Top-Ranked Northville Cooking Up More Historic Possibilities After 2022 Finals Run
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
September 14, 2023
NORTHVILLE – Northville head volleyball coach Sarah Lindstrom often likes to have themes for her teams going into a season.
After the program made its first appearance in an MHSAA Final last year, Lindstrom let members of each class on her team try and come up with their own theme going into the start of this year, and then a vote was taken by the squad to select the best one.
So, what was the winning theme chosen by the team?
“Let us cook,” as chosen by the junior class.
“I thought it was fun,” said senior libero Ashlee Gnau, who was one of the many girls who voted for that theme. “I really did like it.”
The team plays on that theme when offensive and defensive players of each match are awarded giant forks or spoons.
“We know last year by missing it as close as we did, that we have to put in even more work,” Lindstrom said. “They essentially want everyone to know that they are not going to be sitting at the dinner table. They are the ones that are going to be serving the meal.”
So far, the Mustangs have served up lots of wins and what’s believed to be a historic ranking.
Northville enters Thursday with a 14-1 record and is currently ranked No. 1 in the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association Division 1 poll.
Lindstrom believes it’s the first time the program has been ranked No. 1, and the team has tried to strike a balance between being proud but also knowing championships aren’t won in September.
“The first thing I said was that: ‘We’re ranked No. 1, but I can guarantee you we’re not going to be ranked No. 1 the whole year,’” Lindstrom said. “‘When that happens, let’s not freak out about it. It’s not a big deal.’”
Northville may or may not be ranked No. 1 the rest of the year; but regardless, it’s obviously on the short list of Division 1 title contenders.
The Mustangs return 10 players from their team that lost to Bloomfield Hills Marian in the 2022 championship match. Five are college-bound. Junior setter Ella Craggs has committed to Illinois State, junior outside hitter Mallory Reck has committed to Marist, middle hitter Avry Nelson has pledged to Eckerd College in Florida, senior libero Greta McKee has committed to Wright State and Gnau has committed to Syracuse.
Following the loss to Marian in the Final, then-senior Abby Reck left some departing words for the returning group, essentially saying they would be back in Battle Creek in 2023 because they know what it takes now.
“This year, we have a lot of returners and so many people who fill in so many shoes that we lost last year,” Gnau said. “I think learning from that experience, you’re going to have a huge target on your back, but you’re more prepared for the pressure. It was an amazing experience. Being that close last year makes us want to win it all this year.”
Lindstrom noted the experience from last year’s run seems to have paid dividends already, especially in a win at No. 3 Clarkston earlier this fall.
“Our starting middle blew her ankle four points into that game,” she said. “We had a player out on the court who had never played all year and wasn’t even on the team last year. Because she was surrounded by so many other kids (who) have played in that type of pressure, it just makes us a big force.”
So big of a force that don’t be surprised if Northville cooks and serves up the school’s first volleyball state championship come November.
Keith Dunlap has served in Detroit-area sports media for more than two decades, including as a sportswriter at the Oakland Press from 2001-16 primarily covering high school sports but also college and professional teams. His bylines also have appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Houston Chronicle and the Boston Globe. He served as the administrator for the Oakland Activities Association’s website from 2017-2020. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties
PHOTOS (Top) Northville’s Avry Nelson (6) winds up for a kill attempt during last season’s Division 1 Final against Bloomfield Hills Marian. (Middle) Ella Craggs sets for a teammate at Kellogg Arena.
Preview: Kellogg Arena to Set Stage Again for 16 Historic Opportunities
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 20, 2024
An opportunity to play this Finals weekend at Kellogg Arena, much less win a championship, will be historic for all 16 volleyball teams taking the court.
But there are a few storylines that especially pop out as we head into Thursday’s first matches.
In Division 4, Clarkston Everest Collegiate is playing for a repeat – and to become the first undefeated champion since Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard in Class B in 2015.
In Division 3, all four semifinalists are back from a year ago – but this time the bracket features a rematch of last year’s title decider, with reigning champion Kalamazoo Christian taking on Traverse City St. Francis.
