Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Volleyball District Preview.

Written Wednesday October 24th at 12:00 AM

Hello everyone the Volleyball districts are not that far out. They start on Monday and go to Friday. Here is my insight and projections heading into the districts.

District Seven @ Bloomfield Hills

TROY ATHENS vs Waterford Mott
AVONDALE vs TROY
TROY ATHENS/Waterford Mott vs WEST BLOOMFIELD
AVONDALE/TROY vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS

INSIGHT: This looks to be an interesting district with the bottom half of the district really heavy. Troy whom is the favorite in this district is Fran McBride, Faith Keading, and Jessica Robinson for coach Tom Vigilant. Bloomfield Hills has not had the best of seasons under first year coach Larry Wyatt has Alexa Rousseau back along with others and home court. West Bloomfield has a new coach in Lauren DeLuyck Forbes but they have a ton of experience led by junior Laura King along with seven seniors, four juniors, and two sophomores. The Lakers won the White crown this season. Avondale could be a factor in the district. Troy Athens has Alexa Withun and has improved during the season. Waterford Mott has had a long year.

PROJECTION: I think the winner of Troy and Bloomfield Hills wins this district. West Bloomfield should get to the district final but will run into a very good Red opponent. The Red opponent will win this district and that’s Troy. PICK: TROY.

District Five @ Waterford Kettering

OXFORD vs LAKE ORION
CLARKSTON vs Waterford Kettering
OXFORD/LAKE ORION vs Holly

INSIGHT: This district will be played sideways from the basketball court at Waterford Kettering. Lake Orion appears to have gotten healthy again with Sydney Smith joining the likes of Paige Briggs, Ciara Livingway, Lauren Bell, Kendall Robertson, and Wren MaCaulay among others for coach Tony Scavarda. Clarkston looks to be the Dragons top challenger led by Claire Nowicki, Hailey Stewart, Skylar Jidas, and Alicia Watlington, among others for coach Kelly Pinner. The Wolves have always seemed to improve as the season goes along and has Lake Orion's number in the postseason. Holly has a ton of experience with six sophomores playing a ton of minutes. Oxford has experience for coach Brian Kim but the results haven’t come this season. Waterford Kettering is very young and could be in for a long season.

PROJECTION: This district should be Lake Orion/Clarkston round two. If the Dragons want to make a statement over the Wolves, then they must win this game. Also if they win the regional is at Lake Orion. I think the Dragons when healthy is one of the most dangerous teams in the State. Clarkston is proven that they have gotten better during the season and expect them to do so but something is different about this Dragons team, the motivation and experience factor will get them through. PICK: LAKE ORION.

District Six @ Stoney Creek

ROCHESTER vs Utica Eisenhower
ADAMS vs Romeo
ROCHESTER/Utica Eisenhower vs Utica
ADAMS/Romeo vs STONEY CREEK

INSIGHT: This is going to be one of the toughest districts in the State. Stoney Creek whom won the Red outright is loaded led by Kate Stration, Kate Yatooma, Stephanie Smith, Nina Billota, and Ava Menzo, among others for coach Ross Talbott also have home court in this district. Rochester has improved under first year coach Kirk Gibbs led by a ton of experience. Adams has had a down season in the Red but they are always is a threat for coach Bridgette Harding. Romeo has a ton of experience back for coach Stacey Williams led by Salina Milana. Utica Eisenhower could be the biggest threat in this district to Stoney Creek has Sydney Palazzolo, Sam Palazzolo, Meghan Dombrowski, Abbey Biermann, among others for coach Caitlyn LaPratt. Utica under Caitlyn’s husband Jeffery LaPratt has Monae Knowles, Abbey Rissman, Jaclyn Duff, and Cayley Ebeling could spoil someone’s dreams.

PROJECTION: If this is not Utica Eisenhower vs Stoney Creek round four then I’ll be shocked. The Cougars have home court and seem to have overcome their Eagles problem. I see coach Ross Talbott going to his old stopping grounds in the regional. PICK: STONEY CREEK.

District Twenty Seven @ Detroit Renaissance

Redford Thurston vs Detroit Mumford
Redford Union vs OAK PARK
Redford Thurston/Detroit Mumford vs Detroit Renaissance

INSIGHT: This is not a strong district when you look at the teams. Detroit Renaissance looks to be the top team in this district. Detroit Mumford is not that far behind. I don’t know much about Redford Thurston or Redford Union. The Knights are struggling this season and might not be a factor in this district.

PROJECTION: When in doubt go with the home team that’s what I always say. PICK: DETROIT RENAISSANCE.

