Big Fish (Mercy) Tournament Preview
Prep Dig Staff
This weekend there are a number a solid tournaments. Mercy, our #1 ranked D1 team in the state, will be hosting a solid event at Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy. The host, coming off a big 3 set sweep over Marian Thursday night, will be the favorite of the field. Stoney Creek and Brighton look to be the other two strong contenders. Bloomfield, Dexter, and Troy also look to make some noise.
Players to watch in the tournament – Jess Mruzik (Mercy), Julia Bishop (Mercy), Kate Stration (Stoney Creek), Celia Cullen (Brighton), Alexa Rousseau (Bloomfield), Jessica Robinson (Troy), Francesca McBride (Troy)
Other players you need to know! – Emily Snay (Romeo), Charli Atiemo (Mercy), Kimani Johnson (Cass Tech), Olivia Alexander (Woodhaven), Serena Nyambo (Country Day), Taylor Venuto (Dexter), Audrey Brown (Seaholm), Gabrielle Kellogg (Plymouth Christian), Sydney Tomlak (Stoney Creek), Kendall Murray (Skyline)
Tournament Favorites:
Mercy – Jess Mruzik is back from Honduras. She has been the missing piece to what looks like an inevitable state championship run. I have not witnessed a more complete team in Michigan since maybe the Marian teams back in 2009 & 2010. Mercy will be the heavy favorite for the remainder of the season.
Stoney Creek – Coach Ross Talbot has his best team in his short 3 year stint at Stoney. Led by outsides Kate Stration and freshman outside Sydney Tomlak, Stoney will be Mercy’s toughest competition.
Brighton – Brighton has taken the state by storm early on in 2018. Led by dynamic setter/attacker Celia Cullen, Coach Scott Pitcher has ran through a lot of competition early. Look for the group to continue to keep getting better as the season rolls. This will be a good halfway point barometer.
Other Teams to Watch – Bloomfield, Dexter, Troy, and Romeo
The format – This is a 5 pool, 20 team tournament with the top 2 teams in each pool moving on.
Pool Play
Pool A – (Mercy, Romeo, Milford, and Waterford Mott) – Mercy comes out as top team and Romeo takes 2nd.
Pool B – (Stoney Creek, Skyline, Plymouth Christian, and Walled Lake Western) – Look for Stoney Creek and Skyline to come out 1 and 2 with PCA just missing out against Skyline.
Pool C – (Brighton, Holly, Seaholm, and Cass Tech) – Brighton comes out on top with Seaholm edging past Holly to take 2nd.
Pool D – (Bloomfield Hills, Troy Athens, Brandon, and Woodhaven) – Bloomfield will hold seed but look for Woodhaven to surprise the other two and take 2nd in a big upset.
Pool E – (Dexter, Troy, Country Day, and West Bloomfield) – In the most well-rounded pool, Dexter edges Troy in 3 to take the 1st seed in the pool. Troy holds off Country Day for 2nd.
Playoff Bracket
Pre Quarters Match 1 – Skyline vs. Seaholm – Look for Kendall Murray to be just too much for Seaholm. Freshman Audrey Brown does her best to keep Seaholm close. Skyline in 3.
Pre Quarters Match 2 – Romeo vs. Woodhaven – Romeo’s size and physicality will overwhelm Woodhaven. Romeo in 2.
Quarters Match 1 – Mercy vs. Skyline – In 2020 both Kendall Murray and Jess Mruzik will be teammates for the University of Michigan. Mruzik and Mercy are just too good for Skyline. Mercy in a quick 2.
Quarters Match 2 – Bloomfield Hills vs. Troy – Probably the best quarterfinal matchup, this one goes 3 and it is a battle. Jess Robinson scores on a big swing to send Troy to the semi’s 18-16. Troy in 3.
Quarters Match 3 – Brighton vs. Dexter – Brighton edges past Dexter on a Celia Cullen dump. Brighton in two close sets.
Quarters Match 4 – Stoney Creek vs. Romeo – Stoney Creek does everything in there power to give up the match but prevails in ugly fashion. Stoney Creek in 3.
Semi’s Match 1 – Mercy vs. Troy – With Mercy doing everything to stop Jess Robinson, Francesca McBride steps up for Troy in a big way. Troy pushes Mercy both sets but doesn’t have enough to hold of Mercy. Mercy in 2.
Semi’s Match 2 – Brighton vs. Stoney – Stoney cleans things up this match and both Stoney and Brighton put on a show. Brighton pulls this one out in 3.
Finals – Mercy vs. Brighton – Brighton jumps out to an early first game lead, but Mercy climbs back and doesn’t look back. Mercy in two for the championship.
