2018 MHSAA Season Preview: 5 Division 1 Storylines

<p>The change from Class A to Division 1 shouldn’t impact the landscape of the state title race too much, but this year’s race to Battle Creek is as wide open as it has been in years. Here’s the big storylines for Division 1 heading into the 2018 MHSAA season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Changes at Novi</em></strong></p> <p>The Novi volleyball program has had one of the best 4-year runs in Class A history, including three straight championships from 2015-17. However, the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to win a fourth straight title this season. Novi is losing a tremendous senior class, led by Miss Volleyball <strong>Erin O’Leary </strong>(Michigan), who will go down as one of the all-time greats in MHSAA history. Coach <strong>Jennifer Cottrill</strong> also stepped away to spend time with her family, turning the program over to <strong>Kacey Moran</strong>. Moran has big shoes to fill and Novi will have to work in a lot of new faces. Still, the Wildcats have talent. 2019 outside hitter <strong>Jaeda Porter</strong> will take on a bigger role while 2020’s <strong>Shannon Jennings</strong> replaces O’Leary at setter. They also have 2021 prospects in hitter <strong>Gabrielle Cummings </strong>and libero <strong>Rachel Jennings</strong>. Teams will still be gunning for Novi, so the Wildcats will be tested early and often.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Mercy the team to beat?</em></strong></p> <p>Farmington Hills Mercy has come close to state championships before. They were the Division 1 runner-up in 2010, losing to rival Bloomfield Hills Marian. Last season, Mercy won the Catholic League and reached the Division 1 semifinal, only to fall to Marian once again. In 2018, Mercy is loaded. Led by 2020’s top prospect in hitter <strong>Jess Mruzik </strong>(Michigan), they also have a pair of senior hitters in <strong>Logan Beyer </strong>and <strong>Mallory Conrad</strong> to go with 2021 standout setter <strong>Julia Bishop</strong>. On paper, Mercy certainly looks like it could be the team to beat in Division 1. Marian could still be a problem along the way, but the Mustangs have roster turnover and a new head coach in <strong>Mayssa Cook</strong>, so there could be some transition.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Is Lake Orion ready?</em></strong></p> <p>Lake Orion has always been a team among the top of the preseason rankings, but things haven’t quite worked out for the Dragons since the 2011 season when it finishes runner-up in Division 1. The Dragons should be a force this year as well. <strong>Paige Briggs </strong>(Western Kentucky) was sidelined for a big chunk of 2017’s season, but the 2019 outside hitter is healthy and ready to go this fall. She has one of the top setters in the state alongside her in 2019’s <strong>Wren McCauley</strong>, along with hitter <strong>Olivia Long</strong> and libero <strong>Ciara Livingway</strong>. Lake Orion will be tested in the loaded OAA Red this year, with Clarkston and Stoney Creek entering the year as defending co-champs. Can the Dragons put all the pieces in place?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Western risers</em></strong></p> <p>Over the last 10 years, the Class A state champion has come from the East side of the state seven times. That includes the last four years with Novi and Romeo. The 2018 season may see the Western side of the state return to the top of the mountain. While Grand Rapids Christian, a 2017 semifinalist, is moving to Division 2, the D1 pool still features contenders like East Grand Rapids, Rockford, Mattawan and Grand Haven. Rockford was the 2016 D1 runner-up and returns a lot of talent like hitter <strong>Lindsay Taylor </strong>(Miami-Ohio), blocker <strong>Emmy Webb </strong>and setter <strong>Emilee Karelse</strong>. EGR and Mattawan will be relying on strong junior classes while Grand Haven hopes to ride one of the top middles in the state in 2019’s <strong>Avolyn Lepo </strong>(Oakland).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>New faces</em></strong></p> <p>The changes at Novi don’t just open up the state picture for a lot of teams, but they open up the local picture for a team like Northville. The Mustangs have been overshadowed by Novi in the KLAA and districts over recent years, but could have been a top-10 team in the state otherwise. This year’s Northville team has strong seniors in liberos <strong>Hannah Grant </strong>(Michigan State) and <strong>Allyson Zayan</strong> along with junior middle hitter <strong>Claire McNamara</strong>. Potential is strong for Bloomfield Hills as well, but the Black Hawks play in the OAA Red and will be working in a new coach in <strong>Larry Wyatt</strong>. Bloomfield Hills has a pair of strong juniors to rely on in setter <strong>Alexa Rousseau </strong>(Northwestern) and hitter <strong>Taylor Raiola</strong>. Gull Lake is another team that showed some promise in 2017 before falling in the regional final to DeWitt. They bring back three strong veterans in 2019 hitter <strong>Kenzy Corstange </strong>(Davenport), 2019 middle <strong>Jenna Burkhardt </strong>and 2020 setter <strong>Lexi Beeke</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Related: <a href="http://bit.ly/2NrpdQS">2018’s top conference battles</a></p>