Volleyball Districts Are Out 2020-2021.

Written Monday August 3rd at 4:15 PM

Normally the districts come out in June but with everything going on surrounding the virus. The MHSAA released the districts today. This blog will be updated throughout so stay tuned for the latest updates.

Here are the districts and the insight surrounding all 22 schools in the OAA.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest information.

District 5 @ Holly

LAKE ORION

CLARKSTON

OXFORD

Holly

Waterford Kettering

FAVORITE: Lake Orion

NEXT: Clarkston

WILDCARD: Oxford, Holly

PLAYER ON SPOT: Lauren Staruch-Lake Orion.

INSIGHT: This has the makings of a very interesting district between three OAA powers and a Flint Metro League powerhouse in this district. What helps is Holly High School is very similar in size as of Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston. The Dragons have went back to Battle Creek two straight years. The Wolves are in an interesting spot heading into the season. The Wildcats are on the cusp of breaking through. Lake Orion was very young last season. Coach Tony Scavarda has the majority of his team back in Kendall Robertson, Reagen Goeke, Lauren Staruch, Nina Horning, Taylor Butkiewicz, and Jada McCaulley. Clarkston is an interesting team as Coach Kelly Piner has Claire Nowicki, Alana Wattington, Summer Jidas, Madison McGraw, Sydney Hasenfratz, Molly Hoffman, Elizabeth Adams, and Paige Giegtbrock. Oxford as mentioned is on the way up and a lot of credit has to go to Coach Brian Kim. The Wildcats have Emma LaBarge, Molly Miller, Brooke Zeiter, Catherine Dobbs, Meghan Luptu, Julia Blair, Rachel Townsend, and Ava Wiscombe.  Holly will be an interesting team to keep an eye on. The Bronchos are veteran heavy led by Sarah Jewell, Marissa Walker, Kennedy Hogan, Sydney Meszler, Ashton Parker, and Delaney Jenkinson back for coach Deena Maher. Waterford Kettering could really struggle in this district. This district could be very interesting to keep an eye on. We shall see what happens.

District 6 @ Rochester

ROCHESTER

ADAMS

STONEY CREEK

Romeo

Utica Eisenhower

FAVORITE: Stoney Creek

NEXT: Adams

WILDCARD: Utica Eisenhower, Rochester

PLAYER ON SPOT: Lara Sebastian-Adams

INSIGHT: It was a disappointing regional for Stoney Creek last season but the Cougars gap in the city of Rochester could be narrowing just a bit. Coach Ross Talbott’s team lost a ton of talent from last season but they have Ainsley Guse, Kate Yatooma, Ella Markevicas, and Sydney Tomlak back. Adams was a hard team to figure out under Coach Terry Baugaman but they turned it around in the postseason and put Stoney Creek to the limit but fell in the district semifinals in five games. The Highlanders have 11 of their 13 players back including Lauren Petersmark, Lara Sebastian, Elizabeth Blaine, Alexis Wuhas, Kennedy Jones, and Jacoby Flynn. Rochester could be a player as well. The Falcons have home court and experience back led by Riley Barber, Megan Lorenzo, Maggie Rogers, Hannah Crist, Pegi Laci, Nicole Miller, Anaya Rangarajan, Jasmine Savoi, and Lily Pilat for Coach Kirk Gibbs. Utica Eisenhower fresh off a disappointing loss to Stoney Creek in the first round will look to have a bounce back season. The Eagles have a ton of experience back that in the form of Sydney Palazzolo, Kira Buza, Abbey Biermann and Angelina Tripi for Coach Caitlin LaPratt. Romeo has been an up and down team lately but Coach Stacey Williams should have the Bulldogs heading in the right direction. This district looks to be a three team race at the moment but it will be interesting who steps up in this very competitive district.

District 7 @ Waterford Mott

AVONDALE

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

PONTIAC

TROY

WEST BLOOMFIELD

Waterford Mott

FAVORITE: West Bloomfield

NEXT: Bloomfield Hills

WILDCARD: Troy

PLAYER ON SPOT: Grace Allread-West Bloomfield

INSIGHT: This looks to be a very interesting district when looking at the teams. West Bloomfield and Troy won district titles last season and they are in this district. The Lakers went to the regional final last season for Coach Lauren DeLuyck Forbes. Which helps is that West Bloomfield has three proven players in Grace Allread, Juliana Davis, and Kate Horvach. Bloomfield Hills had a very disappointing district final loss to Troy last season and will look to have a bounce back district. The Blackhawks have Ava Perucci and Ashlea Nwabueze for Coach Larry Wyatt. Troy could be in some trouble for Coach Tom Vigilant despite having Ella Davenport back, it could be a challenging year for the Colts as they lost a ton of talent from last season. Avondale had a struggling season last year but Marlena Wright returns to lead them. Pontiac has really struggled and they could very well do so again. Waterford Mott could have another struggling season as well. I see three teams having great shots to win this district.

