2007.
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 9 Croswell-Lexington, 2-0 over No. 8 Mount Morris, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 10 Frankenmuth, 3-2 over No. 3 North Branch in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over Class A No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian.
Players to watch: Katherine Carlson, 5-11 jr. OH (917 kills, 327 digs); Dani McCormick, 6-1 sr. MH (442 kills, 65 blocks); Hannah Antosz, 5-7 jr. S (804 assists); Ashley Knutson, 5-7 jr. S (741 assists).
Finals forecast: Notre Dame Prep’s only losses this season were to Class A Semifinalist Temperance Bedford and honorable mention Lake Orion, making this the Fighting Irish’s most impressive run of at least the past two decades – including, so far, its championship season of 2007. Wroubel has led teams to MHSAA titles in both volleyball and softball during her time as one of the state’s winningest coaches. The hitters are exceptional; Carlson made the all-state first team last season and McCormick made the third as Notre Dame advanced to the Quarterfinals.
WAYLAND
Record/rank: 60-5-1, No. 2
Coach: Kim Getty, fifth season (220-77-18)
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 and 2-1 over No. 6 Holland Christian, 3-0 and 3-0 over No.5 Grand Rapids South Christian, 3-1 over No. 4 Monroe St. Mary in the Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Class A No. 8 East Grand Rapids, 2-0 over Class D No. 1 Battle Creek St. Philip.
Players to watch: Krissy Dill, sr. OH (653 kills, 607 digs); Allison Getty, sr. OH (746 kills, 634 digs); Samantha Geivett, sr. S (1,459 assists, 388 digs).
Finals forecast: Wayland has won either its league, District or both the last four seasons, but took a jump this fall. The Wildcats also beat ranked Class C teams Schoolcraft and Bronson and have won 16 straight matches. This is the first time Wayland has made the final week of the season, and it appears poised for more with five senior starters playing their final high school matches. Dill and Allison Getty are tough to contend with at the net – both made the all-state second team in 2012.
Class C
AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 38-7-8, unranked
Coach: Priscilla Larned, 29th season (875-329-68)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-2 over Ottawa Lake Whiteford in the Quarterfinal, 3-0 over Troy Athens, 3-1 and 3-2 over Ann Arbor Greenhills, 3-1 and 3-2 over Westland Huron Valley Lutheran.
Players to watch: Marcella Compeau, sr. OH/L (375 kills, 117 aces, 584 digs); Camille Schomer, soph. OH/L (320 kills, 561 digs), Elaine Haggard, jr. S (962 assists, 206 digs)
Finals forecast: This will be the fifth Semifinal for Oakland Christian under Larned, also one of the state’s winningest coaches. Half the roster is underclassmen – including freshman starting hitter Alexandra Gudobba; four seniors also start. The Lancers had fallen twice this season to Whiteford before avenging those defeats with a close victory in the Quarterfinal – the first match during the MHSAA tournament Oakland Christian didn’t sweep.
BEAL CITY
Record/rank: 55-3-1, No. 3
Coach: Kelly David, second season (98-13-2)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship game history: Class D runner-up 2012.
Best wins: 2-1 over No. 5 St. Louis, 3-1 over honorable mention Traverse City St. Francis in the Regional Final, 3-1 over honorable mention Calumet in the Quarterfinal.
Players to watch: Addie Schumacher, 5-11 sr. MB (574 kills, .376 hitting %, 162 blocks, 412 digs); Melanie Schafer, 5-4 sr. OH (239 kills, 600 digs, 99 aces); Nicole Gross, 5-7 jr. OH (330 kills); Jenna Theisen, 5-6 jr. S (1,502 assists, 99 aces).
Finals forecast: In her first season as coach last fall – and only three after she played for Beal City in the Semifinals – David guided the Aggies to their first MHSAA championship match appearance. They moved to Class C this season but have remained in the mix with Schumacher an all-state first-team pick in 2012 and Schafer back after making the third team.
