2018 MHSAA Season Preview: Breaking down the Macomb Area Conference
Six divisions with six teams in nearly all of them. That is what makes of the Macomb Area Conference. There were some lopsided races and some nail-biters in the 2017 season, but there is a lot of potential throughout the…
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Continue ReadingSix divisions with six teams in nearly all of them. That is what makes of the Macomb Area Conference. There were some lopsided races and some nail-biters in the 2017 season, but there is a lot of potential throughout the MAC for 2018. Here’s our take on the six divisions for the upcoming fall season.
MAC Red Breakdown
Dakota edged Anchor Bay by a game in last year’s conference race while Eisenhower and Marysville were in the mix as well. Dakota has a lot to replace with the loss of Lacey Juengel and Anastasia Savich, but the Cougars still have promise behind junior outside Antonia Nunnery and sophomore hitter Ella Lochbiler.
Anchor Bay lost the ultra-talented Maria Mallon, who will be very difficult to replace. Still, it returns a pair of All-Region players in senior middle Nicole Golder and junior libero Khloee Stoll. They also have a hitter in junior Emily Smith. A run to the Class A quarterfinals could help Anchor Bay win these close conference battles.
Eisenhower returns a lot from last year’s squad and will have a pair of seniors leading the way in libero Samantha Palazzolo and outside Marissa Durand. They also have junior middle Megan Dombrowski, as well as sophomore outside Sydney Palazzolo.
MAC Red Prediction: Utica Eisenhower
MAC White Breakdown
Port Huron Northern took the division title by two games over Stevenson and L’Anse Creuse North in 2017. Grosse Pointe South was also in the mix. Northern will be losing a pair of key senior leaders in Sami Klink and Halle Shell, which leaves their ability to defend their title questionable.
Stevenson also lost a pair of talented seniors in Venesa Husar and Skylee Laubach, but bring back a pair of All-Region players middle Abbey Herrmann and outside Alexis Kopicki. Herrman is a Western Michigan commit for the Class of 2019 and ranked 11th in our 2019 player rankings.
L’Anse Creuse North also is dealing with some turnover, as it graduated its two All-Region players in Tori Conklin and Delaney Nichols. Grosse Pointe South hopes it can climb up the conference race this year since it returns senior middle Charlotte Brecht and senior DS Cindy Hogan.
MAC White Prediction: Sterling Heights Stevenson
MAC Blue Breakdown
Fraser had a perfect run through the MAC Blue last season while Utica was perfect outside of its matches with Fraser. Utica Ford finished four games back. Like other division champs, Fraser lost some key seniors. They will be without leaders Shelby Budnick and Amanda Van Jaarsveld, who graduated this past spring.
Utica returns a pair of strong players in senior middle Mone Knowles and junior outside Raeleen Sobetski, who is coming off a big club season. Utica looks to be the team to beat in the Blue, but Fraser certainly has the winning edge on them from 2017.
MAC Blue Prediction: Utica
MAC Gold Breakdown
Nobody had an answer for Woods Tower last season, as it went 10-0 while everyone else was .500 or below. The team lost division MVP Samantha Blalock to graduation, but still returns seven from last year’s squad. Lakeview, St. Clair and Cousino will still need a big turnaround to make up the ground on the Titans. Look for Woods Tower to have another strong 2018.
MAC Gold Prediction: Warren Woods Tower
MAC Silver Breakdown
Madison Heights Lamphere put together a great regular season to win with a 10-0 division record and 22-3 overall mark. Both Clawson and Roseville were close behind at 7-3. The Rams had been building toward a big year for a while and it came in 2017. Still, they lost just three seniors from last year’s team. Brenna Murphy returns for her senior season and I think she helps lead the Rams to another title.
MAC Silver Prediction: Madison Heights Lamphere
MAC Bronze Breakdown
New Haven couldn’t be stopped in 2017, as it went 8-0 in the division and 39-6 overall. The team lost division MVP in libero Kira Baade, but the Rockets still have plenty they bring to the court. It’s hard to see Lincoln, Clintondale, Fitzgerald or Madison being able to make up all that ground in one year.
MAC Bronze Prediction: New Haven
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