Five Storylines for Division 3 in the 2019 MHSAA Season
In previous years, it’s been pretty easy to lookahead at what to expect in Class C/Division 3 volleyball. Bronson has been in control of the story for four straight years and certainly will be in the picture again for 2019.…
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Continue ReadingIn previous years, it’s been pretty easy to lookahead at what to expect in Class C/Division 3 volleyball.
Bronson has been in control of the story for four straight years and certainly will be in the picture again for 2019.
Here’s a look at what the Vikings will have in front of them for this upcoming fall season.
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Bronson Goes For Five
Keona SalesmanThe Class C/Division 3 world has belonged to Bronson for the past four years and the Vikings aren’t going to give up their seat on the throne without a fight. Bronson will lose some big-time players in middle Ashtron Wronikowski, libero Kiera Lasky and DS Paris Outwater. However, Keona Salesman (Ferris State) returns to the team on the outside and will be one of the top players in the state. In last year’s two matches at Kellogg Arena, Salesman had 42 kills. Her dominant play will carry Bronson a long way. Meagan Lasky returns at setter for her junior year. She will follow in Kiera’s shoes by being a leader on-and-off the floor. Bronson has a championship mindset that is going to be hard for any opponent to crack.
Can SMCC bounce back?
Mikayla HautMonroe St. Mary Catholic Central was close to ending the Bronson title reign in 2018, leading the Vikings 2-sets-to-1 in the D3 semifinal. However, the Kestrels couldn’t close things out and have been left to think about what could have been all offseason. SMCC has one of the top players in the Class of 2021 in outside Mikayla Haut and her competitive fire is sure to lead the Kestrels this year. Anna Dean and Abbie Costlow are two returning hitters as well while Sarah Reicker is a senior setter that was part of the 5-2 that SMCC ran in 2018. Hitting wasn’t the issue in 2018. The Kestrels just couldn’t finish those key championship points and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the high-pressure matchups they are sure to experience this year.
School In Session
Like SMCC, Schoolcraft had a chance to dethrone Bronson last season, going to five sets in the regional final before bowing out. The Eagles had just three seniors on the 2018 roster and will return four players with All-State honors. Outside Andelyn Simkins (Western Michigan) is a real bright spot for the team and a top-10 player in the Class of 2020. A strong junior class features setter Kayla Onken, middle Maggie Morris and libero Kelby Goldschmeding. All three played at a high level in 2018 and will allow Schoolcraft to hit the ground running this season. While Bronson and SMCC may be the preseason favorites in D3, Schoolcraft is definitely a credible challenger to both.
Still Here
Though they were on the outside-looking-in for the title picture in 2018, some D3 power programs were still contenders last year and are likely to be contenders again in 2019.
Beal City reached the quarterfinals last season before being topped in four sets by Traverse City St. Francis. The Aggies have a pair of All-State honorees returning in junior middle Sage Schumacher and senior outside Lyndsey Fillenworth. Beal City has been a fixture in the state picture and in the Central Michigan volleyball scene and I don’t expect that to change in 2019. Their hitting should carry the Aggies early while rounding out the rest of their positions.
Fellow Battle Creek teams Traverse City St. Francis and Unionville-Sebewaing should be happy with their 2018 seasons, but both have some big holes to fill in order to get back in 2019. USA lost its do-everything player Rylee Zimmer, who was perhaps as valuable to her team as anyone in D3 last season. St. Francis loses a big power hitter in Molly Mirabelli, but still has a versatile setter in junior Hannah Sidorowicz that should help bring along the new, young hitters.
Charyl Stockwell Academy is a relatively young program, but the Sentinels had a lot of buzz for 2018 and that carried them to a regional final appearance against SMCC. This year, that experience from 2018 could really pay off. Paige Gallentine, Lila Splavec and Jenna Vaske are three capable hitters that return while Gallentine and Vaske also handled setting duties as part of the 5-2. If CSA can take a step forward with its passing and defense, it will definitely be in the title hunt.
Dark Horses
It’s not fair to call some of these teams “new” to the title contender scene, but there are some that aren’t quite among the preseason favorites that have potential on paper.
Valley Lutheran is a team that got lost in a challenging district in 2018, but the Chargers are poised to try and break through this year. Kelsey Vittitow is a tremendous libero that will help carry Valley Lutheran throughout the year as the team finds its go-to hitters. Peyton Barnikowski is a certified hitting option that had a big sophomore season in 2018.
Brandywine gave Schoolcraft all it could handle in a regional semifinal last season and the Bobcats have a pair of talented hitters back to lead the team in 2019. Bethany Duval is a senior outside that will be a court leader and junior Kylie Myers handles the middle at 6-foot-2. Brandywine loses a talented setter in Audrey Longley, but getting close to a regional championship should have them hungry this year.
Up north, Manistique was another team that got to a regional final before losing to eventual semifinalist, St. Francis. The Emeralds defeated a tough Calumet team in their postseason run and will have a pair of hitters to lead the team into 2019. Outside Lenna Smith and middle Emilee McDaniel are two seniors that could make this veteran squad a force this fall.
Oscoda didn’t last too long in the postseason last year, but not many Division 3 programs return three All-Region players. The Owls can say that, which makes them dangerous. Lauren Langley is a senior middle that will carry the team in leadership while junior outside Macy Kellstrom and junior setter McKenna Mochty complete the offense. If Oscoda can polish itself on defense, the Owls may be your breakout team of 2019.