Players to watch & predictions for the MHSAA Division 2 semifinals
The semifinal stage of the MHSAA playoffs will conclude on Friday evening with the Division 2 pairings. Three of the 2018 semifinalists are back this year, including the defending state champion. With a lot of veteran coaches, Friday’s play should…
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Continue ReadingThe semifinal stage of the MHSAA playoffs will conclude on Friday evening with the Division 2 pairings.
Three of the 2018 semifinalists are back this year, including the defending state champion. With a lot of veteran coaches, Friday’s play should be at a high-level.
Here’s a closer look at each of the two semifinals and what players to keep an eye on at Kellogg Arena.
Notre Dame Prep vs. Lakewood – Friday, 4:30 p.m.
Two of the powers of Class B/Division 2 square off in the opening semifinal with Notre Dame Prep meeting with Lakewood. The Fighting Irish have won three state championships since 2007 and were the 2018 runner-up. Lakewood claimed the 2012 state championship and was runner-up in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Both of these teams know what Battle Creek brings and will not be rattled by the environment. They will be ready to bring their “A” game and put on a show.
Players to watch for Notre Dame Prep – A team comprised largely of underclassmen, the Fighting Irish play with a lot of maturity for their young age. Sophomore Aly Borellis is a great example of that. After a standout freshman season, Borellis is a do-everything player for NDP. Following in the footsteps of current Ball State standout Natalie Risi, Borellis has 575 kills, 439 digs, 743 assists, 98 blocks and 96 aces. There isn’t a thing she can’t do on the floor and she will impact each aspect of the game for the Irish. Just a junior, Olivia Kowalkowski is making her third appearance at Battle Creek and the libero is one of the veteran leaders of the Irish. NDP doesn’t have the size at the net like the other semifinal teams, but they may have the best defense and that’s due to the composure of Kowalkowski. She’s played in a number of big matches and will be ready for the hitters the Irish are up against.
Players to watch for Lakewood – You can’t talk about Lakewood without talking about sisters Aubrey O’Gorman and Maradith O’Gorman. Aubrey is a junior middle that stands 6-foot-3, while Maradith is a sophomore outside that is 6-2. Maradith has put up a team-high 506 kills with 360 digs and 86 aces while Aubrey has 480 kills and 151 blocks. Aubrey is finishing at a very high rate, hitting .424 on her attacks. These two have the ability to take over a match and when they get rolling, they are very difficult to stop.
Prediction – This match is going to be hard to call. Lakewood has the size and the power, while Notre Dame Prep has the depth and the defense. Serve receive and passing is always big this time of year and that is what the Irish have in spades. While NDP will have their hands full with Lakewood’s hitting, the Irish have developed a slew of hitters throughout the year and can keep the Vikings off-balanced with their attacks. It’s hard to pick against Betty Wroubel this time of year. She always has her teams playing their best in November and I think she will have the Irish ready for another finals appearance. Notre Dame Prep over Lakewood in five
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Kingsley – Friday, 6:30 p.m.
The 2018 state champs are back to defend their crown. Grand Rapids Christian has held on to the top spot in our Division 2 rankings all year and have had a tough road to Battle Creek, topping second-ranked Coopersville in the regional final and third-ranked Hamilton in the quarterfinal. Now the Eagles face upset-minded Kingsley, which is making its first semifinal appearance since 2004. The 17th-ranked Stags have nothing to lose this weekend and should play loose.
Players to watch for Grand Rapids Christian – The Eagles have tremendous depth in their hitting positions and they also have one of the best setters in the state in Jordyn Gates. The Miss Volleyball finalist has been able to keep the GRC machine running for the past few years and has upgraded her defensive and serving skills to make her even more a threat. She has over 1,100 assists and 390 digs, while also chipping in with 138 kills of her own. Of the hitting options, junior Addie VanderWeide has been the most impactful. She leads the team with 511 kills and is one of their top passers. It is her passing game that will be important this weekend. The Eagles won’t be stopped if they can stay in-system.
Players to watch for Kingsley – In a position that size is typically important, Brittany Bowman is able to play like a giant at just 5-4. The senior outside for Kingsley has been able to prove that the position is about a lot more than height, as her 501 kills and 621 digs puts her at an elite level in the state. She will be swinging against players that have close to a foot on her this weekend, but she isn’t going to back down. When it comes to size, Kingsley has that as well in senior middle Austyn DeWeese. Standing 6-2, DeWeese provides a big block that Kingsley will need on Friday. She has 143 blocks this year to go with 529 kills. While their hitting will be vital, it will be what Bowman and DeWeese can bring defensively that may be most important.
Prediction – Kingsley is a great story and the Stags should be excited about their 2019 season, but they are running into a juggernaut on Friday. Grand Rapids Christian already has championship-level victories in the last week alone and nothing is going to shake them now. The pressure is definitely on GRC, but they have played with that pressure all year and still have not lost to a Division 2 opponent this season. I expect Kingsley to come out swinging and have some success early, but the Stags won’t be able to stop Grand Rapids Christian once its gets rolling. Grand Rapids Christian over Kingsley in three