GRAND RAPIDS COVENANT CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 45-9, No. 8
Coach: Denise Uittenbogaard, eighth season (165-118-5)
League finish: First in River Valley Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 1 Mendon, 3-1 over honorable mention Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, 3-1 over No. 2 Morley-Stanwood in the Regional Final, 3-0 over No. 4 Unionville-Sebewaing in the Quarterfinal.
Players to watch: Alyssa Scholten, 6-2 sr. MH (464 kills, 109 blocks); Shelby Lubbers, 5-10 sr. MH (306 kills, 370 digs); Cailey DeJong, 5-9 sr. S/OH (273 kills, 512 assists, 182 aces, 378 digs).
Finals forecast: The Chargers have won District titles three of the last four seasons under Uittenbogaard and claimed their first Regional title ever last week. Covenant Christian also has wins over most of the best in Class C according to the final coaches rankings, and got some additional prep for the tournament in losses to Class B semifinalist Grand Rapids South Christian and Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian at the end of the regular season.
MENDON
Record/rank: 49-7-2, No. 1
Coach: Kathy Trenary, 20h season (721-297-115)
League finish: First in St. Joseph Valley League
Championship game history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2001).
Best wins: 3-1, 3-0, 3-2 and 3-1 (District Final) over No. 6 Bronson, 3-2 over No. 7 Schoolcraft in the Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Class B honorable mention Berrien Springs.
Players to watch: Brooke Howard, 5-10 sr. MH (546 kills, .379 hitting %, 443 digs), Loryn Baughman, 5-9 sr. S (1,137 assists); Jordan VanOss, 5-5 soph. OH (265 kills, .345 hitting %, 409 digs); Alexis Russell, 5-11 sr. MH (381 kills, .340 hitting %, 377 digs).
Finals forecast: Make that 13 straight District titles for Mendon on the way to this second straight appearance in Battle Creek. Although the Hornets did graduate an all-state hitter last season, Howard and Russell both made the second team in 2012 and VanOss made the third – with Baughman setting them during last season’s run. They’ve seen their share of top teams from all four classes this season, with three losses to those playing this weekend – Temperance Bedford, Covenant Christian and Class D No. 1 Battle Creek St. Philip.
Class D
BATTLE CREEK ST. PHILIP
Record/rank: 62-7-2, No. 1
Coach: Vicky Groat, 16th season (907-177-76)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association
Championship game history: 18 MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), eight runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 5 Hillsdale Academy in the Quarterfinal, 3-0 over Class C No. 6 Bronson, 2-0 over Class B No. 5 Grand Rapids South Christian, 2-0 over Class B No. 1 Hudsonville, 2-0 over Class C No. 1 Mendon, 2-0 over Class C No. 7 Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: Sierra Hubbard-Neil, 5-9 sr. OH (850 kills, .470 hitting %, 481 digs, 115 aces); Emily Freybler, 5-7 sr. MH (280 kills, 292 digs); Emily Schaub, 5-8 jr. S (1,618 assists, 110 aces, 306 digs).
Finals forecast: Graduate Miss Volleyball plus two more all-staters? That’s just meant more business as usual for the Tigers, who have won the last seven Class D titles and again dominated this fall despite playing the best in the state regardless of class. Another championship and St. Philip will tie Marysville’s record of eight straight from 1997-2004. Hubbard-Neil has been a mainstay in the lineup and was a Miss Volleyball candidate this fall after making all-state the last three.
CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK
Record/rank: 31-1-5, No. 9
Coach: Kim Bjork, eighth season (253-24-32)
League finish: First in Skyline Conference
Championship game history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 10 Stephenson in the Regional Final, 3-0 over Kingsford, 3-0 over Iron River West Iron County.
