Volleyball Top 22.

Written Monday September 7th at 7:40 PM

Here is my preview for the upcoming volleyball season and top 22.

1. Lake Orion- The Dragons had a lot that was riding against them after winning the Division One State title in 2018. They had lost Sydney Smith to transfer along with a boatload of seniors from that team. The 2019 team was virtually from the movie “Venom” with their inconsistent regular season play but that all changed when they got to the postseason. Lake Orion shocked Clarkston, Holly, Oxford, Stoney Creek, West Bloomfield, and Mount Pleasant earning their way back to Battle Creek. The Dragons have a boatload of experience that returns led by Kendall Robertson, Reagan Goeke, Lauren Staruch, Nina Horning, Taylor Butkiewicz, and Jada McCaulley. Coach Tony Scarvada’s team is now back to being the hunted again.

2. Clarkston- The Wolves won the outright Red last season and were poised to make some noise in the postseason in 2019 but things haven’t gone their way as of late. Clarkston has been eliminated from the postseason in the last two years in the districts by Lake Orion and while the Dragons have had deep and long playoff runs. The Wolves have been looking for a way to break through and they could do it this season with the experience that returns. Clarkston has Claire Nowicki and Alana Watington back which helps things. Nowicki had a stellar season in 2019. Watington suffered a season ending ACL injury last season and looks to be back where she was before she got hurt. The Wolves will also have Summer Jidas, Madison McGraw, Sydney Hasenfratz, Molly Hoffman, Elizabeth Adams, and Paige Giegtbrock back. Coach Kelly Pinner’s team should be back in the mix this season.

3. Oxford- The Wildcats had a very young team but they did some very good things especially early but then kind of fell behind the pack at bit once league play started. They were an honorable mention in the State in 2019. What should help Coach Brian Kim is that the majority his team is back from last season’s district final appearance where they went toe to toe with Lake Orion which went five games. Oxford has Emma LaBarge, Molly Miller, Brooke Zeiter, Catherine Dobbs, Meghan Luptu, Julia Blair, Rachel Townsend, and Ava Wiscombe. The Wildcats should be solid this upcoming season but consistency will be important for Kim’s team in 2020.

4. Stoney Creek- The Cougars had everything lined up in front of them in what was supposed to be their deepest and best team in school history. They were deep, talented, and looked to get to Battle Creek for the first time in school history but that was until that regional semifinal on their home court against Lake Orion that changed everything. The Cougars have had the Dragons number last season. They beat them in the regular season coming back from two games down to stun them. Stoney Creek had Lake Orion on the ropes in the regional semifinals (up 19-12 in fourth set) but they made several unusual mistakes which resulted in that shocking five game loss. Coach Ross Talbott lost several key players including Kate Stration to graduation but they have several key players back in Ainsley Guse, Ella Markevis, Kierra Shanahan, and Sydney Tomlak. Stoney Creek might not be the same team as they were in 2019 but they should be in the mix again and well-motivated.

5. Adams- It was a very interesting 2019 for Coach Terry Baughman and his program. Baughman came to Adams from Walled Lake Northern last offseason after leading his Knights to a regional semifinal appearance in 2018 before falling to Stoney Creek. The Highlanders really struggled as most teams do when a new coach comes into a program and changes things around and that transition has to happen in the regular season. They did manage to turn things around as the girls got comfortable in Baughman’s system especially when they got to the postseason. Adams gave Stoney Creek a run for their money in the district semifinals where it went five games but it was the Cougars that prevailed giving Baughman his second straight postseason loss to Stoney Creek. The Highlanders will have 11 of their 13 players returning including Lara Sebastian, Elizabeth Blaine, Alexis Wuhas, Kennedy Jones, Jacoby Flynn, and Lauren Petersmark. Adams should be a player with the experience that is back.

6. Seaholm- The Maples had their fair share of ups and downs in 2019 but they will likely have to see a longtime rival in Birmingham Marian in the postseason. However things appear to be looking on an upward swing for Seaholm after a couple of down seasons. Coaches Heather and Jason Gambone has a nice blend of youth and experience that is back led in Anna McLeod, Maggie Liebler, Audrey Brown, Marlena Brown, Ella Stangland, and Katie Sullivan along with Jessie Rebock and Jordan Linder. The Maples should be in the mix to make some noise.

7. West Bloomfield- The Lakers had a very good run in 2019. They won their first district title since 1991 and made the regional final before losing to Lake Orion. West Bloomfield lost Laura King to graduation but Coach Lauren DeLuck-Forbes returns a ton of proven experience in Grace Allread, Juliana Davis, and Kate Horvach. The Lakers will be an interesting team to watch this season.