In Division 2, two teams are making their first trips to the Semifinals, and we are guaranteed a first-time champion – in fact, out of 16 teams total over the four divisions, 10 are playing for a first Finals title this weekend. Among those as well is Northville in Division 1, which finished runner-up two seasons ago.
Action begins Thursday with Division 1 and 4 Semifinals, with Divisions 3 and 2 on Friday and all four title matches Saturday. Tickets cost $11 for both rounds, and one ticket is good for all four matches that day. All 12 matches also will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv. Find more information, including how to purchase tickets, on the Volleyball page.
This weekend’s schedule:
Division 1 – Thursday
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Northville, 4:30 p.m.
Rockford vs. Fenton, 6:30 p.m.
Division 2 - Friday
Tecumseh vs. Essexville Garber, 4:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Harper Creek vs. Detroit Country Day, 6:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central vs. Cass City, Noon
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 2 p.m.
Division 4 – Thursday
Clarkston Everest Collegiate vs. Hancock, Noon
St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1, Noon
Division 2, 4:30 p.m.
Division 3, 2:30 p.m.
Division 4, 10 a.m.
Below is a glance at contenders in each division. (Statistics are through Regional Finals.)
Division 1
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 46-7, No. 4
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Mayssa Cook, seventh season (315-41-2)
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Allie Davison, 5-11 jr. S/RS (948 assists, 240 digs); Sophia Smith, 6-2 soph. RS (266 kills, 67 blocks, 207 digs); Isabelle Busignani, 6-1 sr. OH (548 kills, .304 hitting %, 276 digs).
Finals forecast: After winning three straight Division 1 championships from 2020-22, Marian was stopped by rival Farmington Hills Mercy in the Quarterfinals last year – but has returned to Battle Creek with wins over No. 5 Clarkston and No. 7 Utica Eisenhower among others during this run. The win over Eisenhower avenged a pair of regular-season losses, and the other defeats also all came against top-10 teams in Division 1 – as did four regular-season wins. Busignani made the all-state first team last season, and sophomore outside hitter Calli LeFevre (172 kills) made the third team. Busignani has committed to continue at Cincinnati and was a candidate for the Miss Volleyball Award.
FENTON
Record/rank: 37-4, honorable mention
Michigan Power Rating: No. 8
Coach: Jenna Long, fifth season (137-42-9)
League finish: First in Flint Metro League Stripes and overall
Championship history: Three Class B runner-up finishes (most recent 1992).
Players to watch: Eva Long, 5-11 jr. S (784 assists, 205 kills, .365 hitting %, 238 digs); Megan Gornick, 6-1 sr. MH (222 kills, .439 hitting %, 89 blocks); Anna Logan, 5-8 sr. OH (269 kills).
Finals forecast: Fenton will play in its first Semifinal since 2016 coming off a repeat league title and first District and Regional championships under Jenna Long’s leadership. The Tigers’ only losses this fall were to Mercy, Northville twice and Country Day, and Fenton otherwise has given up only five more sets all season. One of several sweeps came over honorable mention Brighton in the District Final. Eva Long earned an all-state honorable mention last season. Junior middle Marley Pihlstrom (191 kills, 54 blocks) is another key contributor at the net.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 39-2, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Sarah Lindstrom, fourth season (182-14)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West and overall
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Molly Reck, 6-0 sr. OH (9.2 kills per game, .327 hitting %, 2.1 aces per game, 7.0 digs per game); Ella Craggs, 5-10 sr. S (23.6 assists per game, .387 hitting %, 8.4 digs per game); Mallory Reck, 6-0 sr. OH (10 kills per game, 7.7 digs per game).
Finals forecast: Northville’s run over the last four seasons has included league, District and Regional titles all four years, and Craggs set for the 2022 runner-up team while the Reck twins were contributors and now-junior libero Giselle Burlingame also saw the floor. Craggs made the all-state first team last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate, and Molly Reck earned an all-state honorable mention in 2023. Molly Reck signed with Oakland, Mallory Reck signed with Marist (N.Y.), and Craggs will continue at Illinois State. Northville has lost only nine sets all season and eliminated top-ranked Mercy in the Regional Semifinal, with the lone losses to No. 5 Clarkston and No. 8 Jenison.
ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 39-9, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 3
Coach: Kelly Delacher, 20th season (769-321-15)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Class A champion 2011, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Mallory Wandel, 6-1 soph OH (493 kills, 224 digs); Isabella Delacher, 5-9 jr. S (922 assists, 231 digs, 117 kills); Olivia Hosford, 6-0 j. OH (464 kills, 386 digs).
Finals forecast: After winning its third Regional title in four seasons, Rockford is back at Battle Creek for the first time since finishing Division 1 runner-up in 2018. The Rams defeated No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, No. 8 Jenison, No. 10 Grand Rapids Northview and honorable mention Traverse City Central over their last four matches to advance – with the Jenison win avenging a pair of regular-season losses. Seven of Rockford’s nine defeats came to top-10 teams in Division 1, and an eighth came to a top-10 team in Division 2. Hosford made the all-state second team last season.
Division 2
BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK
Record/rank: 52-4, No. 3
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Terra King, 19th season (563-385-80)
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Activities Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cassidy Pratley, 6-1 sr. MB (719 kills, .392 hitting %, 110 blocks, 206 digs); Taegen Anderson, 5-9 jr. S (1,391 assists, 72 aces); Camille Robinson, 5-9 soph. OH (500 kills, 70 aces, 325 digs).
Finals forecast: After playing in Division 1 the last two seasons – and winning a District title a year ago – Harper Creek moved back into Division 2 this fall and advanced to its first Semifinals since 2015. Pratley made the Division 1 all-state third team last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate this fall, and she has signed with Western Michigan. The Beavers defeated No. 6 Grand Rapids South Christian on Tuesday to reach this weekend, and their only losses were to Division 1 teams – and Harper Creek also owns wins over No. 8 Lake Odessa Lakewood, No. 9 Hudsonville Unity Christian and Division 1 No. 8 Jenison.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank: 34-1, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 6
Coach: Kim Lockhart, 10th season (254-101-16)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Elise Heimstra, 6-0 jr. OH (320 kills, .308 hitting %, 86 aces, 226 digs); Olivia Grenadier, 6-1 sr. MH (378 kills, .478 hitting %, 245 digs); Payton Woodruff, 5-8 fr. S (890 assists).
Finals forecast: After winning its first Regional title in this sport three years ago, Country Day is making its first trip to the Semifinals and has been considered among championship favorites all season. The Yellowjackets defeated No. 4 North Branch and honorable mentions Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Richmond during this tournament run, and their only loss came to Mercy during a season-opening quad. Grenadier earned an all-state honorable mention last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate, and she’s signed with Colorado.
ESSEXVILLE GARBER
Record/rank: 43-12-2, honorable mention
Michigan Power Rating: No. 17
Coach: Kim Kokaly, 11th season (383-162-30)
League finish: Third in Tri-Valley Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Audrey Ball, 5-11 sr. MB (492 kills, 93 blocks, 583 digs); Ella Kokaly, 5-6 jr. S (1,233 assists, 91 aces, 326 digs); Jeana Lenhard, 6-0 soph. OH (699 kills, .311 hitting %, 75 aces, 351 digs).
Finals forecast: Garber emerged from a league that included Division 2 honorable mentions Freeland and Frankenmuth, later defeated Freeland in a District Final and Tuesday swept honorable mention Fruitport to earn a trip to the Semifinals for the first time. The Dukes have won 12 straight matches and are 17-2-1 since the start of October. Lenhard made the all-state third team last season and adds a sophomore to a starting lineup with two seniors and one player from all four classes. Senior libero Rylee Jatczak (470 digs) is another important defender.
TECUMSEH
Record/rank: 56-2-1, No. 7
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Morgan Skelton, fourth season (153-47-9)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Championship history: Class B runner-up 2011.
Players to watch: Maddy Vanblack, 5-11 jr. OH/DS (337 kills, 68 aces, 309 digs); Lily Gnodtke, 5-7 jr. S (1,186 assists); Emma Eldred 5-11 jr. OH/MB (524 kills, 250 digs).
