2018 MHSAA Season Preview: Breaking down the Lakes Valley Conference
The Lakes Valley Conference made its debut in the 2017 season and it saw South Lyon run away with the league title despite a competitive race throughout the rest of the conference. In the 2018 season, will the Lions manage…
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Continue ReadingThe Lakes Valley Conference made its debut in the 2017 season and it saw South Lyon run away with the league title despite a competitive race throughout the rest of the conference. In the 2018 season, will the Lions manage to repeat what they did a year ago? Could there be a new team to step up and claim their first LVC title?
Lakes Valley Conference Breakdown
South Lyon went a perfect 8-0 in league play last season, which was somewhat surprising given they weren’t heavily reliant on seniors. The Lions had four All-Conference selections in 2017 and four of them were juniors. That makes South Lyon very dangerous this year as they return a lot of talent. Leading the way is senior middle Abigail Durecki (Northern Michigan). The 6-1 hitter was dominant for big stretches in last year’s conference run and should be the go-to for the Lions again this year. Setting her up will be senior Emily Kalinowski (Lake Superior State), another All-LVC pick. South Lyon also returns senior libero Stephanie Kalinowski, senior DS Samantha Brandon and senior outside Chloe Grimes.
Walled Lake Central had some successful runs in the KLAA before moving to the LVC last season. While the Vikings didn’t win the inaugural conference title, they did win the conference tournament and were the toughest challenger for South Lyon. The Vikings lose a trio of dynamic hitters in Aysha Hood, Sophie Colvin and Mion Weldon, but do return a strong middle in their own right. Miranda Strongman (LIU Brooklyn) is another 6-1 middle that can dominate the net. The Vikings also return one of the top sophomores in the state in libero Avery Horejsi. She saw a lot of action as a freshman and she help anchor the Walled Lake Central defense as the Vikings develop some new hitters.
Walled Lake Northern finished second in the LVC standings at 6-2 and appear ready to challenge South Lyon again this year. The Knights lose libero Maddy Hager and outside Anna Shedowsky, but still bring back a strong outside in senior Olivia Miller and a steady middle in senior Amelia Rinehart.
Both Lakeland and Milford were tied with Walled Lake Central in the standings at 5-3 last year. Of the two, Milford has more question marks coming into the year. The Mavericks lost a senior class that included great outsides Maddie Appleton and Megan Wallace, as well as setter Mya Zeese. Their time with the program led to a lot of success and now Milford has to find some new leadership quickly. Lakeland has to replace a steady outside in Haley Decarlo, but brings back a go-to hitter in senior outside Lizzy Virgin (IUP), and also returns senior libero Morgan Graham and senior middle Sydney Casey (Ohio Northern).
South Lyon East was in the mix last year at 4-4 in LVC play and there are reasons the Cougars should believe they can make a run this year. They will have a pair of reliable outsides in seniors Sophia Bolden and Anna Palo. They also have a promising sophomore hitter in Samantha Deinek that could be in for a breakout season.
Walled Lake Western had just one conference win a year ago but do have a talented outside in MiKayla Crawford. Waterford Mott and Waterford Kettering also rounded out the LVC last year, but both programs will not return any All-LVC players from 2017.
Lakes Valley Conference Prediction: South Lyon
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