District Twenty Five @ Farmington

FARMINGTON vs SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH
NORTH FARMINGTON vs Farmington Hills Mercy
FARMINGTON/SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH vs Livonia Stevenson

INSIGHT: This is a unique district when you look at the teams here. I kind of wish that one of these teams would head into the Detroit Renaissance district but that’s not the case sadly. The favorite has to be Farmington Hills Mercy. The Marlins are well coached under Loretta Vogel and are the Catholic League Champions for Class A/B and has some talent led by Emily Susitko, Logan Beyer, Mallory Conrad, and Jessica Mruzik. Mruzik played on the United States Developmental team in the summer. Southfield Arts and Tech had a rough season under first year coach Alisha Love but they have some talent in Krista Blakely. North Farmington won the Blue this season features a veteran squad for coach Kat Hall led by Katy Cangemi, Laylah Carter, Delayna Jabbori, and Laylah Carter. Livonia Stevenson is a veteran team for coach Juilan Wargo in Abbey Cleaveland, Libby Cleaveland, and Koryn Parmenter. Farmington is led by Sydney Eggleton for coach Katie Drews in what is expected to be an interesting district.

PROJECTION: I see this being a Farmington Hills Mercy vs Livonia Stevenson district final. The Marlins though with the experience of Mruzik could be the difference of getting Farmington Hills Mercy to the regional. PICK: FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY.

District Twenty Six @ Birmingham Marian

BERKLEY vs SEAHOLM
GROVES vs ROYAL OAK
BERKLEY/SEAHOLM vs Birmingham Marian

INSIGHT: A lot of volleyball pundits say that this is an easy district with Birmingham Marian likely coming out of this district but there could be some teams that could give the Mustangs trouble even though they have home court. Birmingham Marian has some experience to lean on for first year coach Mayssa Cook in Maddie Dowd and Christine Audette. Royal Oak has had a tough season for coach Emily Burwinkle but they have managed to right the ship a little bit led by Emma Brewster, Sierra Randle, Brooke Randle, and Rena Grossman. Groves finished middle of the pack in the White is led by Ellie Ruprich for coach Jenny Brown. Berkley has some size for coach Chantelle Corson. Seaholm has a young team for coaches Heather and Jason Gambone in Maddy Ligon and Anna Osbourne. Despite the youth they could be a factor in this district.

PROJECTION: I think there will be an upset but not where you think. I think the Ravens get by Groves and get to the district final and play Birmingham Marian. The experience and home court factor will be too much for the Ravens against the Mustangs. PICK: BIRMINGHAM MARIAN.

District Fifty Six @ Livonia Clarenceville

HARRISON vs Romulus
Livonia Clarenceville vs Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
HARRISON/Romulus vs Wixom St. Catherine Sienna Academy

INSIGHT: The newly crowned Catholic League C/D Champions Wixom St. Catherine Sienna Academy has a ton of experience coming back led by Katie Grose and they have continued that stretch for coach Malia Gabel. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard has a ton of experience back along with Livonia Clarenceville. Harrison in their final season of volleyball has had a decent season for coach Michael Love. Romulus has had a rough season thus far.

PROJECTION: I don’t think anyone is beating the Stars in this district although this district could be a sleeper with all the experience everyone with the exception of Romulus has but end of the day give me Wixom St. Catherine Sienna Academy. PICK: WIXOM ST. CATHERINE SIENNA ACADEMY.

District Fifty Eight @ Hazel Park

Ferndale University vs Detroit University Prep
Detroit Henry Ford for Creative Studies vs Detroit International
Ferndale University/Detroit University Prep vs FERNDALE
Detroit Henry Ford for Creative Studies/Detroit International vs HAZEL PARK

INSIGHT: This is a district that is not well known but it will be soon enough. Ferndale has a new coach in Stella Johnstone whom was the junior varsity coach last season and has a ton of talent back led by Lexi Crosby and a strong freshman class. Hazel Park is a veteran heavy team led by Faith Aquino, Leighanna Passeno, Madisyn Harris, Brooke Lynch, and Olivia Fortress. Don’t know much about the rest of the teams in this district.

PROJECTION: I see this being a Ferndale/Hazel Park district final. I think that Johnstone’s passion gets the Eagles to the regionals. The future looks bright for Ferndale. PICK: FERNDALE.

District Sixty One @ Brandon

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs Brandon
PONTIAC vs Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep/Brandon vs Goodrich

INSIGHT: The Fighting Irish are the defending Class B State Champions and led by two Miss Michigan Volleyball candidates in Natalie Risi and Madeline Chinn. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep looks poised to make another State Championship run. Brandon has not had a strong season even though they only have four seniors. Goodrich has had a strong season and could give the Fighting Irish some trouble. On the other side of the district the Phoenix have had a tough season and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook has had a miserable season.

PROJECTION: This district is the Fighting Irish’s to lose although Goodrich could give Pontiac Notre Dame Prep problems. I see a Pontiac vs Pontiac Notre Dame Prep district final with a blowout looming. PICK: PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP.

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