Top Six Teams to Watch in Division 1
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The last few seasons, it has been the domination of the Catholic League in Division 1. Marian is looking to defend not one, but two straight state titles. And before them, it was Julia Bishop Julia Bishop 5'10" | S…
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Continue ReadingThe last few seasons, it has been the domination of the Catholic League in Division 1. Marian is looking to defend not one, but two straight state titles. And before them, it was Julia Bishop Julia Bishop 5'10" | S Mercy | 2021 State MI and Jess Mruzik Jess Mruzik 6'2" | OH Mercy | 2020 State MI of Mercy who took home the title in 2019.
The domination of the Catholic League could very well continue this year as Marian returns a heavy roster and a deep bench. But I think this is going to be the year they meet their match. Many teams around the state have just restocked, reloaded and are coming into the 2022 season HOT!
Here are six teams you need to look out for in the 2022 MHSAA season!
Marian
Marian is no stranger to the big stages, in fact, they thrive under the limelight. 2022 will see the Mustangs on the hunt for their third consecutive title in Division 1. They’re coached by one of the best in the business and reigning AVCA High School Coach of the Year, Mayssa Cook. This won’t be the easiest of roads though, as they return a talented bench, they graduate the bulk of their starting line up from a year ago.
The returning champs bring back one of the best setters in the country, Ava Sarafa Ava Sarafa 6'0" | S Marian | 2023 State #14 Nation MI , and one of the top lefties on the right side with Ella Schomer Ella Schomer 6'0" | RS Marian | 2023 State #142 Nation MI . From their bench they call up a pair of talented left side attackers. Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #73 Nation MI is young, but is coming off of a second straight All-American club season with Michigan Elite. Then there is Molly Banta Molly Banta 6'0" | OH Marian | 2023 State MI who is also coming off of a successful club season with Elite. While I have confidence in those stepping up to the plate on the pins, a huge question mark surrounds this team’s production in the middle.
Key losses: OH Ava Brizard Ava Brizard 6'0" | OH Marian | 2022 State #16 Nation MI (NC State), MB Sarah Sylvester Sarah Sylvester 6'3" | MB Marian | 2022 State #126 Nation MI (TCU), OH Sophia Treder Sophia Treder 6'0" | OH Marian | 2022 State MI (Brown), MB Janiah Jones Janiah Jones 6'1" | MB Marian | 2022 State MI (Eastern Michigan)
Key Returners: S Ava Sarafa Ava Sarafa 6'0" | S Marian | 2023 State #14 Nation MI (Kentucky), OPP Ella Schomer Ella Schomer 6'0" | RS Marian | 2023 State #142 Nation MI (Wofford)
Northville
I would not be shocked to see another group of Mustangs under the big lights of Battle Creek. Northville has been tapping on the door for quite sometime and this may be the very year they break through. Last season saw the Stangs go toe-to-toe with the eventual Runner-Ups in Ann Arbor Skyline in the Quarterfinals. But when only one of your attackers are able to find the floor, it makes things very difficult to muscle through.
This year is a much different story as Northville reloads and restocks with some notable transfers in S Ella Craggs Ella Craggs 5'9" | S Northville | 2025 State #127 Nation MI and OPP Brooke Foucher Brooke Foucher 5'11" | MB Northville | 2024 MI . Craggs is coming off of an All-American club season with Michigan Elite and will not be short of weapons in her artillery. Abigail Reck Abigail Reck 6'2" | MB Northville | 2023 State #74 Nation MI is their big returner as the move over to the left side from the middle paid off so well last season. Northville also boasts arguably the best returning defensive lines in the state with libero Taryn Rice Taryn Rice 5'7" | DS/L Northville | 2023 State MI returning alongside Greta McKee Greta McKee 5'5" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI and Ashlee Gnau Ashlee Gnau 5'8" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI .
Key Losses: S Juliana Imbuzeiro Juliana Imbuzeiro 5'10" | S Northville | 2022 State MI (Nova Southeastern), MB Erin Morrisey (Davenport)
Key Returners: OH/MB Abigail Reck Abigail Reck 6'2" | MB Northville | 2023 State #74 Nation MI (Northeastern), L Taryn Rice Taryn Rice 5'7" | DS/L Northville | 2023 State MI , L Greta McKee Greta McKee 5'5" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI , L Ashlee Gnau Ashlee Gnau 5'8" | DS/L Northville | 2024 State MI , MB Avry Nelson Avry Nelson 6'3" | MB Northville | 2024 State MI
Macomb Dakota
This team was on the terror last season, going on an undefeated streak until early October before taking a loss at the coveted Beast of the East tournament. Rest assured, regrouped and focused, Macomb Dakota bounced back with a tough march to the Final Four. While this run didn’t end in a championship appearance, returning the bulk of your starting line up is a recipe for better results this time around.
