Volleyball Preview

Written, Tuesday July 29th, at 1:15 PM

This is the Girls Volleyball preview for this upcoming season. The predictions are projections where teams might finish and also what might happen this season so enjoy.

Volleyball Top 10:

1. Seaholm
2. Avondale
3. Lake Orion
4. Clarkston
5. Berkley
6. Troy Athens
7. Bloomfield Hills
8. Royal Oak
9. Oak Park
10. Troy

OAA Red:

1. Seaholm
2. Lake Orion
3. Clarkston
4. Bloomfield Hills
5. Troy
6. Oxford
7. Stoney Creek
8. Farmington

Favorite: Birmingham Seaholm: The Maples return a lot of experience from a team that really wasn’t supposed to do much but they did a lot for coach Heather Lippert. Seaholm returns liberio Madison Martin, setter Paige Zywick, middle hitter Lauren McLeod, Kate Karey, and outside hitter Annie Schechter. The schedule will be tough but the Maples will have an experienced team to do so and could also be a player once districts come.

Next Best: Lake Orion: The Dragons have some key pieces back in  Hannah Murdock, Kori Varney, and Wies Hurkmans. The key is coaching and the players’ work ethic (consistency.) If new coach Tony Scvarda and his players can gel quickly then this team could go places.

Team on the rise: Troy: The Colts return 13 of 14 players from a team that was decimated by injuries last season. Expect Troy to make a rise up for coach Vince Muscatt and will do so led by Sydney Alexander and Lauren Ferguson.

Dark horse: Clarkston: It’s hard to put the Wolves here because they do return Taylor Dellinger and have won seven conceive Red titles but the question is in the back row where Clarkston lost a lot from last season. Melanie Awaygo will try and fill the void loss in the backcourt for coach Kelly Averall but they will have the talent to do so.

Team that could play spoiler: Bloomfield Hills: The merger did wonders for the Blackhawks program last season but consistency problems bothered coach Robert Hurdle's crew last season. What doesn't help as well is they do lose nine players from a season ago but they do return some key players and their junior varsity team wasn't bad either last season as well.

Team that is in trouble: Oxford: No more Darien Bandell to count on for the Wildcats but Oxford returns the bulk of their team but the problem for coach Kristi McDermitt was that three of them were her best players she lost.

Stoney Creek could be a factor as well this season and will return Sammy Sattaman and four juniors will be back but the problem for the Cougars and coach Mandy Moran will be is how will they replace six seniors from a season ago???

Farmington will be good as well but could have some depth issues and schedule will be much tougher for them this season.

OAA White:

1. Berkley
2. Troy Athens
3. Groves
4. Adams
5. Harrison
6. North Farmington
7. Rochester
8. West Bloomfield

Favorite: Berkley: The Bears do return some key pieces to their lineup in the form of Chole Rinkel and Grace Hammerle and will have experience as well this season for second year coach Erik Gardner. Berkley should be able to contend for the White crown this season.

Next Best: Troy Athens: The Red Hawks lost a lot of senior laden talent from a season ago but they will return eight players. Troy Athens does return three key players in Dakota Stanichuck, liberio Michelle Dontato, defensive specialist Karly Flipps, and outside hitter Alexis Van Hoef. The Red Hawks could be in the mix again for coach Chrstine Stanichik.

Dark horse: Groves: The Falcons made the regional semifinals last season and should be favored again once districts come. Groves will have the size and depth to compete for coach Stacy Brown but the question will be the back court.

Team on the rise: Adams: Coach Irick Gardner’s second season at Adams could be an interesting one. The Highlanders were a team to keep an eye on and will be led by Madison Tuscany and company. Look for Adams to make a jump in the White this season but questions at Liberio could be an interesting one to watch.

Team that could play spoiler: Harrison: The Hawks showed they have talent and they may pull off yet another surprise this season. Last season, Harrison upset North Farmington in the pre districts and look to ride the momentum into this season. The Hawks return Stefanie Jankiewitz and Michkel Coleman and could be a thorn to teams if coach Michael Love gets his way this season.

Team that could be in trouble: North Farmington: For a team that was a disappointment last season the Raiders moved down from the Red to the White and will have experience back in the form of five sophomores and one of them is Haley Qasawa. Last season was tough on Jessica Concedi but this season could be different.

Rochester will be improved and could be a factor this season for coach Lauren Durquette.

West Bloomfield could be a factor as well, keep an eye on the Lakers as well.

OAA Blue:

1. Avondale
2. Royal Oak
3. Oak Park
4. Ferndale
5. Hazel Park
6. Southfield
7. Lathrup
8. Pontiac

Favorite: Avondale: The Yellow Jackets will be experienced and talented. Avondale could do some damage for coach Rosemary Motamedi this season in the form of Collen Mayer, Haley Bitinger, and Emma Ahearn. The Yellow Jackets lost a tough one last season to Troy Athens in the district finals. That loss will be the motivator for them this season.