District 25 @ Farmington

FARMINGTON

NORTH FARMINGTON

Farmington Hills Mercy

Livonia Stevenson

Redford Thurston

FAVORITE: Farmington Hills Mercy

NEXT: North Farmington

WILDCARD: Farmington, Livonia Stevenson

PLAYER ON SPOT: Julia Bishop-Farmington Hills Mercy

INSIGHT: Farmington Hills Mercy is the defending Division One State Champions and they could be loaded again to repeat if things go right. The Marlins have Julia Bishop, Ellie Tisko, Charli Atiemo, Kaitlyn Collins, Lizzie Kitchen, Ella Sheilds, Leah LaFontaine, Madi Malecki, and Amina Robinson back for coach Loretta Vogel. Redford Thurston is an interesting team to keep an eye on as they had a young team last season and could make some noise. Livonia Stevenson could be a player this season as the Spartans are led by Alissa Pomicter, Jenna Szabelski, and Paige Bailey. Livonia Stevenson has a new coach which could be very interesting. Farmington is a player again for Coach Kate Drews. The Falcons got to the district finals last season and have a solid squad coming this season in Meghan Burba, Kayla Ghafari, Sara Hammoud, Emma Keils, Lizzy Bird, Lindsay Hubler, Brooklyn McDowell, and Val Pallett. North Farmington could be a player as well for coach Michael Love led by Lauren James, Charlotte Warner, Miah Scarchilli, Amelia Scarchilli, and a ton of experience. This district should be interesting but end of the day this is Farmington Hills Mercy’s district to lose.

District 26 @ TBA

GROVES

SEAHOLM

ROYAL OAK

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

TROY ATHENS

Birmingham Marian

FAVORITE: Birmingham Marian

NEXT: Seaholm

WILDCARD: Troy Athens

PLAYER ON SPOT: Sarah Sylvester-Birmingham Marian

INSIGHT: This is expected to be a loaded district but the favorite has to be Birmingham Marian because of proven experience. The Mustangs have a ton of talent back led by Ava Brizard, Laura Heming, Ava Sarafa, Tatum Casper, Sophia Espinosa, and Sarah Sylvester for Coach Mayssa Cook. Seaholm could be Birmingham Marian’s toughest challenger in the district. The Maples have a boatload of talent back in Anna McLeod, Maggie Liebler, Audrey Brown, Marlena Brown, Ella Stangland, Jessie Rebock, Jordan Rinder, and Kate Sullivan. Groves has a ton of talent back from last season led by Danielle Veasley, Becca Apsey, Rylee Wilson, and Greta Wilms for Coach Jessica Prepolec. Royal Oak should be better under second year coach Ciara Schultz. The Ravens also have very talented players in Jacie Walden and Delila Miller to rely on. Southfield Arts and Tech could be very interesting for Coach Alisha Love as they have a ton of talent back. Troy Athens looks to be the sleeper in the district. The Red Hawks are well coached under Kat Hall and they have several experienced proven players in Margaret Cubitt, Madison Kessman, and Ava Topico back along with Casey Gruber and Anneliese Schriber. This district could get very interesting to say the least.

District 27 @ Warren Fitzgerald

BERKLEY

OAK PARK

Detroit Mumford

Detroit Renaissance

Warren Fitzgerald

Warren Mott

FAVORITE: Detroit Renaissance

NEXT: Berkley

WILDCARD: Warren Mott

PLAYER ON SPOT: A’Lexus Everett-Detroit Renaissance.

INSIGHT: The early favorite in the district has to be the Phoenix. Detroit Renaissance has a very talented core group in A’Lexus Everett, Makenzie Jarvis, and Sasha Mayberry. Warren Mott will be an interesting team to watch this season led by Julia Vultaggio for Coach Camisha Coleman. Warren Fitzgerald could be a factor as well with the Spartans having Jahari Hannah taking on a much bigger role. Berkley will be an interesting team to keep an eye on as Coach Chantelle Corson has several sophomores she will be counting on in Ava Beard and Sawyer Jones. The Bears could be a player in this district. Oak Park could struggle in this district. Detroit Mumford could struggle as well. Right now I can see four teams having great opportunities to win this district.

District 57 @ TBA

FERNDALE

FERNDALE UNIVERSITY

Hazel Park

Detroit Old Redford Academy

Warren Lincoln

FAVORITE: Ferndale

NEXT: Hazel Park

WILDCARD: Ferndale University

PLAYER ON SPOT: Emily Foster-Ferndale

INSIGHT: The Eagles have been on a roll since Coach Stella Johnstone has gotten to Ferndale. Ferndale has won two straight district titles in that stretch but for Johnstone her Eagles need to take the next step and they are more than capable of doing that. Emily Foster has been a household name for Ferndale, she is only a junior. If the Eagles want to take that next step she has to be the catalyst to do so. The district doesn’t look as strong as it is even though Hazel Park will have a say. The Vikings have given Ferndale some trouble including two years ago where the Eagles beat Hazel Park in five sets at Hazel Park to earn their first district title. Warren Lincoln despite having Chante Hudgins, Ferndale University, or Detroit Old Redford Academy really shouldn’t threaten in this district. This district looks like it will be a two team race.

Volleyball website

https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Girls-Volleyball/2020-Districts