Finals forecast: Tecumseh won a third-straight league championship this season before beginning the program’s longest tournament run since the 2011 runner-up finish. The only losses this fall came to Dexter and Division 3 top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and the former was avenged a week later. The starting lineup includes five juniors, with the lone senior middle Lauren Kilbarger (201 kills, 83 blocks). Senior Alli Zajac – who has signed to play basketball at Eastern Michigan – adds another 6-2 presence in the middle and entering the week had added 300 kills and 105 blocks.
Division 3
CASS CITY
Record/rank: 37-9-1, No. 5
Michigan Power Rating: No. 8
Coach: Amy Cuthrell, ninth season (209-64-15)
League finish: First in Big Thumb Conference White
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Isabelle Phillips, 5-7 sr. S (656 assists, 253 digs); Kacee Gray, 5-8 sr. OH/DS (412 kills, 344 digs); Shelby Ignash, 6-1 sr. M/DS (451 kills, .305 hitting %, 81 blocks, 353 digs).
Finals forecast: Cass City has reached the Semifinals for the third-straight season and will attempt to take another step with five seniors anchoring the starting lineup including Miss Volleyball Award candidate Ignash. She made the all-state first team last season, and Gray made the third. Another of those seniors, Lexi Champagne, entered the week with 234 kills, 57 aces and 241 digs. Six of the nine losses this fall came to teams ranked or honorable mentions in Divisions 1 and 2, with the only loss to a team in Division 3 or 4 coming against potential championship match opponent Kalamazoo Christian – and Cass City also defeated K-Christian during tournament play that day.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 31-8-2, No. 3
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Carlie Southland, third season (110-20-8)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2023, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Reagan Zuiderveen, 5-8 jr. S (998 assists, 294 digs); Hayden Deming, 5-11 sr. OH (301 kills, 67 aces); Annelise de Jong, 6-0 sr. OH (493 kills, .326 hitting %, 63 aces, 322 digs).
Finals forecast: Kalamazoo Christian graduated three players who earned all-state recognition during last season’s championship run, but is right back at the Semifinals for the third-straight year after also finishing Division 3 runner-up in 2022. Deming and de Jong were in the starting lineup for last year’s Final, and they’ve taken top hitting roles for a team that’s won 10 of its last 11 matches. Only two losses this fall came against opponents in Division 3 or 4, including one in the split with Cass City noted above. Sophomore hitter Elliana VanDusen had added another 220 kills entering the week.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 37-4-1, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Kim Windham, first season (37-4-1)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jessica Costlow, 5-11 sr. OH (469 kills, .405 hitting %, 381 digs); McKenna Payne, 5-7 sr. S/RS (330 assists, 163 kills, 224 digs); Madeline Dettling, 6-0 jr. OH (217 kills, 290 digs).
Finals forecast: Make it five Semifinals trips in six seasons for the Kestrels, this time returning its top three players from a year ago with Costlow and Payne coming off all-state first-team selections and Dettling making the second team in 2023. Costlow and Payne also were Miss Volleyball Award candidates this fall; Costlow will continue at Illinois State, and Payne has signed with Utah. SMCC hasn’t lost a set over five tournament matches, including a sweep of No. 2 Plymouth Christian Academy in the Regional Final. The only losses were to top-10 or honorable mention Division 1 teams, and the Kestrels have wins over Division 1 No. 3 Forest Hills Northern and No. 7 Eisenhower. Sophomore Alexa Turner had a team-leading 662 assists heading into the week.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 34-12-3, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 3
Coach: Kathleen Nance, sixth season (173-79-10)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2023, Class C runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Quinn Yenshaw, 6-0 jr. OH (463 kills, 91 aces, 302 digs); Reese Jones, 5-4 jr. S (655 assists, 274 digs); Avery Nance, 5-4 sr. L (101 aces, 530 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season’s runner-up is back with four starters and the libero from last season’s championship match lineup, with Avery Nance a returning all-state first-team selection and Yenshaw a third-teamer. Nance is the only senior in this season’s starting lineup as the Gladiators advanced with wins over No. 7 Elk Rapids in the District Final, No. 4 Calumet in the Regional Final and honorable mention Roscommon in the Quarterfinal. The subs are super, as senior Landry Fouch is second on the team with 246 kills, and senior Tessah Konas had 529 assists entering the week.
