Four Questions For The 2021 D4 Semifinalists
Last year saw the Division 4 finals bring in a lot of new faces, but ultimately the state’s most recognized program came away with another championship. As we approach the 2022 season, it’s the defending champs that have a lot…
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Continue ReadingLast year saw the Division 4 finals bring in a lot of new faces, but ultimately the state’s most recognized program came away with another championship.
As we approach the 2022 season, it’s the defending champs that have a lot of questions to answer about whether it can contend once again.
For the new faces in 2021, how can they make sure last year wasn’t a fluke?
Battle Creek St. Philip – Can it regroup for a 3-peat?
St. Philip isn’t a program that many are going to have sympathy for. The Tigers won their 22nd MHSAA state title last fall, and a second consecutive. It wasn’t a big surprise last year, as St. Philip returned all but one from its 2020 championship squad. This year, that’s definitely not the case. The Tigers graduated five from the 2021 team, which had a roster of just 10 players overall. Included in the graduates were some of the all-time greats in the program in outside Brooke Dzwik and libero Baily Fancher.
Coming into 2022, the Tigers will definitely have a learning curve to deal with, but you can’t put it past Vicky Groat to manufacture this team together and have it as a title contender come November. Senior middle Maddie Hoelscher returns at the net after amassing over 200 kills last fall. Makenzee Grimm played OPP opposite Dzwik last year and is back for her junior season. She’s likely to see an expanded role. Kate Doyle and Rylee Altman were key parts of the defense and are back to be a strong point for the team early on while its offense gets situated. Charlie Greger was actually an eighth grader that was on the finals roster as a setter. One has to expect she’s a player to watch out for as a freshman.
Indian River Inland Lakes – What did finals run do for the program?
Head coach Nicole Moore talked about how so few probably new where Inland Lakes was, let alone what their volleyball program could do. The Bulldogs hadn’t won a regional since 1995, yet managed to make a run all the way to the D4 finals in 2021. While it was overwhelmed by the Tigers, the experience could come in handy for 2022.
Inland Lakes graduated four seniors from a big roster, which means it has a lot of that finals experience coming back. Senior outside Natalie Wandrie was a powerhouse at the net last year, carrying the offensive load and proving to be a solid all-around defender. Middle Hannah Robinson was fourth on the team in kills in 2021 and is back for her senior year to compliment Wandrie. Ryann Clancy is also back at libero, after posting up over 600 digs in 2021. She’s a rock in the back row for the team to count on. The Warriors will have to find a new starting setter, which will be key, but this group should be very motivated to prove that 2021 was no fluke.
Inter-City Baptist – Are the graduate losses too great?
Inter-City Baptist was a team that really found its groove in the last few months of the year and it played St. Philip to four sets in the semifinal. It was the first-ever trip to Kellogg Arena for the Chargers. Problem for ICB is that the team was very senior-reliant. A total of eight graduated from the roster. Included were the team’s top three hitters, the setter, and the libero.
It certainly leaves the Chargers with a lot to rebuild, but doesn’t leave them out of contention for 2022. Junior Nilah Hughes was a regular part of the hitting rotation and had a strong finishing percentage in 2021. She will definitely be relied on as the team adds in new starters. The same can be said for senior Claire Harrison, who was an OPP in 2021 that finished consistently. It’s not a lot to go on, but it’s still a foundation. Establishing a starting setter and reliable defenders will be important if ICB wants to be in the mix once again this year.
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart – How far can its hitting take it?
Sacred Heart finally broke through to Kellogg Arena in 2021 after seven quarterfinal defeats over the previous 10 years. The Irish were just a few points from the final, falling in five sets to Inland Lakes. Similar to ICB, the Irish graduated a lot of big pieces from its roster, including dominant middle Maddie Munley, along with its starting setter and libero.
The 2022 squad will have to fill those holes, obviously, but there is still some strong hitting talent for the Irish to work with. Senior outside Angel Brown Angel Brown 5'10" | OH Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart | 2023 MI was a big force all around the court and can be the leader offensively and defensively for this squad. Senior middle Lillie Laney was the team’s leading blocker a year ago and a strong finisher as well. She and Brown will make for a great 1-2 punch while the defense pieces itself together.