Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Volleyball District Preview Updated with Favorites and How Schools have been doing.

Written Tuesday October 13th at 1:00 PM

This is almost a carbon copy of the Volleyball districts when they were released in August but this column has the updated and most recent information. Here are the district previews and projections.

District 5 @ Holly

LAKE ORION vs Waterford Kettering

LAKE ORION/Waterford Kettering vs OXFORD

CLARKSTON vs Holly

 

FAVORITE: Clarkston

NEXT: Oxford

WILDCARD: Lake Orion, Holly

PLAYER ON SPOT: Lauren Staruch-Lake Orion.

PROJECTED CHAMPION: Clarkston

 

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 that 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 but they have really underperformed this season. 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 after winning the Red for the second straight year but that hasn’t always been that way lately. Oxford 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. They are veteran heavy led by Sarah Jewell, Marissa Walker, Kennedy Hogan, Sydney Meszler, Ashton Parker, and Delaney Jenkinson back for coach Deena Maher. The Bronchos won the Flint Metro Stripes division for the second straight season. 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

STONEY CREEK vs Utica Eisenhower at Utica Eisenhower

STONEY CREEK/Utica Eisenhower vs Romeo

ROCHESTER vs ADAMS

 

FAVORITE: Utica Eisenhower

NEXT: Adams

WILDCARD: Stoney Creek, Rochester

PLAYER ON SPOT: Lara Sebastian-Adams

PROJECTED CHAMPION: Utica Eisenhower

 

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. The Cougars have had their fair share of ups and downs this season. 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. The Highlanders have 11 of their 13 players back including Lauren Petersmark, Lara Sebastian, Elizabeth Blaine, Alexis Wuhas, Kennedy Jones, and Jacoby Flynn. Adams has been up and down this season. Rochester could be a player as well 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 in Sydney Palazzolo, Kira Buza, Abbey Biermann and Angelina Tripi for Coach Caitlin LaPratt. The Eagles have been very good this season in the Macomb Area Red this season. Romeo has been a middle of the pack team in the Macomb Area Red 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 vs Waterford Mott

AVONDALE/Waterford Mott vs TROY

BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs WEST BLOOMFIELD

BLOOMFIELD HILLS/WEST BLOOMFIELD vs PONTIAC

 

FAVORITE: West Bloomfield

NEXT: Troy

WILDCARD: Bloomfield Hills

PLAYER ON SPOT: Grace Allread-West Bloomfield

PROJECTED CHAMPION: 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. It has been an interesting transition period for Bloomfield Hills with them back in the Red. Troy could be in some trouble for Coach Tom Vigilant despite having Ella Davenport back. It has been a challenging year for the Colts as they lost a ton of talent from last season but they had a chance to win the White but lost a tough five game set to Troy Athens. Avondale had a struggling season last year and will look to improve this season. Pontiac has really struggled and they could very well do so again. Waterford Mott is having another struggling season as well. I see three teams having great shots to win this district.

 

 

District 25 @ Farmington

Livonia Stevenson vs Redford Thurston

Livonia Stevenson/Redford Thurston vs FARMINGTON

NORTH FARMINGTON vs Farmington Hills Mercy

 

FAVORITE: Farmington Hills Mercy

NEXT: Farmington

WILDCARD: North Farmington, Livonia Stevenson

PLAYER ON SPOT: Julia Bishop-North Farmington

PROJECTED CHAMPION: Farmington Hills Mercy.

