Division 4 State Championship Top Vote Getters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week we ran preseason polls for fans to decide who would be their eventual state champion in each of the four divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we look at <a href="https://bit.ly/3dsiI2M">Division 4</a>, where the battle for the title seems to be wide open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the top four vote-getters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Oakland Christian (50.43%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just two seasons ago Oakland Christian made an incredible run to nearly winning the Division 4 state title. It came up just shy in the final, but is a program accustomed to getting a lot out of a limited roster. They will have to do that again in 2022, as it graduated a lot of the remaining pieces from the 2020 runner-up squad. <strong>Lydia Tison </strong>is one of the key pieces back as a senior setter and strong defender. <strong>Abby Franey </strong>is also back as a junior who was a regular part of the defensive effort in 2021. If a lot of young players can step up early, the Lancers may be able to make another postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart (28.54%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A semifinalist last year, the Irish should be motivated to get another taste of that success after it took them many years to finally break through. SHA will have some key offensive starters back to make themselves an immediate threat in D4. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173615' first='Angel' last='Brown'] </strong>can really explode at the net and send a difficult ball to stop. <strong>Lillie Laney </strong>is also a big asset offensive and defensively in the middle. <strong>Eliza Pieratt </strong>is an experienced setter that can get both the ball in places where they can succeed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Inland Lakes (12.0%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2021 runner-up should have the potential to make a return trip to Battle Creek as it returns some of its biggest contributors from last year's squad. Leading the way is senior outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='216118' first='Natalie' last='Wandrie']</strong>, who definitely is on the preseason short list for potential Player of the Year in D4. <strong>Hannah Robinson </strong>and <strong>Taylor Jones </strong>provide complimentary hitting in the middle and the right side to make this offense very explosive. <strong>Ryann Clancy </strong>is back as a senior libero, while <strong>KC Cain </strong>is a returning DS as well. Inland Lakes doesn't look to have a weakness on paper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Waterford Our Lady (5.34%)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers are a team that plays a very competitive schedule and usually hangs with some solid teams from the Oakland County area. Oakland Christian has been a real hurdle for them in postseason play, but WOLL is a program not far removed from regional championships and Battle Creek appearances. This year's Laker squad should be pretty experienced with eight returning players from 2020. That includes a lot of hitting talent and is highlighted by 6-footer <strong>Quinn Robak</strong>, a great all-around athlete that can shine anywhere on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->