OAA Red Girls Volleyball Preview

Written Monday September 3rd at 8:10 PM,

Ah Yes Labor Day is in the book and the fall season is underway. We’ll see what happens this season in the OAA Red especially in volleyball. Last season was full of great memories for some certain teams, Lake Orion made it to the state championship game as the first team to do so in the OAA. Clarkston made it to the Final Four while Troy made to the regional final, it should be a good season.

1. Orion

2. Clarkston

3. Troy

4. North Farmington

5. Seaholm
6. Oxford

7. Rochester

8. Farmington

9. Rochester Adams

DREAM SCHEDULE: Troy. Ah with an experienced team back along with favorable district things will be running smoothly in Colt country. The schedule is doable do some damage. Troy does have volleyball tournaments in Mattawan and Macomb Dakota this season among others. The Red is very friendly to the Colts but they have some tricky games at North Farmington and Seaholm but the big test will be when Troy goes to Lake Orion to battle the Dragons but Troy Athens, Rochester, Clarkston, and Oxford all come to Troy this season and the district is manageable with Kettering as the only team they need to beat

NIGHTMARE SCHEDULE: Lake Orion. The Dragons made the state championship game last season and the brutal schedule helped them get through that process. This season proves to be no better and add that there is a new coach along with a very young core. The Dragons are in some tough tournaments with matches at home, Portage, Best of the East, Macomb Dakota, etc. The Red is no better either with the Dragons having to travel to Seaholm in early October and then Oxford and Clarkston in late October but the good news is that Troy and North Farmington comes to Lake Orion so it can’t be that bad but there is a district with Clarkson in it at Romeo.

1. Lake Orion Dragons:

Why They will win: Size up front and depth

Why They won’t win: Schedule and youth

After last season’s trip to the State Championship game the Dragons are riding high but they lost a lot of talent on their team but this could the deepest team that Lake Orion has had in years (17 deep.) The green and white return experience and size with Sophie Murdock returning for her junior season. Melanie Heath and Hannah Murdock should help in the inside along with Rachel Livingway and Gabby Kalugar along with a few new comers to the party and is also a traditional Freshman and Junior Varsity power. The Dragons do have a new coach in Ross Talbott who takes over for Bob Howey. Early in the camp Lake Orion lost Emilie Kipp for the season with a ankle injury. The Dragons will be good this season but for this team to make a deep run its young players have to develop fast and the schedule is pretty brutal during the season. 

 2. Clarkston Wolves:

Why They will win:  Experience and favorable schedule

Why They won’t win: Lost a lot of talent

Clarkston reached the final four before falling to Lake Orion last season is going to be good once again but they do replace the liberio who was very good last season. The Wolves will relay on their experience and talent for coach Kelly Averall’s team but the youth is also talented as well and just like Lake Orion they also have a good Junior Varsity and Freshman team as well. Rachel Dickerson, Katie Chadwell, and Brianna Frakes return to lead the Wolves this season. The Wolves and Dragons are together in a district this season and the winner could be in for a long playoff run.

3. Troy Colts:

Why They will win: Experience

Why They won’t win: Transition period

The Colts went to the Regional Finals last season and could be a dark horse this season. Troy makes the jump from the White to the Red features a good core of Senior Experience (seven seniors are on the Colts team) that will be very good but they do have a new coach in Vince Muscat and sometimes that goes through a transition period but with a group led by Lindsey Moeller, Nicole Hahn, Olivia Parks, and Hope Keating anything is possible.

 4. North Farmington Raiders:

Why They will win: Kaitlyn Schoeppner and Nicayla Joyce

Why They won’t win: Consistency

The Raiders are an up and coming team this season and could be the second best team in Farmington behind Farmington Hills Mercy. North Farmington did bring in Nicayla Joyce, a transfer from Birmingham Marian and put her along side Kaitlyn Schoeppner who will be playing volleyball next season at Mississippi State. The Raiders will be just as good as those two players can carry the load.

5. Birmingham Seaholm Maples:

Why They will win: Erin Neudenfelt, Andrea Gothard, and Kaityln Quigley

Why They won’t win: Hard to replace Paige Neudenfelt’s production and young in some areas

The Maples last season not only lost to Birmingham Marian at home in the playoffs but also lost their best player, Paige Neudenfelt to graduation (went to North Carolina) along with eight other players. Seaholm will have a new Neudenfelt as Erin takes over the reigns for Paige for coach Heather Lippett's crew. The Maples also feature Kaitlyn Quigley and Andrea Gothard who help them this season. Gothard is a defensive stopper who will be going to Central Michigan next season while Quigley has experience in winning and her attitude will be huge for this team. Seaholm will be competitive this season and have the talent to work with but in-experience could hurt the team this season.

6. Oxford Wildcats:

Why They will win: Darien Bandell

Why They won’t win: Darien Bandell

The Wildcats are going to be as good as Darien Bandell can carry them this season. Oxford will feature other good players but none as good as her but if Bandell is on her game and gets some help then the Wildcats can do some damage however this is a team to keep an eye on not only during the regular season but also at Romeo in the district as well.

7.  Rochester Falcons:

Why They will win: Stephanie Sikorski

Why They won’t win: Experience

Rochester this season does play an interesting schedule, led by senior Stephanie Sikorski. If the Falcons want to do well this season they have to relay on Sikorski to bring the magic that it has been missing in the past few seasons at Rochester. The district is manageable this season as Rochester won’t see Lake Orion but they do go east and possibly see city rival Stoney Creek in the postseason.

8. Farmington Falcons:

Why They will win: Talent

Why They won’t win: Youth

Farmington moves up from the White to the Red division this season. After having success the Falcons will be young but also talented with its young players. I think Farmington is a year away from being good this season.

9. Rochester Adams Highlanders:

Why They will win: Coaching

Why They won’t win: Very Young

The Highlanders do have one of the best coaches in the game but last season was a struggle in the Red and this season could be worse. Adams does have not only Lake Orion and Clarkston in the regular season but also in the playoffs. The Highlanders need a fast start if they want to do well this season with it's youth and inexperience.