These are my official 2017 MHSAA projections for the Girls Volleyball districts affecting OAA teams. Pre-District games will start on Monday with Semifinals on Wednesday and Finals on Thursday or Friday. Here are my previews surrounding the districts.
District 49 @ Birmingham Detroit Country Day
Birmingham Detroit Country Day vs Center Line
FERNDALE vs Clawson
Birmingham Detroit Country Day/Center Line vs Ferndale
University
FERNDALE/Clawson vs Madison Heights Lamphere
INSIGHT: When you look at favorites in this district you got
to look at Clawson. The Trojans are solid and well coached. Madison Heights
Lamphere is also solid as well and will contend in this district. Ferndale is a
darkhorse team but depth will be a major concern for the Eagles. Birmingham Detroit Country Day got a nice draw and should get
to the district final over Center Line and Ferndale University.
PREDICTION: I like Clawson to win this district over
Birmingham Detroit Country Day. I think too much experience will overcome the
lack of size to get the Trojans through the next round. PICK: CLAWSON.
District 50 @ Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Macomb Lutheran North vs Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook-Kingswood
Macomb Lutheran North/Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
vs PONTIAC
Algonac vs Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
INSIGHT: When I look at this district, Pontiac Notre Dame
Prep is clearly the favorite in this district after winning 40 straight matches.
I think Pontiac got a nice draw despite having a rough season but Macomb
Lutheran North should get past them and make the district final. Algonac will
have trouble as well here in this district.
PREDICTION: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep will win this district
easily over Macomb Lutheran North. The Irish will have a tough road though in
the Regional. PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP.
District 22 @ Detroit Renaissance
Detroit Renaissance vs BERKLEY
Detroit Renaissance/BERKLEY vs HAZEL PARK
Warren Fitzgerald vs OAK PARK
INSIGHT: This is an interesting district because there is no
clear-cut favorite in this district. The hosts the Phoenix should be the
favorite because of home court but keep an eye on Berkley, Hazel Park, and
Warren Fitzgerald. Those three teams could give big problems to Detroit
Renaissance and could possibly win this district. The Spartans got a real nice
draw and could so some damage.
PREDICTION: I think home court will be important here and I
think Detroit Renaissance will win this district over Warren Fitzgerald.
Berkley and Hazel Park will give the Phoenix games but home court will be the
difference. PICK: DETROIT RENAISSANCE.
District 21 @ Southfield Arts and Tech
Farmington Hills Mercy vs HARRISON
Farmington Hills Mercy/HARRISON vs SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
NORTH FARMINGTON vs GROVES
NORTH FARMINGTON/GROVES vs FARMINGTON
INSIGHT: This will be an interesting district to keep an eye on. The favorite
has to be Farmington Hills Mercy and for several reasons. The Marlins are State ranked, talented, and won the Catholic League championship, not to mention have won 15 straight district championships coming into the district. They also
have one of the best coaches in the game in Loretta Vogel. Harrison is a
wildcard with the talent they have and they are well coached under Michael
Love. Southfield Arts and Tech is the great unknown. North Farmington has the talent to compete in this district but they have not been consistent under coach Kat Hall. Groves has had an up and
down season but they could surprise someone. Farmington won the Blue this season and have experience under coach Katie Drews.
PREDICTION: This district as mentioned is Farmington Hills Mercy’s to
lose but Harrison will give them a game in the pre-district but end of the day
it will be the Marlins that will win their 16th straight district championship over North Farmington. PICK: FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY.
District 16 @ Troy Athens
ROYAL OAK vs SEAHOLM
TROY vs TROY ATHENS
INSIGHT: This is a four-team district when you look at the
teams in this district it feels like everyone has a shot to win this district but in all reality, this should be an all Red final.
Troy is the favorite based on talent and is well coached by Tom Vigilant. Seaholm always has a solid program under coaches Heather (Lippert) and Jason Gambone. Royal
Oak hasn't played the schedule as the other three teams have had this season. Troy Athens has a new coach but the same system in place but it will take time for their system to be put in place.
PREDICTION: As mentioned this should be a Seaholm/Troy
district final. The Colts have more top notched talent than the Maples to move
on here. I have Troy moving on. PICK: TROY.
District 15 @ West Bloomfield
Waterford Mott vs Birmingham Marian
Waterford Mott/Birmingham Marian vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS
ADAMS vs WEST BLOOMFIELD
ADAMS/WEST BLOOMFIELD vs AVONDALE
INSIGHT: This district will be interesting with two State
powers and a couple of up and rising teams. I love Adams draw a lot and coach Bridgette Harding's team brings a ton of experience to the fold. The Highlanders won’t have to deal
with Birmingham Marian or Bloomfield Hills until the district final. Adams won the White this season. The
Blackhawks had a strong season but I’m very concerned about their non
league schedule. The Mustangs have had a solid first year under coach Lauren Duquette, making the Catholic League final before losing to Farmington Hills Mercy and they have experience as well.
West Bloomfield has improved recently and has started to play better. Avondale is a veteran team that could spoil someone's season. I think
there are three teams that have a shot at this district.
PREDICTION: I’m not in the mood for upsets but I can see one
happening here. Birmingham Marian is the favorite in this district and should
have no problem with Waterford Mott in the pre-district. I can see a five-game
match for the Mustangs against Bloomfield Hills in the semifinals. Adams should
have no problem with West Bloomfield and Avondale in the two rounds. I see an
upset looming in the district final as the Highlanders pull off the unthinkable
over Birmingham Marian. PICK: ADAMS.
District 14 @ Stoney Creek
Waterford Kettering vs Romeo
Waterford Kettering/Romeo vs ROCHESTER
Utica Eisenhower vs STONEY CREEK
INSIGHT: This is an interesting district when you look at
three teams possibly having great chances to win this district. Utica
Eisenhower is the favorite because of experience but Romeo whom had a great
draw should be able to get the district final. Stoney Creek is a darkhorse team
and could very well be a major factor in this district. Waterford Kettering is
young and Rochester is in a transition period and neither team will pose a
threat to the top three teams in this district.
PREDICTION: This is anyone’s district with Romeo, Stoney
Creek, and Utica Eisenhower, all three are very quality teams. The Bulldogs got a great draw and won’t see the
Eagles or Cougars until the district final. I think Stoney Creek bounces back
from last year’s district final loss to Utica Eisenhower and wins this district
over a very good Romeo team. PICK: STONEY CREEK.
District 13 @ Clarkston
Brandon vs OXFORD
Brandon/OXFORD vs Holly
ORION vs CLARKSTON
INSIGHT: It was interesting that after the Brandon/Holly regular season
matchup that Blackhawks coach Rick Wootten Smith said that his team could be
the surprise team in the postseason. I don’t think Brandon matches up any of
the three OAA teams at all. Oxford has had a tough season under first year coach
Brian Kim as he tries to transition the Wildcats program under his image. Oxford opens up with the Blackhawks in which they matchup well with them.The winner will meet Holly. The Bronchos are a very young
team that starts six freshman. Meanwhile on the other side of the bracket is the two
State Powers with Orion and Clarkston there, both teams are loaded with talent.
PREDICTION: I think the Dragons will be fully healthy for
the Wolves this time around. I don’t think it will be a three game match like
it was at Lake Orion when the Dragons won that matchup. I see
this one going five games but Orion won at Clarkston in the regular season last
season. I see Oxford beating Brandon and Holly getting to the district final
but a healthy Dragons team will be waiting. PICK: ORION.
No comments:
Post a Comment