Division 4
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 36-0-1, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Danielle Walker, second season (67-4-3)
League finish: First in CHSL Intersectional #2
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2023.
Players to watch: Sarah Bradley, 6-0 sr. OH (394 kills, .345 hitting %, 104 aces, 213 digs); Erica Walker, sr. S/RS (828 assists); Madelyn Krappmann, 5-10 jr. OH (337 kills, .300 hitting %, 214 digs).
Finals forecast: A year after entering Finals weekend as the lowest-ranked of four remaining contenders and coming away with the program’s first title, Everest has been nearly perfect in its encore. Only a split with Division 2 No. 4 North Branch has kept the Mountaineers from a flawless record, and their tournament sweeps of No. 4 Fowler and No. 9 Ubly are part of a run of nine straight as Everest has lost only five sets all season. The entire starting lineup and seven of eight players who saw action for all five sets in last year’s Final are back this weekend. Bradley and Krappmann both made the all-state first team last season, and Bradley is committed to continue at Calvin University.
HANCOCK
Record/rank: 25-6-2, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Brian Lamppa, first season (25-6-2)
League finish: Second in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brooke Koskela, 5-7 sr. OH (385 kills, 100 aces, 320 digs); Emily L’Esperance, sr. S (542 assists); Alice Larson, jr DS (66 aces, 170 digs).
Finals forecast: After previously playing in Division 3, Hancock moved into Division 4 this fall and is making its first trip to the Semifinals after winning its first Regional title since 2009. Lamppa took over the program with more than two decades of college coaching experience including at the Division I level and after serving as head coach most recently at Finlandia. The Bulldogs stunned No. 5 Crystal Falls Forst Park in the Regional Final, avenging a September tournament sweep, and they’ve won 20 of their last 22 matches.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 42-4-2, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Krista Davis, 11th season (363-129-46)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2022.
Players to watch: Sophie Hauck, 5-7 sr. S (808 assists, 112 kills, .319 hitting %); Erin Judge, 5-10 sr. MH (304 kills, .314 hitting %, 63 blocks); Chelsea Lynch, 5-8 sr. OH (216 kills, 434 digs).
Finals forecast: Sacred Heart has reached at least the Quarterfinals the last four seasons, and now the Semifinals three of the last four. The Irish have won 12 straight matches, with all of their losses and one of their two ties to Division 2 or 3 teams. Hauck made the all-state second team and Judge the third team last year, and Hauck and Lynch both started for the 2022 championship team. Sophomore outside hitter Karis Terwilliger added 153 kills heading into this week, and junior libero Isabel Rookard (546 digs, 64 aces) keys the defense.
ST. JOSEPH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE
Record/rank: 32-3-1, No. 8
Michigan Power Rating: No. 15
Coach: Erin Cashen, second season (57-11-4)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Nora Proos, 5-10 sr. MH/OH (449 kills, 101 aces, 370 digs); Rachel Kalamaros, 5-8 sr. MB/OH (244 kills, 85 aces, 377 digs); Aislin Sargent, 5-5 sr. S (1,070 assists, 75 aces, 238 digs).
Finals forecast: Our Lady has reached the Quarterfinals twice in Cashen’s two seasons, winning the first two Regional titles in program history, and now has reached the Semifinals for the first time as well. The team has just seven players – five seniors and two eighth graders (allowed because of the school’s small enrollment). The Lakers defeated No. 7 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and No. 10 Concord during this tournament run. Proos made the all-state third team last season. Senior Jojo Marsh is another valuable hitter with 295 kills entering this week, as well as 109 aces and 323 digs.
PHOTO Fenton's Eva Long (2) sets during Tuesday's Division 1 Quarterfinal, as Battle Creek Lakeview's Karlee Gutsue (14) and her teammates anticipate the next hit. (Photo by John Johnson.)