Players to watch: Lexi Gussert, 6-1 sr. MH (442 kills, .398 hitting %, 92 aces, 83 blocks); Maria Stankewicz, 5-5 soph. S (673 assists, 73 aces); Libby Shamion, 5-6 soph. OH (103 kills, 94 aces)
Finals forecast: The Trojans haven’t lost since their first tournament of the season and haven’t given up a set in 15 straight matches. Gussert, was an all-state second teamer last season and also should be a Miss Basketball candidate this winter and again one of the top golfers in the Upper Peninsula in the spring. Forest Park has won league and District titles every season under Bjork and missed the Quarterfinals only once, in 2009.
LELAND
Record/rank: 33-14-7, No. 6
Coach: Laurie Glass (865-278-98)
League finish: Second in Northwest Conference
Championship game history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2006), five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 4 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in the Quarterfinal, 3-1 over Bear Lake in the Regional Semifinal, 3-2 over Class C honorable mention Traverse City St. Francis.
Players to watch: Noa Yaakoby, 5-9 sr. OH (423 kills, 242 digs); Caitlin Mckee, 5-5 sr. S (757 assists, 247 digs), Felicia Whittaker, 5-8 sr. MB (222 kills, 86 aces, 107 digs)
Finals forecast: Leland is back at the Finals for the first time since winning Class D in 2006 – the Comets beat St. Philip that winter and are the last team besides St Philip to win this class. Mckee earned an all-state honorable mention last season as Leland fell to St. Philip in a Quarterfinal. The Comets went 29-5-2 against Class C and D teams this fall.
WATERFORD OUR LADY
Record/rank: 40-5-6, No. 2
Coach: Stephanie Swearingen, fifth season (111-35-18)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League East
Championship game history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 over Class A No. 6 Northville, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Holland West Ottawa, 2-0 over Class C honorable mention Boyne City.
Players to watch: Courtney Wightman, 5-11 soph. OH (503 kills, 63 blocks, 292 digs, 117 aces); Allison Samulon, 5-8 sr. OH (332 kills, 40 blocks); Kristina Krupiak, 5-7 sr. RS (163 kills, 36 blocks, 190 digs, 97 aces); Kali Bagley, 5-6 sr. S (1,026 assists, 107 aces)
Finals forecast: Our Lady returned to the Quarterfinals last season for the first time since 2001 and has taken the next step thanks in part to returning all-state honorable mention hitters Krupiak and Wightman. The Lakers have upped their win total every season under Swearingen, a former All-America in track and field at the University of Michigan who won an MHSAA high jump title at Okemos and also played volleyball at Oakland University.
PHOTO: Beal City senior Addie Schumacher (8) drives the ball during the Aggies' District match this month against Sanford Meridian. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Setting Out to Make History
November 15, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
There are some clear favorites heading into this MHSAA Volleyball Finals weekend at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
Three reigning champions are back from a year ago. Two of those are among the three top-ranked teams still in play. But 12 others are aiming to show that rankings and past history won’t matter this time around.
Below is this weekend’s schedule:
Class A Semifinals – Thursday
Farmington Hills Mercy vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian, 4:30 p.m.
DeWitt vs. Novi, 6:30 p.m.
Class B Semifinals - Friday
Lake Odessa Lakewood vs. Livonia Ladywood, 4:30 p.m.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Fruitport, 6:30 p.m.
Class C Semifinals – Friday
Wixom St. Catherine vs. Laingsburg, Noon
Bronson vs. Calumet, 2 p.m.
Class D Semifinals - Thursday
Munising vs. Fowler, Noon
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Rogers City, 2 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Class A, 2 p.m.
Class B, 4 p.m.
Class C, Noon
Class D, 10 a.m.
Click for links to all results from this season’s tournament plus information on live broadcasts of all 12 matches this weekend on MHSAA.tv and MHSAANetwork.com. Below is a glance at all 16 contenders, with statistics through last week's Regional Finals unless noted.
