Grand Haven Lakeshore Classic Preview & Predictions
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The 2022 prep volleyball season gets underway in a big way this weekend. There will be some great tournaments being held around the state on Saturday. On of which is the Grand Haven Varsity Lakeshore Classic. A collection of 16…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 prep volleyball season gets underway in a big way this weekend.
There will be some great tournaments being held around the state on Saturday. On of which is the Grand Haven Varsity Lakeshore Classic.
A collection of 16 teams will be broken into four pools of four squads. The top two in each pool advance to the championship bracket, an 8-team single-elimination tournament.
Winning this event will be a great momentum boost to start the year. Here’s a look at the great talent that will be featured.
Pool A: Skyline, Jenison, West Ottawa, Kenowa Hills
Skyline has the name recognition in this pool with Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI being Prep Dig’s top-ranked 2023 player in the nation. The Eagles also were the Division 1 runner-up last season. West Ottawa’s Raegan Lantz Raegan Lantz 6'1" | OH West Ottawa | 2023 State MI can really showcase herself as a dominant hitter against opposing talent in this event. The Miami (Ohio) commit is hoping to lift the Panthers to a breakout season. Kenowa Hills brings Shelby Porter Shelby Porter 6'1" | RS Kenowa Hills | 2023 State MI to the table, a 6-foot senior outside that can finish at a high rate as well. She’s likely to be relied on heavily this weekend with a lot of graduation losses from 2021. Jenison should be an intriguing team as well, as the Wildcats had seven underclassmen on the 2021 roster. That could lead to a big step forward for the program.
Pool B: Novi, Grand Haven, Manchester, DeWitt
Novi could have the most defensive talent in the state with Sarah Vellucci Sarah Vellucci 6'0" | OH Novi | 2023 State #97 Nation MI and Kaitlyn Hoffman Kaitlyn Hoffman 5'8" | DS/L Novi | 2023 State #81 Nation MI leading the way. Both also contribute offensively. The Wildcats have some questions to answer at setter, but still should be a fundamentally sound team. The host Grand Haven looks to be loaded for a strong year. Kam Burbridge Kam Burbridge 6'1" | MB Grand Haven | 2023 State MI is one of the best middles in the state while outside Izzy Whittaker is ready to showcase her growth over the last year. Also, don’t sleep on the Bucs’ defensive talent. It should be on point this year as well. Manchester is bringing a lot of depth to the table. It should be a balanced offensive and defensive performance for the Dutchmen. DeWitt has a great senior leader in setter Taylor Reha that will need to develop new hitters quickly to hang with some of the other powers in this event.
Pool C: North Branch, South Christian, Lowell, Grandville
This is a very strong pool. North Branch steps in as the Division 2 preseason favorite. We’ve talked at length at all the Broncos bring to the table this year. They are stacked everywhere and could establish themselves as the best team in the state regardless of division. Grandville brings in our top-ranked player of the 2024 class in setter Zoey Dood Zoey Dood 6'2" | S Grandville | 2024 State #131 Nation MI . She’s got all the tools and is ready to lead the Bulldogs to a big 2022 season, along with senior middle Paige Sanders Paige Sanders 6'0" | MB Grandville | 2023 State MI . Speaking of middles, South Christian has a dynamic 1-2 punch in Kennedy Arp Kennedy Arp 6'0" | MB South Christian | 2023 State MI and Ellie Fles Ellie Fles 6'0" | MB South Christian | 2024 State MI . They lead a veteran Sailors squad this season. Lowell is just a few years removed from being the D1 runner-up. Aubreigh Oswald Aubreigh Oswald 6'2" | MB Lowell | 2023 State MI can hold her own in the middle with anyone, and the Red Arrows are hoping playing youth at setter and libero in 2021 will have big benefits in 2022.
Pool D: Hudsonville, Forest Hills Central, East Kentwood, Livonia Stevenson
Hudsonville reached the D1 semifinals a year ago, but have a lot to replace. Luckily for the Eagles they have junior outside Isabelle Swiercz Isabelle Swiercz 6'2" | OH Hudsonville | 2024 State #110 Nation MI to rely on, along with junior libero Gianna Bender Gianna Bender 5'6" | DS/L Hudsonville | 2024 State MI . Forest Hills Central is going to bring the heat at the net this year with senior outside Sarah Dunn Sarah Dunn 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2023 State MI , junior outside Avery Weslow Avery Weslow 5'11" | OH Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI and junior middle Mila Kavara Mila Kavara 6'2" | MB Forest Hills Central | 2024 State MI . It should be one of the most prolific offenses in the state. Jacey Anama Jacey Anama 5'9" | OH East Kentwood | 2023 MI is a senior outside that will lead an East Kentwood team that won over 30 matches in 2021. Stevenson should be very excited as it returns three veteran hitters and a setter. If its defense can regroup quickly, it should be a great year as the Spartans will have a powerful offense.
Championship Bracket Teams Prediction: Skyline, West Ottawa, Novi, Grand Haven, North Branch, South Christian, Hudsonville, Forest Hills Central
Semifinalists Prediction: Skyline, Grand Haven, North Branch, Forest Hills Central
Finals Prediction: North Branch over Skyline