2018 Volleyball Preview.

Written Saturday August 11th at 9:15 PM

Here are the projections and insight for each of the divisions heading into the 2018 Volleyball season.

Volleyball Top 23

1. Clarkston

2. Lake Orion

3. Stoney Creek

4. Troy

5. Bloomfield Hills

6. Adams

7. West Bloomfield

8. Oxford

9. Troy Athens

10. Seaholm

11. Harrison

12. Rochester

13. Groves

14. North Farmington

15. Avondale

16. Farmington

17. Royal Oak

18. Hazel Park

19. Southfield Arts and Tech

20. Ferndale

21. Berkley

22. Pontiac

23. Oak Park

INSIDE THE OAA PROJECTIONS:

Red

Clarkston

Lake Orion

Stoney Creek

Troy

Bloomfield Hills

Adams

Seaholm

Oxford

WHY CLARKSTON: The Wolves lost Abby Malanowski and Kayla Luchenbach from last season so people would think this season it would be a rebuilding year at Clarkston, well that won’t be the case. The Wolves return Clare Nowicki whom is a superstar in the making along with Sierra Keresten. Keresten is a softball commit but does bring a volleyball element to her game and that’s not mentioning that this team has Skylar Jidas, Hailey Stewart, Kelsey Schaldenbrand, and McKenzie Rotter all coming back as well for coach Kelly Pinner. Also another reason is that the Wolves always find a way to pick their game up during the season and when they get to the postseason, this team is as dangerous as anyone.

NEXT: Lake Orion: The Dragons were riddled with injuries and really unperformed last season. Danielle Sargent and Illrya Kliaj have graduated and will be tough to replace. They will need several players to step up. If Paige Briggs and Wren McCaulley can stay healthy then coach Tony Scavarda will have his team going places. Lake Orion is going to need to have big seasons from Ciara Livingway, Olivia Long, Lauren Bell, Leigah Boes, Riley Hunter, Sydney Smith, Sydney Gruppenhoff, and Kendall Robertson. Hunter will look to be on the other side of Briggs. The Dragons are senior heavy but consistency has been a big problem with this team in the past so anything less could be a failed season.

WILDCARD: Bloomfield Hills, Stoney Creek, Troy: There are plenty of teams that could make an impact, these three teams have star players along with a very good supporting cast. The Blackhawks have a new coach in Larry Wyatt who was hired in late July takes over for Bob Hurdle whom shockingly stepped down. Wyatt will have Alexa Rousseau along with Brooke Bosart, Ava Slazinski,  Noelle Siewek, Lily Formanek, and Kaitlyn Keele returning. The Cougars have a ton of talent returning led by Kate Stration for coach Ross Talbott along with a strong supporting cast in Sara Thompson, Reema Gowda, Ashley Gadzik, Nina Billoto, and Ava Menzo. The Colts also has a star in Jessica Robinson. Robinson joins a loaded Troy team for Tom Vigilant in Fran McBride, Faith Keating, Athena Sampson, Bella Zaleski, Nikola Palinca, Caroline Shabet, Elena D’Souza, and Rachel Turpin. Any of these three teams could make some noise this season.

WHO CAN CHALLENGE THEM: Adams is back in the Red has some talent coming back from a team that won the White last season. The Highlanders return Juhi Valera, Emanella Gjokaj, Bailey Pease, Kaitlyn Petoskey, Ashley Rill, Julia Schafer, Laura Sebastian, and Sophie Noll for coach Bridgette Harding. Oxford will be an interesting to keep an eye on as coach Brian Kim will look for better results in his second season. The Wildcats will be led by Madelyn Weiss, Anna Trbovich, Alyssa DeTone, Anna Peruski, Rachel Gubesch, Catherine Dobbies, Alexa Kingdom, Sydney Richter, Emma LaBarge, and Mackenzie Miller. Seaholm doesn't have a ton of household names but they are always in the mix. The Maples well coached under the Gambone family (Jason and Heather (Lippert.)