Class A
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 44-12-1, No. 7
Coach: Lauren Duquette, first season (44-12-1)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Class A champions 2010 and 2009, five runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 (Quarterfinal) and 2-1 over honorable mention Midland, 3-0 over No. 8 Clarkston in the Regional Final, 3-1 over honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in the Regional Semifinal, 2-1 over No. 5 Lake Orion, 2-0 over honorable mention Utica Eisenhower, 2-1 over No. 10 Monroe, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0 and 2-1 over honorable mention Macomb Dakota, 3-0 over Class B No. 1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 2-1 over Class D No. 1 Plymouth Christian Academy, 2-1 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Lauren Wenzel, 6-2 sr. M; Maggie DePorre, 5-11 sr. M; Maddie Dowd, 5-10 jr. S. (Statistics not submitted).
Finals forecast: Marian took another step this fall under first-year coach Duquette, a former standout at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley and Oakland University and coach for the previous six seasons at Rochester High. Five starters came back from last year’s Quarterfinal team that fell to eventual champion Novi, led by Wenzel – who made the all-state third team as a junior and will continue her career next season at Notre Dame. DePorre and Dowd also were all-region picks a year ago. Dowd has committed to play at Georgetown after high school and DePorre has signed with Hillsdale College.
DEWITT
Record/rank: 45-4, No. 4
Coach: Christy Thelen, 10th season (404-90-8)
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian in the Quarterfinal, 3-0 (Regional Final), 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Richland Gull Lake, 3-1 over honorable mention Mattawan in the Regional Semifinal, 2-0 over honorable mention Lowell, 2-0 over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-1 over No. 1 Novi, 2-0 over honorable mention East Grand Rapids, 2-1 over honorable mention Macomb Dakota.
Players to watch: Brooke Binkley, 5-6 sr. S (1,192 assists, 349 digs); Grace George, 5-10 sr. OH (519 kills, 356 digs); Desiree Becker, 6-2 jr. MH (387 kills, .360 hitting %, 148 blocks, 51 aces).
Finals forecast: DeWitt will play in its first Semifinal since 2000 in Class B after finally breaking through following fourth-straight league and District titles. Becker, Binkley, George and senior libero Stephanie Starr all were all-region picks last season, and Becker is considered one of the state’s top juniors. The Panthers are among the few that have beaten reigning champ Novi, downing the Wildcats and Marian at Novi’s tournament in September. DeWitt also has wins over Class B No. 6 Marshall and No. 9 Freeland and still-impressive losses to Class A No. 1 Rockford, No. 5 Lake Orion and No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy.
FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY
Record/rank: 50-7-1, No. 6
Coach: Loretta Vogel, ninth season (record N/A)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Class A runner-up 2010.
Best wins: 3-1 (Quarterfinal) and 2-0 over honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 3-1 and 3-2 over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-1 over No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian, 2-0 over No. 4 DeWitt, 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 8 Clarkston, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 5 Lake Orion, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Macomb Dakota, 2-0 over honorable mention Utica Eisenhower, 2-0 over No. 10 Monroe, 2-0 over Class B No. 1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 2-1 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Jess Mruzik, 6-1 soph. OH; Lauren Hunter, 5-11 sr. OH; Julia Bishop, 5-9 fr. S. (Statistics not submitted.)
Finals forecast: Mercy is back at the Semifinals for the first time since its championship match run in 2010, led by one of the state’s winningest coaches but also with a lot of help from standout underclassmen. Vogel is in her 40th season coaching overall and has more than 1,000 career wins, and she brings a lineup that includes Mruzik and two freshmen starters. Mruzik – who already has committed to play college volleyball at University of Michigan – made the all-state third team last season, and Hunter earned an honorable mention.
