Top Teams to Watch at the Dakota Invitational

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What better was to open up the 2022 season with one of the most stacked tournaments in the state. No better team to host than last year's Division 1 semifinalists, Macomb Dakota. This field of teams boast some of the top returning teams including the hosts as well as reigning state champions Marian, alongside Mercy, and Anchor Bay to name a few. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This tournament will have a lot of firepower oozing out of the gym on Saturday and we have your guide on the top teams to watch at the Dakota Invitational.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Dakota</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":157810,"width":260,"height":171,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/Dakota-11-crop-3895x2558-1632056765.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-157810" width="260" height="171"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's break down the host teams of Macomb Dakota. Stated in the opener, this team is fresh off of the backs of a semifinals run in 2021 and are coming into 2022 with the bulk of the roster that led the way. Their entire front row returns with the likes of middle blocking duo [player_tooltip player_id='66302' first='Olivia' last='Gardner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='110328' first='Johanna' last='Tillman']. The duo combine for a constant threat at the net whether it is with their blocking or their offense. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='108718' first='Erin' last='Madigan'] also returns for her senior season after a really nice breakout season last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be curious to see this weekend the pieces that coach <strong>Neil Rucinski</strong> fill in from last year's departures. Their right side position is wide open as is the libero position. This team should perform well in their opening contest of the season and should make the final rounds of their home tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Marian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team that has my pick for the Dakota Championship is last year's state champions, Marian. While this team loses a lot of firepower from a season ago, they return two integral pieces and will implement some hot up-and-coming talents. Returners in question are S [player_tooltip player_id='66328' first='Ava' last='Sarafa'] and OPP [player_tooltip player_id='66330' first='Ella' last='Schomer'], the two have been together for years now in both the high school season and club. Their connection has just continued to get better and better and the two could combine for one of the toughest duos to contend with. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":201663,"width":265,"height":177,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/Ava-Sarafa.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-201663" width="265" height="177"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside Sarafa and Schomer are newbies [player_tooltip player_id='156287' first='Isabelle' last='Busignani'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152524' first='Molly' last='Banta'] on the left side. The two replace some big names but have began creating their own legacies in the club season. A big question for this squad will be the production in the middle. Who does coach <strong>Mayssa Cook </strong>call upon to take on the duties in the middle? Cook has plenty of options to pick from.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Mercy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team that should never be counted out is another Catholic League school, Mercy. This team had what would be considered a down year last season as they bowed out of the tournament early, but they were extremely young and return a lot of talent to build upon. A young talent with one of the biggest names in the country, [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn']. Flynn took over the setting reigns full time last season as just a freshman and excelled in her role. She's coming off of a national championship winning club season too which is nothing to scoff over. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flynn has a skilled bench to work alongside with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='110286' first='Angie' last='Butler'], [player_tooltip player_id='66333' first='Ella' last='Shields'] and [player_tooltip player_id='66313' first='Erin' last='Kline']. I am curious to see the pieces fall together on the court come Saturday, as Mercy doesn't lose much from last year, they do have a lot of different pieces to play around with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":174546,"width":249,"height":263,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/01/Campbell-Flynn-965x1024.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn']" class="wp-image-174546" width="249" height="263"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Grand Blanc</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grand Blanc showed a lot of promise from last season. This was a team with a first year coach and a lot of youth on their side, and they still do. This is another team that has a lot of different pieces that could be thrown around. They return one of the top outside hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='66316' first='Remi' last='Madison'] as the senior leader on and off the court. As well, they return OH <strong>Laila Bates</strong> that has been steadily improving since last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a great debut for Grand Blanc with a lot of competition to challenge themselves and give a hint of what they could do this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Anchor Bay</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anchor Bay could very easily be one of the dark horse teams of the season. The Dakota Invitational is going to be a great opening to see just what they could do this season. They return libero Lexi Smith to lead the way alongside MB [player_tooltip player_id='173608' first='Payton' last='Lee'] and RS <strong>Rachel Youngblood</strong>. The two at the net are absolutely huge as they both stand tall at 6'4. The defense for this team should be outstanding both at the net and the back court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anchor Bay does return to the 2022 season without longtime starting setter [player_tooltip player_id='24875' first='Karlee' last='Stoll'] (Ferris State). This could very well be the spot that holds them back from having a huge season, but if they can get a setter in to run the offense at a high level. This team could find themselves in one of the final rounds of this tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Utica Eisenhower</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another sleeper pick for this tournament is Utica Eisenhower. This team is another one with a lot of potnetial not only in their opening weekend of play, but for the remainder of the season. They return a big time outside hitter in [player_tooltip player_id='108717' first='Katie' last='Smith'] to lead the way. She will have to step up in a lot of ways this year, on and off the court as this team comes in very young, but loaded with potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend, we'll see who can support Smith and bring up the level of play a notch higher than before. They'll have a tough start to the season with some fierce competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->