2018 MHSAA Season Preview: Breaking down the OAA
The 2018 MHSAA season is inching closer and we now turn our attention to some of the bigger conferences in the state of Michigan. We begin our look around the state with the Oakland Activities Association, a very strong conference…
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Continue ReadingThe 2018 MHSAA season is inching closer and we now turn our attention to some of the bigger conferences in the state of Michigan. We begin our look around the state with the Oakland Activities Association, a very strong conference with some of the best talent in the mitten.
OAA Red Breakdown
Stoney CreekThe OAA Red could be the best conference in the state. From top-to-bottom, the OAA Red should be heavily competitive. Clarkston and Stoney Creek come in as the defending co-champs with Lake Orion finishing a game back. Bloomfield Hills, Seaholm, Troy, Adams and Oxford make up the rest of the conference.
For Clarkston, the Wolves will have a lot of transition to deal with as they lose a strong senior class led by Abbey Malinowski (Michigan), one of the state’s great players. Stoney Creek loses a strong middle in Molly Asmus (Dayton) but returns a strong core led by junior outside Kate Stration. She will be joined by senior middle Nina Billotto, senior libero Sara Thompson and senior setter Stephanie Smith.
Lake Orion may be the favorite on paper if it can avoid the injury bug that was a problem in 2017. The Dragons have a stacked senior class behind outside Paige Briggs, setter Wren McCauley, libero Ciara Livingway and hitter Olivia Long.
Bloomfield Hills could be the dark horse in the OAA Red due to junior setter Alexa Rousseau and the addition of junior outside Taylor Raiola. The same can be said of Troy, who will be tough to stop at the net behind outside Jessica Robinson, our top-ranked 2019 player. She is joined by Francesca McBride, a top-10 outside from the 2020 class.
Seaholm was 3-4 in the OAA Red in 2017 but is a team that can’t be overlooked. The Maples have shown they can be as good as anyone when they are on their game. They will look to find consistency this year. Adams is coming off an OAA White title in 2017 with a perfect conference run and now will be tested in the OAA Red. Oxford was winless last year, but bring back some talented players from last season that could help them turn the corner.
OAA Red Prediction: Lake Orion
OAA White Breakdown
There will be a new champion in the OAA White with Adams moving to the OAA Red. That opens the door for the likes of West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills Harrison, which finished two games back in 2017. The conference also includes Groves, Avondale, Troy Athens, Rochester, Farmington and Southfield A&T.
West Bloomfield has seen improvement in recent years and should be stronger in 2018 with sophomore setter Grace Allread and junior hitter Lauren King. Harrison will come into the year with some extra motivation with the Hawks entering their final season as a program. Rochester was in the mix as well in 2017 and returns a strong libero in senior Ryann Allor
Troy Athens had success prior to 2017, but the move to the OAA Red proved to be challenging. Moving to the OAA White may allow the RedHawks to contend for a conference title again. Alexa Withun is a 6-3 junior outside for Athens that will be tough for the conference to contend with.
Farmington was the OAA Blue champion in 2017 with a 6-0 conference record. The Falcons move to OAA White this year and hope to be led to success by junior outside Sydney Eggleton. Southfield A&T was second in the OAA Blue and moves to the White this year as well. Groves and Avondale had their struggles in the White last season, but still pose some threats. The Falcons are likely to rely heavily on junior middle Elizabeth Ruprich, who is fourth on our 2020 player rankings.
OAA White Prediction: West Bloomfield
OAA Blue Breakdown
The OAA Blue features teams hungry for some success and a conference title. North Farmington and Berkley move from the OAA White this year. Berkley was winless in conference play in 2017, but North Farmington earned a few wins in the OAA White and could be the team to beat in the Blue this year.
Royal Oak was in the mix in the Blue last year at 4-2 while Hazel Park finished 3-3. If the Ravens or Vikings can find a new contributor at the net, either team could make a run at the league title. Ferndale has an uphill climb after a 2-4 conference record in 2017.
Pontiac and Oak Park have struggled with numbers in the past and likely aren’t ready to take the next step as a program in 2018.
OAA Blue Prediction: North Farmington
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