NOVI
Record/rank: 55-3, No. 2
Coach: Jennifer Cottrill, sixth season (284-24-2)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold and overall
Championship history: Class A champion 2016 and 2015, runner-up 2014.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Temperance Bedford in the Quarterfinal, 3-0 (District Final), 2-0, 2-0 and 3-0 over No. 9 Northville, 2-0 over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 8 Clarkston, 2-0 over honorable mention Macomb Dakota, 2-0 over No. 10 Monroe, 2-0 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 2-0 over Class D No. 1 Plymouth Christian Academy, 2-0 over Class D No. 2 Leland.
Players to watch: Erin O’Leary, 5-10 sr. S (1,451 assists, 207 kills, 307 digs, 93 aces); Abryanna Cannon, 6-1 sr. OH (507 kills, .401 hitting %, 322 digs); Kathryn Ellison, 6-1 sr. OH (325 kills, .325 hitting %, 327 digs).
Finals forecast: The two-time reigning Class A champions have been among favorites all season for obvious reasons. O’Leary was named Miss Volleyball earlier this week and Cannon also was a candidate; they are headed next season to Michigan and Northwestern, respectively, while Ellison will play at Kent State. The losses came to DeWitt, Bedford and Lake Orion, and the Wildcats avenged the Bedford defeat Tuesday and can avenge the DeWitt defeat Thursday. Junior Jaeda Porter, senior Savanna Frick and sophomore Shannon Jennings all also have at least 130 kills while hitting at least .300.
Class B
FRUITPORT
Record/rank: 36-17-4, honorable mention
Coach: Nicole Bayle, 10th season (367-152-5)
League finish: Second in Ottawa-Kent Conference Black
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2011), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over honorable mention Cadillac in the Quarterfinal, 3-1 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Regional Semifinal, 3-0 over No. 8 Spring Lake in the District opener, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Midland, 2-0 over Class C No. 9 Traverse City St. Francis.
Players to watch: Kailey Carmean, 5-7 jr. S; Jordyn Carlyle, 5-11 jr. MH; Kylie Oberlin, 5-11 jr. MH. (Statistics not submitted.)
Finals forecast: Fruitport has had one of the strongest traditions on the west side of the state going back to when Bayle starred two decades ago, and she has the Trojans back in the Semifinals for the first time since leading them to back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. She also has only one senior – defensive specialist Chloe Kern – meaning this could be the first of another run of trips to the season’s final weekend. Fruitport has won 12 straight matches since falling during the regular season to Spring Lake, which it then defeated to start the District.
LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 46-5-2, No. 3
Coach: Kellie Rowland, 23rd season (1,026-153-7)
League finish: First in Greater Lansing Activities Conference
Championship history: Class B champion 2012, three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-2 over No. 4 Niles in the Quarterfinal, 3-0 over No. 6 Marshall in the Regional Final, 2-0 over honorable mention Grand Rapids West Catholic, 2-0 over honorable mention Fruitport, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Hudsonville, 2-1 over Class A No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian, 2-0 over Class C No. 4 Schoolcraft, 3-0 over Class A honorable mention Lowell.
Players to watch: Breanna Wickerink, 5-9 sr. MB (387 kills .479 hitting %, 106 blocks, 58 aces); Alivia Benedict, 5-9 sr. OH (285 kills, 61 aces, 73 blocks, 324 digs); Kayla Sauers, 5-5 sr. S (1,232 assists, 328 digs, 98 aces).
Finals forecast: Lakewood was last season’s Class B runner-up and has played in the championship match three of the last five seasons. Five seniors start; Wickerink made the all-state first team last season and Benedict made all-region, and they are joined as well up front by 6-2 freshman middle Aubrey O’Gorman (292 kills, .392 hitting percentage, 176 blocks). The Vikings have won 15 straight matches since falling to Class A No. 1 Rockford during the regular season, and have given up only three sets total during the run.
LIVONIA LADYWOOD
Record/rank: 23-5-1, unranked
Coach: Kathryn Chinavare, second season (35-14-3)
League finish: Tied for third in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Lower Peninsula Class A champion 1989 and 1988, runner-up 1990.