Next Best: Royal Oak: The Ravens return a solid group and also experience in Allison Karpinski and Nina Salowich and a strong Junior Varsity team coming up to Varsity. Coach Heidi Studebacker's Royal Oak squad could have a strong say who wins the Blue this season.

Team on the rise: Oak Park: The Knights have athletes and is developing a program under second year coach Antwon Davis. The Knights have a very good core coming back in middle hitter Jazzmine Stackhouse and have talents in Tamiah Tompkins, and Makayla Mullins. Oak Park is on the rise for sure and they just started their middle school volleyball program back up last season, a lot of good is coming for Knight Valley.

Dark horse: Ferndale: The Eagles had a tough season last season but do return some key players for coach Stacy Scholk. Ferndale returns outside hitters Emily Kulick, Karly Wilson, and Sydney Donaldson to a team that could surprise people. If their back court comes around then the Eagles could go places.

Team that could play spoiler: Southfield: The Blue Jays do have some talent back and they could pull off an upset or two this season.

Team that is in trouble 1: Hazel Park: The Vikings won two district titles the last two seasons and could be in trouble this season for two reasons. First reason is that coach Sue Stuef's team lost a lot of experience last season and returns only three players but one of them will be middle hitter Cheyenne Farris. The second reason is they will be moving up from Class B to Class A. It could be a difficult season in Hazel Park.

Team’s that is in trouble 2: Lathrup, and Pontiac: These two teams here could struggle this season and the top three will be up there as well.

Final Football Preseason Rankings before Preview.

Written Friday July 25th, at 1:30 AM

This will be the last early preseason before the projections and analysis are out for each team this season but this is an early indicator where the Den maybe going with the preseason poll. So enjoy everybody.

24. Ferndale Eagles-Eagles could be in for a long season.

23. Pontiac Phoenix-Phoenix have athletes but coaching, things out of their control, and depth is a huge issue.

22. North Farmington Raiders- It could be a long season in Farmington Hills especially with a new division and tough schedule.

21. Troy Colts-Colts 1-4 since the fourth quarter at Ford Field last season.

20. Rochester Falcons- Falcons will be a young group entering a whole another animal from the Red to the White.

19. Royal Oak Ravens- New coach Tim Chapman will have his hands full with a team that went 4-5 last season and got moved up to the White.

18. Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks- Blackhawks defense was awful last season 33.2 ppg and now they have to deal with the likes of Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Stoney Creek, and West Bloomfield instead of Southfield, Oak Park, Harrison, and Adams. Poor coach Jeffery Loria and his team.

17. Troy Athens Red Hawks- Strong junior class has the Red Hawks believing this season.

16. Groves Falcons- Gone is Ross Williams but his legacy will never be forgotten.

15. Farmington Falcons- Falcons have the athletes and are oddly in a lower division but chemistry and egos will be an issue this season.

14. Hazel Park Vikings- New coach Kyle Rowley will have success in his first season in Viking land especially coming from a family legacy that likes to pound the rock.

13.  Berkley Bears- Second year coach Chris Sikoria will have the Bears ready to make some noise this season but a tough one to start off with Holly looms.

12. Lathrup Chargers- Reggie Harris is ready to make some noise in his sophomore season in a new division at Lathrup Village.

11. Seaholm Maples- Maples make big jump from Blue to White but have experience just ask Southfield.

10. Stoney Creek Cougars- Cougars have a new offensive coordinator but could he ditch the triple option that helped the Cougars go to the playoffs last season???

9. Southfield Blue Jays- Blue Jays will have athletes but have questions up front.

8. Avondale Yellow Jackets- Now that Josh Holloman is committed to play at Cincinnati, he can focus on his senior season in Auburn Hills scoring touchdowns.

7. West Bloomfield Lakers- Best team that coach Ronald Bellamy has had and hungry as well and loaded with athletes like Tristan Jackson and Michael King among others.

6. Oxford Wildcats- Glacier Wallington is the key to the Wildcats season.

5. Lake Orion Dragons- Dragons must improve on a defense that allowed 22.2 ppg last season.

4. Harrison Hawks- JaVon Shaw is a heck of an athlete. Expect the Hawks to be in it all season long.

3. Adams Highlanders- If Kyle Wood can do what he did last season in a full season then the Highlanders will be dangerous.

2. Oak Park Knights- If Knights can get strong quarterback play from Chauncey Lowman to go along with John Kelly then the Knights can be dangerous.

1. Clarkston Wolves- Wolves have a good offense that will score points but have a suspect defense.