8. Farmington- The Falcons were around 500 in 2019 with a young team that was finding their way. What should help  Coach Kate Drews is that they have a ton of experience that is back despite losing two key players in Sydney Eggleton and Rachel Kreske to graduation. Farmington has the majority of their team back as mentioned in Meghan Burba, Kayla Ghafari, Sara Hammoud, Emma Keils, Lizzy Bird, Lindsay Hubler, Brooklyn McDowell, and Val Pallett. The Falcons could make some noise in the White.

9. Ferndale- The Eagles captured their second straight district title last season and could be one of the favorites in the Blue this season. Coach Stella Johnstone will have Emily Foster and a strong nucleus. If Ferndale wants to make that next step and go deep into the postseason they will need to play a tougher schedule and they have the experience to do that.

10. Troy Athens- The Red Hawks had a rough 2019 under first year coach Kat Hall. Hall came to Troy Athens from North Farmington in the prior offseason and brings  coaching experience to the fold. The Red Hawks should be improved because of experience and chemistry along with the growth in 2019. Troy Athens will have Margaret Cubitt, Madison Kessman, Ava Topico, Casey Gruber, and Anneliese Schriber returning from a squad that was young. The Red Hawks should be one of the favorites to make some noise in the White this season.

11. Bloomfield Hills- The Blackhawks won the White last season but they had a very disappointing postseason falling to Troy in the district final. Alexa Rousseau has graduated which sets a major hole for Coach Larry Wyatt’s team in 2020. Ava Pertuchi and Ashlea Nwabueze are back which should help things but the Blackhawks could be a very young squad this season.

12. Troy- The Colts could be a very different team in 2020 than they were in past years for Coach Tom Vigilant. Troy is going to be very young and inexperienced but Vigilant will have Ella Davenport returning which helps. It’s going to be a very interesting season for the Colts.

13. Groves- The Falcons went down a division from the Red to the White and they lost Ellie Ruprich who has graduated. Groves has several players returning in Greta Wilms, Danielle Veasley, Becca Apsey, and Riley Wilson for Coach Jessica Prepolec. The Falcons should be a player in the White this season.

14. Rochester- The Falcons could be a player in the White in 2020. Rochester made the district final last season and are looking for more. They have a ton of proven talent back for Coach Kirk Gibbs in Anaya Rangarjian, Megan Lorenzo, Riley Barber, Hannah Crist, Pegi Laci, Jasmine Savoi, Lily Pratt, and Nicole Miller. The Falcons have a ton of upside to make some noise, could the city of Rochester be a volleyball player again in 2020???

15. North Farmington- The Raiders are in an very interesting spot under second year coach Michael Love. North Farmington has a ton of experience that returns led by Lauren James, Miah Scarchilli, and Charlotte Warner. They added a transfer in Amelia Scarchilli who comes over from Novi Christian Academy which provides them some depth. There are some questions surrounding the Raiders though but they should be fine this season.

16. Berkley- The Bears had a very tough season in 2019 but there is a bright side, they had several players getting their first taste of experience playing varsity. Berkley should be better in 2020 as the younger players have gained that prior experience. The Bears will have Ava Beard and Sawyer Jones to lead on for Coach Chantelle Corson. It’s a make or break year for Berkley this season. The Bears should be one of the favorites in the Blue this season.

17. Southfield Arts and Tech- The Warriors are in a very interesting spot in 2020. They have a ton of talent returning which helps things for Coach Alicia Love. Southfield Arts and Tech should be a team to watch in 2020 but they’ll need to play tougher competition if they want to see their program develop. The Warriors should be a player in the Blue this season.

18. Royal Oak- The Ravens had an interesting year under first year coach Ciara Schultz but Royal Oak should be better in her second season. Schultz has Jacie Walden and Delia Miller back which helps but they could be young again. If the Ravens can toughen their non-league then maybe Royal Oak could make some noise not only in the Blue but regionally as well.

19. Avondale- The Yellow Jackets took some hits in 2019 but there are a ton of questions. Marlena Wright returns and is expected to need to do more for Avondale if the Yellow Jackets want to make some noise in 2020. It could be a challenging year in the White for them.

20. Ferndale University- The Eagles enter into a new league after being an independent. They could experience some struggles in 2020. Ferndale University will look to get on solid footing heading into the season and in time they should develop.

21. Oak Park- The Knights have had some struggles and 2020 could be another struggling year at Oak Park. Better days are ahead for the Knights.

22. Pontiac- The Phoenix have been trying to develop a program in Pontiac. It’s been a challenge to say the least and could very well be again in 2020. Better days are ahead for the Phoenix.