Best wins: 2-0 over honorable mention Ida, 3-2 over Class A honorable mention Fenton, 2-1 over Class C No. 10 Wixom St. Catherine, 3-0 over Class D No. 1 Plymouth Christian Academy.
Players to watch: Monique Lamoureux, 5-3 jr. S (807 assists, 54 aces, 241 digs); Madison Benoit, 5-9 jr. OH/DS (238 kills, .372 hitting %, 280 digs); Madeline Hudson, 5-11 jr. MH (186 kills, .355 hitting %).
Finals forecast: Ladywood is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2009 and 2010, nearly doubling its wins from a year ago in this second season under former Livonia Franklin standout Chinavare. Ladywood navigated the Catholic League Central behind Class A semifinalists Marian and Mercy, with three of its five losses to those opponents and a fourth to Class C semifinalist St. Catherine. Benoit made the all-region team last season.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Record/rank: 62-2-2, No. 1
Coach: Betty Wroubel, 24th season (989-216-94)
League finish: Independent
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2013).
Best wins: 3-0 (Regional Final), 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 2 North Branch, 3-0 over No. 7 Marysville in the Regional Semifinal, 2-0 over No. 6 Marshall, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Cadillac, 2-0 over Class A No. 8 Clarkston, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Midland, 2-1, 2-0 and 3-0 over Class A No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-1 over Class A No. 5 Lake Orion, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Temperance Bedford, 3-0 over Class A No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over Class A No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian, 2-1 over Class C No. 1 Bronson, 2-0 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 2-0 over Class C No. 4 Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: Madeline Chinn, 6-2 jr. OH (621 kills, .417 hitting %, 115 blocks, 77 aces); Gabrielle Shilling, 6-1 sr. MH (330 kills, .437 hitting %, 165 blocks); Natalie Risi, 6-0 jr. OH/S (431 kills, .340 hitting %, 162 aces, 422 digs).
Finals forecast: Notre Dame Prep’s resume speaks for itself. The only losses came to Class A Lake Orion and Farmington Hills Mercy, and both have been avenged. The Irish downed No. 2 North Branch in the Regional Final for the third time this season and have wins over eight top-10 teams in either Class A or B plus the top-ranked in Class C. Chinn made the all-state first team last season, while Risi made the second and Shilling earned an honorable mention. They are set by senior Lauren Burnick (1,072 assists) and entering the week also had gotten 122 blocks and 315 kills from 5-11 sophomore hitter Taylor Garrigan-Raiola. Total, Wroubel has more than 1,400 wins since starting her first coaching job in 1978-79 at Clawson. Chinn has committed to sign with Purdue, while Shilling will continue at Rhode Island, Risi will sign next year with Ball State and Burnick will play next at Lake Erie College.
Class C
BRONSON
Record/rank: 58-9-2, No. 1
Coach: Jean LaClair, 18th season (801-301-75)
League finish: First in Big 8 Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2016), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in the Quarterfinal, 3-2 over No. 4 Schoolcraft in the Regional Final, 3-0 over honorable mention Mendon in the District Final, 2-0 over Class B No. 4 Niles, 2-0 over Class B No. 6 Marshall, 2-0 over Class B honorable mention Buchanan.
Players to watch: Keona Salesman, 6-0 soph. OH (614 kills, .375 hitting %, 79 aces, 408 digs); Ashton Wronikowski, 5-11 jr. M (449 kills, .377 hitting %, 117 blocks, 90 aces); Kiana Mayer, 6-0 sr. S (1,656 assists, 125 blocks, 89 aces); Kiera Lasky, 5-5 jr. L (132 aces, 709 digs).
Finals forecast: Bronson has won the last two Class C championships and been ranked No. 1 this fall since the second poll was released at the end of August. Mayer and Lasky were all-state first teamers last season, while Wronikowski made the second and Salesman the third – and only two of the eight players in the regular rotation graduate after this season. The nine losses came against six Class A and three Class B opponents – and the Vikings have won 20 of their last 21 matches. Mayer was a Miss Volleyball candidate, and her assists heading into the week already ranked as the fourth-most for one season in MHSAA rally-scoring era history.