PLAYER ON THE SPOT: Paige Briggs: Lake Orion. If there is one player that would like to forget last season, it’s Paige Briggs. Briggs (Western Kentucky commit) transferred from Oxford two years ago suffered a knee injury that cut her season short last season. If Briggs were healthy last season then maybe Lake Orion would have had a deep playoff run. If the Dragons want to make some noise this season they need Briggs to be the team’s best player every night and for her to stay healthy during the season.

White

Troy Athens

West Bloomfield

Harrison

Rochester

Groves

Avondale

Farmington

Southfield Arts and Tech

WHY TROY ATHENS: The Red Hawks were in the Red last season, they had to learn a lot from being up in that division with powerhouse programs like Clarkston, Lake Orion, Stoney Creek, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, and Oxford. Also what helps Troy Athens is they have a ton of experience coming back led by Alexa Withun for coach Stacey Miller. I think that experience in the Red last season will help the Red Hawks in the White next season.

NEXT: West Bloomfield: The Lakers will certainly in the thick of things. They have a ton of talent returning for coach Dana Gray led by Laura King (VCU commit) Gabrielle Zubrzycki, Dana Suchara, Jenna Rogind, Victoria Reading, Grace Allread, Lyndsey Cooper, and Kendall Jones. All of these players saw experience and should be better heading into the season.

WILDCARD: Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors are the great unknown. They won the Blue last season and earned their way up to the White. Southfield Arts and Tech has a new coach in Alisha Love whom takes over for William Reed. It will be interesting to see what happens as the Warriors will have to go through an interesting transition.

ANYONE ELSE: Rochester will be going through a new system again as coach Kirk Gibbs takes over a program that needs stability. The Falcons will be led by Leona Falconer, Ryan Allor, Sailor Mayes, Pegi Laci, Carly Rodman, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Rachel Gilbert, and Helena Rowland. Harrison could surprise folks in their final season for coach Michael Love led by Melinda Hakaj, Brooke Hykla, Kristen Hankins, and Mary Williams. Groves has Ellie Ruprich back for coach Jenny Brown’s team but consistency issues could bother the Falcons program. Farmington has Sydney Eggleton back for coach Katie Drews in which they will be a very young team. Avondale will be an interesting team to keep an eye on as well.

PLAYER ON THE SPOT: Alexa Withun: Troy Athens. Withun has gotten some attention from the media lately. Withrun will be led upon for a Red Hawks team that suffered last season. Troy Athens should be better this season moving down a division but Withun is going to need to be a big key if the Red Hawks want to make some noise this season.

Blue

North Farmington

Hazel Park

Ferndale

Berkley

Royal Oak

Pontiac

Oak Park

WHY NORTH FARMINGTON: The Raiders have a ton of talent coming back for coach Kat Hall. North Farmington will be led by MiKayla Hines, DeLayna Jabbori, Laylah Carter, Katy Cangemi, and Alyssa Murphy. Any time you come from the White to the Blue you should be the favorite coming into this division.

NEXT: Hazel Park: The Vikings can certainly challenge in their final season in the OAA. They are loaded with experience led by Leighanna Passeno, Madisyn Harris, Faith Aquino, Olivia Fortress, and Brooke Lynch. Experience also matters as well which should help Hazel Park.

WILDCARD: Ferndale: The Eagles could be a team that in the past has made some noise so it will be interesting to see what Ferndale has heading into the season.

ANYONE ELSE: I don’t expect Pontiac or Oak Park to contend this season, Berkley and Royal Oak might be surprising darkhorse teams. The Bears are in an interesting spot as they have some talent coming up for coach Chantelle Corson. The Ravens under coach Emily Burwinkle had a tough first season but will hope to turn things around this season

PLAYER ON THE SPOT: Faith Aquino: Hazel Park. The Vikings have a ton of experience to make some noise this season. Aquino has a ton of experience after playing last season. She will be expected to do more if Hazel Park wants to make noise in their final season in the OAA.