Mercy Power Series: Week 1 Catch-Up
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One of the toughest pools in the state, there is nothing quite like the Mercy Power Series. This tournament has some of the best talent in the state going head to head weekend after weekend throughout the season. The Power…
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Continue ReadingOne of the toughest pools in the state, there is nothing quite like the Mercy Power Series. This tournament has some of the best talent in the state going head to head weekend after weekend throughout the season. The Power Series could very well be the predictor for several state champions this season.
Let’s catch up on the happenings from weekend one.
The Undefeated
Coming out of week one, we have four teams still with an unblemished record going into this weekend’s contest. From the likes of North Branch, Novi, Northville and Clarkston, all four teams had a great opening weekend at Mercy’s Power Series at Schoolcraft College. This matches weren’t without some close calls though.
North Branch and Novi were pushed to the brink quite a few times in the opening weekend. North Branch narrowly saw themselves down a game against Saline, being pushed to three. In the Bronco’s match against Lake Orion, they just narrowly escaped going to a tiebreaker with their second set going into overtime 29-27. Novi, in a similar situation, could’ve saw themselves at 2-2 as easily as they found themselves at 4-0. Just clearing the hurdles of both Brighton and Ann Arbor Skyline.
Clarkston seemed to have a pretty easy weekend as they topped three of their opponents via sweeps by scores of over ten in each set. Not until their last game against Mercy were the Wolves really challenged. Between their second set going all the way to a 33-31 decision and the decisive set being settled by the difference of three points. Clarkston will for sure see some more of that type of competition in weekend 2.
Northville, like the juggernauts they are, saw themselves cruise pretty smoothly throughout the weekend. Outside of their matches with St. Mary’s Catholic Central and Eisenhower, each set score was decided by over a 10 point differential. The Mustangs will be given the gauntlet this weekend as they see the likes of Brighton, Skyline, Mercy and undefeated North Branch.
The Troublemakers
Quite a few high quality teams took an L or two in the opening weekend of the power series, but these teams are so dangerous and could make a move on anyone in the next few weeks.
One of the biggest threats coming out of weekend one looks to be Saline. The Hornets came into the opening weekend of play with a very small and limited bench. With four of their starting six out for a variety of reasons, the remaining nine had to hunker down and weather the storm. Nearly going a perfect 4-0 on the weekend, pushing both North Branch and Lake Orion to three sets in both losses. An impressive feat without nearly half of your offensive and defensive production on tap. Sophomore Marie Laurio Marie Laurio 5'10" | OH Saline | 2025 State #147 Nation MI was top notch all day and was critical in the success of this team.
Of the teams that went 3-1, Mercy and Ann Arbor Skyline look to have the most promise for domination in the coming weeks. Mercy looked to have a lot of depth on their bench and they played with just about every line up you could on Saturday. They looked to have also had some missing members on their bench. Skyline on the other hand is pretty self-explanatory with their big gun Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI on the left. Skyline just narrowly lost their match to Novi and will have some fuel in their fire going into the weekend.
Beside Saline, a few other 2-2 teams stuck out to me as well. St. Mary’s Catholic Central is the little fish in the big pond of Division 1 and 2 programs at the Power Series, but they step up to the plate every time. In their two losses to Northville and Detroit Country Day, SMCC only dropped the sets via two-point decisions. This team is extremely young and stepping up to these big dogs so early in the season will pay off dividends.
Another young team to watch that went 2-2 in weekend 1, Bloomfield Hills. They have one of the toughest newbies on the scene with freshman middle blocker Kayla Nwabueze Kayla Nwabueze 6'2" | MB Bloomfield Hills | 2026 State MI . She’s stepping up in big ways for this team as a six rotation player and is such a fast arm on offense. Hills took down Lake Orion in three which turned a lot of heads.