CALUMET
Record/rank: 44-6-2, No. 8
Coach: Matt Laho, first season (44-6-2)
League finish: First in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference
Championship history: Class C runner-up 2008.
Best wins: 3-1 (District Semifinal), 3-2 and 2-1 over Houghton, 2-0 over Class D honorable mention Bellaire, 2-1 over Class B No. 5 Kingsley, 2-1 over Traverse City Central.
Players to watch: Lea Bjorn, 5-9 sr. OH (606 kills, 77 aces, 447 digs); Celia Kiilunen, 5-8 jr. OH (249 kills, 69 aces, 180 digs) Brea Johnson, 5-5 sr. S/RS (82 aces, 348 kills).
Finals forecast: Calumet is making its second straight trip to the Semifinals and this time under former assistant Laho, who took over for retiring Lisa Twardzik after last season. Bjorn was an all-region pick last season and has emerged as a force this fall, leading a team that has given up only one set in six postseason matches and 29 sets total this season while also taking a pair of losses to Class A honorable mention Midland and another to Class B honorable mention Cadillac. The Copper Kings have won 16 straight matches since falling to Class B No. 5 Kingsley in their second meeting this season (Calumet won the first).
LAINGSBURG
Record/rank: 40-17-3, honorable mention
Coach: Tennille Whitmore, 17th season (353-247-36)
League finish: First in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Shelby in the Quarterfinal, 3-1 (Regional Semifinal), 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Saranac, 2-0 over honorable mention Pewamo-Westphalia, 3-2 over No. 3 Brighton Charyl Stockwell in the District Final, 2-1 over honorable mention Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 2-1 and 2-1 over Class D No. 6 Fowler, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D honorable mention Muskegon Catholic Central, 3-0 over Corunna.
Players to watch: Maya Ferland, 6-0 sr. M (500 kills, .366 hitting %, 51 aces, 138 blocks, 488 digs); Alex Randall, 6-0 sr. M (350 kills, 55 aces, 105 blocks, 422 digs); Grace Gregg, 5-4 sr. S (850 assists, 272 digs).
Finals forecast: Laingsburg turned its third straight trip to the Quarterfinals into its first Semifinal berth and as one of two teams – joining Fowler in Class D – from the CMAC heading to Kellogg Arena. Ferland made the all-state first team last season in leading the Wolfpack on a run that ended with a loss to eventual champion Bronson. Senior 5-10 Sophie Strieff gives Laingsburg another big hitter; she had 355 kills plus a team-high 565 digs entering the week. The Wolfpack loaded the start of its schedule with a number of larger opponents and also took defeats this season to No. 9 Traverse City St. Francis and Class D No. 1 Plymouth Christian Academy.
WIXOM ST. CATHERINE
Record/rank: 40-5-2, No. 10
Coach: Malia Gabel, first season (40-5-2)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic League AA
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 6 Unionville-Sebewaing in the Quarterfinal, 3-1 over Madison Heights Bishop Foley in the Regional Semifinal, 3-0 over Livonia Ladywood, 3-0 over Livonia Clarenceville.
Players to watch: Emma Schlagheck, 5-10 jr. OPP (385 kills, .550 hitting %, 105 blocks); Payton Porter, 5-11 jr. OH (315 kills, .450 hitting %, 306 digs); Katie Grose, 5-9 jr. S (1,032 assists, 109 aces, 90 blocks).
Finals forecast: St. Catherine won its first Regional title last week after prepping during the regular season against a number of Class A and B opponents. The Stars also last week avenged their lone league loss to AA champion Bishop Foley, and Bishop Foley has been the only one of five postseason opponents to win a set on St. Catherine. Porter earned all-state honorable mention last season, and Grose also was all-region. Junior 5-10 Maryann Alexander has provided another big block in the middle with 170 stops entering the week.