 

INSIGHT: Farmington Hills Mercy is the defending Division One State Champions and they are loaded again to repeat. The Marlins have Julia Bishop, Ellie Tisko, Charli Atiemo, Kaitlyn Collins, Lizzie Kitchen, Ella Sheilds, Leah LaFontaine, Madi Malecki, and Amina Robinson for coach Loretta Vogel. Farmington Hills Mercy has dominated the Catholic League thus far which includes two wins over Birmingham Marian. 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 should a player again for Coach Kate Drews. The Falcons got to the district finals last season and have a solid squad in Meghan Burba, Kayla Ghafari, Sara Hammoud, Emma Keils, Lizzy Bird, Lindsay Hubler, Brooklyn McDowell, and Val Pallett. Farmington has had their fair share of ups and downs this season. North Farmington is in a very tough spot though but they have some talent for coach Michael Love in Lauren James, Charlotte Warner, and a ton of experience. The district opener is going to be very challenging for the Raiders as mentioned. This district should be interesting but end of the day this is Farmington Hills Mercy’s district to lose.

 

 

District 26 @ Birmingham Marian

GROVES vs TROY ATHENS

ROYAL OAK vs Birmingham Marian

ROYAL OAK/Birmingham Marian vs SEAHOLM

 

FAVORITE: Birmingham Marian

NEXT: Troy Athens

WILDCARD: Seaholm

PLAYER ON SPOT: Sarah Sylvester-Birmingham Marian

PROJECTED CHAMPION: Birmingham Marian.

 

INSIGHT: This is expected to be a loaded district but the favorite has to be Birmingham Marian because of talent and home court. 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. Birmingham Marian has had a very good season in the tough Catholic League. Seaholm could be Birmingham Marian’s toughest challenger in the district even though they would play the Mustange in the district semifinals. The Maples have a boatload of talent in Anna McLeod, Maggie Liebler, Audrey Brown, Marlena Brown, Ella Stangland, Jessie Rebock, Jordan Rinder, and Kate Sullivan. The Maples have had their fair share of ups and downs in the Red. 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. The Falcons have had their fair share of ups and downs in the White. Royal Oak should be better under second year coach Ciara Schultz and talented players in Jacie Walden and Delila Miller. Troy Athens looks to be the sleeper and they got a good draw playing Groves in the district semifinals. The Red Hawks are well coached under Kat Hall and they have experienced proven players in Margaret Cubitt, Madison Kessman, and Ava Topico back along with Casey Gruber and Anneliese Schriber. Troy Athens won the White this season. This district could get very interesting to say the least.

 

 

District 27 @ Warren Fitzgerald

Warren Mott vs Detroit Mumford

Warren Mott/Detroit Mumford vs BERKLEY

Detroit Renaissance vs Warren Fitzgerald

 

FAVORITE: Detroit Renaissance

NEXT: Berkley

WILDCARD: Warren Mott

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

PROJECTED CHAMPION: 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 led by Julia Vultaggio for Coach Camisha Coleman. The Maurders have had an up and down year in the Macomb Area Conference Silver. Warren Fitzgerald has had a rough season thus far in the Macomb Area Conference Bronze. The Spartans have Jahari Hannah taking on a much bigger role for them. Berkley has been a very interesting team. The Bears have a new coaching staff and several sophomores to rely on in Ava Beard, Sawyer Jones, along with Sophia Dawkins, and Ariel Gibson. The Bears could be a player in this district and have had a bounce back season in the Blue. Detroit Mumford could as well. Right now, I can see four teams having great opportunities to win this district.

 

District 57 @ Host Sites

FERNDALE vs FERNDALE UNIVERSITY

FERNDALE/FERNDALE UNIVERSITY vs Detroit Henry Ford

Hazel Park vs Warren Lincoln


FAVORITE: Ferndale

NEXT: Hazel Park

WILDCARD: Ferndale University

PLAYER ON SPOT: Emily Foster-Ferndale

PROJECTED CHAMPION: Ferndale

INSIGHT: The Eagles have been on a roll since Coach Stella Johnstone has arrived. 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 become 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 despite having a challenging season. The Vikings have given Ferndale some trouble including two years ago where the Eagles beat Hazel Park in five sets on the road to earn their first district title. Warren Lincoln despite having Chante Hudgins. Ferndale University could have a really tough time in this district. This district looks like it will be a two team race.

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