Five Storylines for Division 1 in the 2019 MHSAA Season
It seems like just yesterday that the 2018 prep volleyball season wrapped up in Battle Creek. Yet, with the 2019 club season wrapping up last week, we are now getting ready for a new season to get into full swing…
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Continue ReadingIt seems like just yesterday that the 2018 prep volleyball season wrapped up in Battle Creek.
Yet, with the 2019 club season wrapping up last week, we are now getting ready for a new season to get into full swing next month.
It’s time to start looking ahead to what to expect this upcoming MHSAA season and we start with the top storylines for Division 1.
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No Mercy
MercyComing into the fall, the team that has to be the favorite is Farmington Hills Mercy. The Marlins know that spot all too well, as they were expected by some to win the 2018 championship, only to fall to eventual champ – Lake Orion – in a five-set semifinal classic. That loss has probably kept the Marlins hungry throughout the offseason and they return a lot of top-level talent. Jess Mruzik Jess Mruzik 6'2" | OH Mercy | 2020 State MI (Michigan) was arguably the top player in all of Michigan last year as a junior and will definitely be a top contender for Miss Volleyball in 2019. Julia Bishop Julia Bishop 5'10" | S Mercy | 2021 State MI (Michigan State) steps into her junior season at setter after earning First Team All-State honors in 2018 and being an AAU All-American during club season. The hitting is loaded behind the likes of Mruzik, Charlie Atiemo Charlie Atiemo 6'1" | MB Mercy | 2021 State MI , Kaylin Collins Kaylin Collins 5'11" | OH Mercy | 2021 State MI and Ellie Tisko Ellie Tisko 6'0" | MB Mercy | 2021 State MI . Their back row is also stacked with Kayla Shields Kayla Shields 6'1" | DS/L Mercy | 2020 State MI and Madison Malecki Madison Malecki 5'6" | DS/L Mercy | 2021 State MI . Mercy seems to have all of the pieces. Now, the question is, will the Marlins finally complete the championship puzzle?
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
[player_tooltip player_id="14135" first="Sydney" last="Smith"]Lake Orion was able to secure its first state championship in 2018, but the Dragons will now face the challenges of being the defending champs in 2019. They will also be doing it with a lot of new starters, as standout outside hitter Paige Briggs Paige Briggs 6' | OH Lake Orion | 2019 State MI , setter Wren Macauley and libero Ciara Livingway Ciara Livingway 5'6" | DS/L Lake Orion | 2019 State MI are all off to college. Sydney Smith Sydney Smith 5'6" | RS Lake Orion | 2020 State MI showed a lot of promise during 2018, but battled injuries. She will be looked upon to really step up this year. Junior middles Reagan Goeke Reagan Goeke 6'2" | MB Lake Orion | 2021 State MI and Kendall Robertson Kendall Robertson 6'2" | MB Lake Orion | 2021 State MI will also have expanded roles and can help the Dragons make up for the loss of Briggs. Replacing Macaulay at setter will be very difficult, but sophomore Jaina Macaulay Jaina Macaulay 5'7" | S Lake Orion | 2022 State MI had a great club year and could have an impact for Lake Orion in 2019.
Don’t call it a comeback
[player_tooltip player_id="50324" first="Gabrielle" last="Cummings"]After three straight state championships and four consecutive state finals appearances, it was expected that Novi was going to take a step back in 2018 after graduating a tremendous class and having its coach step away to be with her family. The Wildcats took their lumps last season, but started to show what made them a championship program toward the end of the year before running into a Northville team that was foaming for the spotlight in the district final. This year, the Wildcats have three All-Region players back in senior setter Shannon Jennings Shannon Jennings 5'10" | S Novi | 2020 State MI , junior libero Rachel Jennings Rachel Jennings 5'9" | DS/L Novi | 2021 State MI and junior outside Gabrielle Cummings Gabrielle Cummings 5'10" | OH Novi | 2021 State MI . Coach Kacey Moran has that first year under her belt and I expect to see a stronger Novi team in 2019. Don’t be surprised to see the Wildcats challenging Northville for that KLAA and district crown in hopes of making a run to Battle Creek again.
New challengers
[player_tooltip player_id="14097" first="Kendall" last="Murray"]It was made clear in 2018 that there could be some new title challengers come 2019. Lowell was certainly one of those teams. After claiming its first conference title, the Red Arrows took D1 runner-up Rockford to five sets in the district final. This year, the Arrows want to prove they can make it to Battle Creek. Junior Jenna Reitsma Jenna Reitsma 5'11" | OH Lowell | 2021 State MI is quickly moving up the ladder as one of the best players in all of the state at outside hitter. Meghan Meyer Meghan Meyer 5'11" | MB Lowell | 2020 State MI (Northern Michigan) is a solid middle that comes into her senior year and will be a team leader. The Arrows also return setter Sophie Powell, outside Emma Hall Emma Hall 5'11" | DS/L Lowell | 2021 State MI , and have a promising underclassman in 6-1 sophomore middle Emily Struckmeyer Emily Struckmeyer 6'1" | MB Lowell | 2022 State MI .
Mt. Pleasant was knocking on the door of a regional title in 2018, losing to Flushing in five sets in the regional final. The Oilers bring back three All-Region players this year, including sophomore standout Anna Leigh Alford Anna Leigh Alford 5'9" | S Mt. Pleasant | 2022 MI at setter. Alford has really made waves over the last 12 months. Senior Kolby Boyd Kolby Boyd OH State MI is back at libero to lead the team on the floor while junior middle MacKenzie Egger is a big force at the net. If Mt. Pleasant can find those pin hitters, it could be an historic year for the Oilers.
After some struggles during the 2018 regular season, Ann Arbor Skyline really found its stride in the postseason before losing to Northville in the regional final. This year, the Eagles will have one of the top hitters in the 2020 class leading the way in Kendall Murray Kendall Murray 6'2" | MB Ann Arbor Skyline | 2020 State MI (Michigan). Murray has had an outstanding career and had another strong club year to take her talents to another level. Kendall’s sister, Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI , had arguably the best club season of any 14U player in the state. She could find herself making an impact right away as a freshman. If Skyline can find consistency at setter and in its passing, the Eagles will be a handful in D1.
Always dangerous programs
[player_tooltip player_id="14107" first="Kate" last="Stration"]While they may not be penciled in to the state title slot at this moment, there are some programs that we’ve seen in the mix before that should be taken seriously this year as well. Marian was one of the top teams in the state in 2018, but couldn’t avoid the Mercy buzzsaw. The Mustangs used a lot of young talent last year that should make them dangerous in 2019. Clarkston and Stoney Creek both were overshadowed by OAA foe, Lake Orion, in 2018. However, both teams looks like they could be strong contenders in D1 this season. The Wolves have three All-Region players returning while the Cougars have a dominant outside in Kate Stration Kate Stration 5'7" | OH Stoney Creek | 2020 State MI (Cornell). Mattawan was ranked No. 1 for a good potion of the 2018 season, but that didn’t lead to a trip to Battle Creek. This year’s squad has three seniors that were First or Second Team All-State in 2018. The Wildcats should have a chip on their shoulder this fall that could lead to big things.