Class D
FOWLER
Record/rank: 37-11-5, No. 6
Coach: Patty Feldpausch, ninth season (177-210-41)
League finish: Second in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Southfield Christian in the Quarterfinal, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 10 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 3-2 over Class C honorable mention Saranac, 2-1 over Class C honorable mention Laingsburg, 3-1 and 2-0 over Class C honorable mention Pewamo-Westphalia.
Players to watch: Kennedy Koenigsknecht, 5-3 sr. S (904 assists, 59 aces, 205 digs); Sidney Horak, 5-7 sr. OH (259 kills, 370 digs); Brooklyn Witgen, 5-9 jr. M (265 kills, 91 blocks).
Finals forecast: Fowler will play in its first Semifinal after winning its second Quarterfinal appearance ever and first since 2003. Feldpausch – who led rival Pewamo-Westphalia to a Class C runner-up finish in 1994 and has 663 wins over 24 seasons – has brought the Eagles back after two straight sub-.500 finishes. In fact, they had only 12 wins a year ago. It’s an even more impressive turnaround considering Fowler came out of a CMAC that has a team in the Class C Semifinals and had two more earn honorable mentions in the final Class C rankings. Junior Marissa Snyder has provided more valuable hitting with 254 kills plus 361 digs entering the week.
MUNISING
Record/rank: 27-6-4, honorable mention
Coach: Ted Williams, seventh season (first of second tenure, record N/A)
League finish: Tied for first in Skyline Central Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 7 Rudyard in the Quarterfinal, 3-2 over Carney-Nadeau in the Regional Final, 3-0 over Eben Junction Superior Central in the District opener, 3-2 over Crystal Falls Forest Park.
Players to watch: Kianne Wendt, 5-9 sr. OH (350 kills, .453 kill %, 69 aces, 298 digs); Michaela Werner, 5-10 jr. MB (73 blocks, 47 aces); Emily Contreras, 5-6 jr. S (474 assists). (Statistics through Regional Semifinal.)
Finals forecast: Munising also is making its first Semifinal appearance after winning its first Regional title. The Mustangs have given up only three sets over six postseason matches, and avenged a late regular-season loss to Superior Central immediately to start District play. Wendt earned all-region last season and also gets hitting help from junior Daryn Johnson (196 kills). Williams returned the program this fall after previously coaching the varsity from 1999-2005.
PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Record/rank: 43-8-3, No. 1
Coach: DJ Kellogg, third season (114-24-7)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Class D champion 2016, runner-up 2010.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 3 North Adams-Jerome in the Regional Final, 3-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Southfield Christian, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Mattawan, 2-0 over Class C No. 3 Brighton Charyl Stockwell, 2-0 over Class C honorable mention Laingsburg.
Players to watch: Grace Kellogg, 5-9 sr. OH/DS (463 kills, .318 hitting %, 77 aces, 555 digs); Gabriella Kellogg, 5-9 soph. OH/DS (363 kills, 402 digs, 68 aces); Abigail Pray, 5-4 sr. S (875 assists, 60 aces).
Finals forecast: The reigning Class D champion has been ranked No. 1 all season long with Grace and Gabriella Kellogg and Pray also playing substantial roles last season – the Kelloggs led the team in kills and Pray led in assists in the championship match win. Grace Kellogg made the all-state first team, and Gabriella made the second. The Eagles also prepped this fall by testing themselves against some of the best in the state regardless of size, taking losses to Class A No. 2 Novi, No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian and No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian among others. Plymouth Christian has given up only one set during the playoffs, in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal to Battle Creek St. Philip.
ROGERS CITY
Record/rank: 38-8-3, No. 8
Coach: Jacqueline Quaine, 10th season (337-110-38)
League finish: First in North Star League
Championship history: Lower Peninsula Class C champion 1988, runner-up 1987. <