Outside of their opposite Alyssa Bommarito Alyssa Bommarito 5'10" | RS Dakota | 2022 State MI and libero Ella DeMasse, Dakota returns one of the toughest front lines in the state. This team can be incredibly physical at the net. Between S Erin Madigan Erin Madigan 6'2" | S Dakota | 2023 State MI and MB duo Olivia Gardner Olivia Gardner 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2023 State MI and Johanna Tillman Johanna Tillman 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2024 State MI , it is a total wall at the net. Their outsides prove to be just as talented with the likes of Emma Thamarus Emma Thamarus 5'11" | OH Dakota | 2023 State MI , Bella Austin Bella Austin 6'0" | OH Dakota | 2023 State MI and Karley Pretzer Karley Pretzer 5'10" | OH Dakota | 2024 State MI in the mix for playing time, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Big question with this squad is who will man the back court and keep this uber talented offense in system?
Key Losses: L Ella DeMasse & OPP Alyssa Bommarito Alyssa Bommarito 5'10" | RS Dakota | 2022 State MI (UM-Dearborn)
Key Returners: S Erin Madigan Erin Madigan 6'2" | S Dakota | 2023 State MI , MB Olivia Gardner Olivia Gardner 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2023 State MI (Loyola-Chicago), MB Johanna Tillman Johanna Tillman 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2024 State MI , OH Emma Thamarus Emma Thamarus 5'11" | OH Dakota | 2023 State MI , OH Bella Austin Bella Austin 6'0" | OH Dakota | 2023 State MI
Forest Hills Central
Last season saw this squad go a couple rounds deep in the tournament before falling to Rockford in the regional finals. Last season was led by Clemson bound middle blocker, Brooklyn Conner Brooklyn Conner 6'3" | MB Forest Hills Central | 2022 State #178 Nation MI . Conner was a big force at the net with her intense blocking and agile attacking. Opposite Conner graduates another offensive dynamo, Sophie Shields. Without an apparent heir in the middle, the vacancy raises a question or two.
With these questions though, Forest Hills Central returns a really dynamic duo of outside attackers in Sarah Dunn Sarah Dunn 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2023 State MI and Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI . The two are constant threats on offense and defense as they are two of the best six rotation players in the state. Ball control and production from the left side is not at all an issue for this team. Dunn and Weslow combined for 695 kills which equated to almost half of last year’s offense. Will the duo be able to take on the load left behind and carry this team further?
Key Losses: MB Brooklyn Conner Brooklyn Conner 6'3" | MB Forest Hills Central | 2022 State #178 Nation MI (Clemson), OH/MB Sophie Shields
Key Returners: OH Sarah Dunn Sarah Dunn 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2023 State MI , OH Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI
Forest Hills Northern
Now, I may be going out on a limb with this one. Forest Hills Northern was knocked out early on in the tournament as they are in one of the toughest districts in the entire state. With that said though, they lost in a five-set nail biter and this team remains oozing with talent across the board. And they return all of this talent to what may be a historic year for the Huskies.
One of the biggest returners of them all is All-American OH Kennedy Louisell Kennedy Louisell 6'0" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State #140 Nation MI . She has been cruising as of late racking in championships and accolades with FaR Out Volleyball. Accompanying her from last season is All-State honoree OH Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI , MB Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI , and S Lauren Hallas Lauren Hallas 5'9" | S Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State MI . Erickson and Hopewell are also coming off of great seasons with FaR Out and puts in motion a really talented front line. Louisell and Erickson will compliment each other well, as the two are great ball control athletes and can deliver a blistering ball anywhere on the court. Hopewell can be found anywhere along the net too without missing a beat in her production.
Key Losses: UT Jamison Hopewell (McKendree Beach)
Key Returners: OH Kennedy Louisell Kennedy Louisell 6'0" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State #140 Nation MI , OH Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI , MB Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI , S Lauren Hallas Lauren Hallas 5'9" | S Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State MI
Ann Arbor Skyline
Last but not least, the 2021 Runner-Ups, Ann Arbor Skyline. This team loses a lot from last year’s team. From 6’4 MB Cari Bohm Cari Bohm 6'4" | MB Ann Arbor Skyline | 2022 State #39 Nation MI , S Lauren Lee Lauren Lee 5'9" | S Skyline | 2022 State MI , to L Jordan Hall, this leaves huge hole. Now, let’s not pretend Skyline doesn’t return one of the biggest names in volleyball right now in Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI though. But even with Murray, will Skyline be able to bounce back from such losses? I’ll be curious to see as the season progresses.
Skyline doesn’t lose everyone though, outside of the #1 recruit in the country, Skyline returns MB Kate Maley Kate Maley 6'1" | RS Skyline | 2024 State #153 Nation MI and OH Ayla Dunbar. The three will for sure be the leading scorers, but now who will keep this offense in rhythm? Losing a huge chunk of their ball control with Hall and Lee running such a smooth offense, this may be the make or break to this team returning to Kellogg Arena.
Key Losses: MB Cari Bohm Cari Bohm 6'4" | MB Ann Arbor Skyline | 2022 State #39 Nation MI (Illinois), S Lauren Lee Lauren Lee 5'9" | S Skyline | 2022 State MI (Hope), L Jordan Hall
Key Returners: OH Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI (Nebraska), OH Ayla Dunbar (Dennison), MB Kate Maley Kate Maley 6'1" | RS Skyline | 2024 State #153 Nation MI