2018 MHSAA Season Preview: Breaking down the KLAA
The KLAA has been responsible for producing the MHSAA Class A state champion the last three years. This year, the conference still features some top contenders, but some big changes among the top of the heap. Here’s a closer look…
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Continue ReadingThe KLAA has been responsible for producing the MHSAA Class A state champion the last three years. This year, the conference still features some top contenders, but some big changes among the top of the heap. Here’s a closer look at what to look for in the KLAA this season.
KLAA West Breakdown
After a dominant four-year run with three state titles and another runner-up finish, Novi comes into 2018 with plenty of questions. The Wildcats have lost a lot of All-State players over the years, including one of Michigan’s all-time greats in Erin O’Leary. Head coach Jennifer Cottrill is also gone, electing to step away from coaching to spend more time with her family. Kacy Moran takes over Novi in 2018 and the Wildcats still have talent to work with and should be a player in the KLAA and state picture. Senior Jaeda Porter will get a chance to be a go-to hitter this year after being a complimentary piece in the last two championship runs. Junior Shannon Jennings will have big shoes to fill at setter, but has shown a lot of promise. Novi also has a pair of sophomores that have already proven themselves in outside Gabrielle Cummings and libero Rachel Jennings.
Perhaps no team is eager to unseat Novi as much as Northville. The Mustangs have been one of the best in the state in recent years, but the Wildcats haven’t allowed them to claim any championships of note. This year, Northville has six seniors on the roster and are led by libero Hannah Grant, who ranks No. 8 on our 2019 player rankings. The Mustangs also have one of the top juniors in the state in Clare McNamara, a dynamic middle that can also play outside. Combined with another strong DS in Allyson Zayan and Northville will be one of the top defensive teams in the state.
Brighton was right behind Novi and Northville in the KLAA Gold last year and the Bulldogs return a pair of All-league players from last year in senior libero Analise Berry and senior outside Madison Opre. Brighton also returns one of the best setters in the entire state in junior Celia Cullen. Cullen ranks second on our 2020 player rankings. Junior middle Solana Hickinson also provides another hitting option that makes Brighton pretty well-rounded this season.
Canton was in the KLAA Black last season but now finds itself in the stacked West Division in 2018. The Chiefs lost three All-KLAA players from last year, including their libero and setter. They return four seniors, but have a relatively young roster and will experience some early adversity as they settle in on their new starters.
Hartland, Howell, Plymouth and Salem all have uphill climbs with the rest of the conference. Hartland has some promising senior hitters in Gabi Skinner and Megan Acs. Salem also has a hitting tandem in senior Nikia Quan and sophomore Mikai Quan.
KLAA West Prediction: Northville
KLAA East Breakdown
A very different-looking KLAA division that includes new conference members like Dearborn, Belleville and Fordson. Churchill was the KLAA Black champion last year and returns a pair of talented juniors this season in outside Sarah Dunn and libero Jessica Maladecki. Churchill also has senior middle Summer Clark and senior setter Grace Vaeth to give them a lot of balance on the court.
Stevenson struggled last season, going just 1-5 in the KLAA Gold. However, there are reasons to believe that the Spartans could make a push this year. A strong junior class features three capable hitters for Stevenson. Abby Cleaveland and Koryn Parmenter are on the outside with Libby Cleaveland in the middle. Abby and Libby are already Jacksonville University commits and the trio give Stevenson a lot of fire power at the net.
Westland John Glenn was a .500 team in the KLAA last season, but it also has a junior middle in Jasmine Edwards that it will count on. Wayne needs to develop some hitters but does have a senior DS in Megan Blair to try and keep the team competitive.
Franklin lost a lot of key pieces and the new members of Fordson, Dearborn and Belleville all have question marks. Dearborn has just four seniors this year while Fordson is hurting for size. The Tractors have just one player over 5-8 and that is 6-2 junior middle Diana Saleh.
KLAA East Prediction: Churchill
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