Ten Division 4 state title contenders in 2020
The Mendon Hornets have been able to win the last two Division 4 state championships and certainly will be a factor in the race for the crown in 2020. Here’s 10 teams that we expect to be top contenders for…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Mendon Hornets have been able to win the last two Division 4 state championships and certainly will be a factor in the race for the crown in 2020. Here’s 10 teams that we expect to be top contenders for the D4 championship next fall.
*Teams listed are based on 2019 division ranking. It is possible some teams could move to a different division by the start of the next school year.
RELATED: Division 1 2020 Contenders
RELATED: Division 2 2020 Contenders
RELATED: Division 3 2020 Contenders
Mendon – It’s been an impressive two-year run for Mendon and the Hornets should still be strong heading into the 2020 season thanks to Anna Smith. Smith will be entering her senior year in 2020 and has been the top player in Division 4 the last two seasons. With her on the roster, Mendon will always be a contender. The Hornets graduate four seniors from the 2019 championship squad, but had a very promising sophomore class this year that consisted of six players. Don’t look for Mendon to take a step back in 2020.
Mia OsorioLeland – The two-time D4 runner-up managed to get to the championship match this year with just one senior on the roster. That bodes well for 2020, as the Comets will return everyone but middle Gillian Grobbel. Leland will continue to be strong defensively behind Mia Osorio at libero and will have plenty of solid hitting behind outside Tatum Kareck and middle Sarah Elwell. Setter Jana Molby will also be back to run the offense. Leland will be stacked next fall.
Rudyard – The Bulldogs made the memorable climb to Battle Creek and did so with only two seniors on their roster. Getting a taste of Kellogg Arena should keep the returning players hungry. The Bulldogs have a lot of hitting options back, led by outside Sara Beelen and sophomore middle Brooklyn Besteman. Libero Jerzie Belleville will also be back, as will setter Chesney Molina. Rudyard will remain a factor in the Division 4 picture in 2020.
Battle Creek St. Philip – The Fighting Tigers came up shy in the regional against Mendon, but certainly have the program history to know they will bounce back in 2020. St. Philip has a lot of young talent coming back, led by sophomore outside Brooke Dzwik and sophomore libero Baily Fancher. St. Philip has the foundation to be among the best once again next year.
Camden-Frontier – The Redskins took a set from Mendon in the quarterfinal and certainly had an argument to be one of the top four teams in Division 4. Frontier will graduate four from this year’s team, but return setter/outside Heather Shaw as well as 6-foot middle Jocelynn Nicholls in the middle. Izabella Burke can step up in the back row to keep the Redskins sound in all areas of the floor.
Ubly – The Bearcats reached the quarterfinals in 2019 with just one senior on the roster. They will return their top hitters in Allison Lautner and Lindsey Guza, as well as setter Samantha Souva and libero Josie Gusa. Ubly should be encouraged by what it accomplished this fall with such a young roster. The Bearcats certainly have the potential to reach Battle Creek next year.
Carney-Nadeau – The Wolves weren’t far from a second consecutive appearance in Battle Creek, losing in four sets to Rudyard in the quarterfinal. Nadeau will graduate just four seniors this year. While they won’t be easy to replace, the Wolves have a great foundation to build off of. Taylor Kidsch is a standout outside hitter that will be back for a senior year next fall. She has a great compliment in the middle with Liana Blahnik as well. Setter Haley Ernest will be back to feed both, while Sadie Lalonde will return at libero to lead the back row.
Waterford Our Lady – The Lakers have been able to work their way into the second week of the playoffs in recent years, but haven’t been able to break through in regional play. Next year could be a different story as they will return their entire roster from this fall. Among those returning are powerful outside Alexis Koenig. The 5-10 junior has great athleticism and is learning to develop more shots to her arsenal. Freshman Quinn Robak showed a lot in her first year as an outside and junior Brooklyn Robak has great chemistry with all her hitters as the team’s setter. The 2020 season is where we could see WOLL get back to Battle Creek.
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian – Like the Lakers, the Lancers don’t have a single senior on their 2019 roster. They didn’t have a senior in 2018 either. This group will be together for a third year in 2020 and that is likely to lead to great chemistry and fundamentals. Hailee Ide has been honorable mention All-State the last two years at libero and Katie Hopkins is a great floor general at setter. The Lancers don’t have much for size, which can be an obstacle, but Kaylee Page is still a dynamic outside hitter that can bring power on her swings.
Onaway – The Cardinals came up short in the regional final against Rudyard, but Onaway has some potential to take it a step further in 2020. While they will graduate four noteworthy seniors, they still bring back a top outside in Breya Domke and their libero, Jordan Larson. Onaway will have to work in a new setter and develop some go-to hitting to compliment Domke, but the Cardinals will be a force to be reckoned with in 2020.