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: 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.)