2022 MHSAA State Finals Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After two days of entertaining semifinals, we have reached the final four matches of the 2022 MHSAA season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's finals have plenty of intriguing storylines and should feature some outstanding volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Division 1: Marian vs. Northville – Noon</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":247934,"width":210,"height":251,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/9-Ella-Craggs-858x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247934" width="210" height="251" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's our top-2 teams in D1 meeting up for the final, not much more you can ask for. Northville owns the only win over Marian this season in the Beast of the East final. Marian is eager for the rematch, as it was without <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='66330' first='Ella' last='Schomer'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='66329' first='Reagan' last='Sass'] </strong>in that matchup due to injuries suffered earlier in the day. Marian comes in with the clout as the two-time defending champs and they looked every part of it in a sweep of Forest Hills Northern. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='66328' first='Ava' last='Sarafa'] </strong>is the top setter in the state and about to cross 5,500 in her prep career. She's really brought out the best in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156287' first='Isabelle' last='Busignani']</strong> this week, as the sophomore is locked in. Northville has great depth all around and it really had to dig deep to get past Saline on Thursday. It will have to dig deep again in Saturday's final. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='66325' first='Abigail' last='Reck'] </strong>is a powerhouse arm that won't take a backseat to anyone from Marian. Northville had a lot of great blocking from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156325' first='Molly' last='Reck']</strong> and setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs']</strong> in the semifinal. Craggs is a special setter in her own right as a sophomore and she's getting great swings out of a lot of arms right now. The serve receive will be key in this match, as always, but play out of the middles will be important as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110315' first='Avry' last='Nelson']</strong> of Northville and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108790' first='Mckenzie' last='Swanson']</strong> of Marian may very well determine the winner. My pick has to stay with the champs. Northville is deserving, but until someone beats Marian in Kellogg Arena, it's hard to pick against them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Marian over Northville in 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Division 2: North Branch vs. Cadillac – 4:30 p.m.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":247935,"width":216,"height":264,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/4-Hailey-Green-2-840x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247935" width="216" height="264" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cadillac is playing in its first Division 2 final, but the reward for that is playing a North Branch squad that has been the D2 favorite all season. The Broncos looked every bit like a champion in Saturday's sweep of a talented South Christian team. North Branch returned a lot from last year's D2 runner-up squad, but has gotten even stronger with the addition of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky']</strong> on the outside and the improvement of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222361' first='Clara' last='Gyomory']</strong> on the right. North Branch will be tasked with trying to slow down Cadillac's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110314' first='Carissa' last='Musta']</strong>. The 6-foot-4 junior took over the Vikings' win against Divine Child and will pose a challenge with blocking and her length above the net. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110287' first='Kaela' last='Chingwa']</strong> has been a blocking machine for North Branch in her own right at 6-2. As a team, the Broncos have done a great job of anticipating opposing hitters. I'd expect no different on Saturday. Cadillac will need big contributions from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108763' first='Joslyn' last='Seeley'] </strong>and <strong>Makenzie Johns </strong>on the outside, but getting the ball past North Branch libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green'] </strong>won't be easy. I look for North Branch to finish the mission it has been on all season. The Broncos are just playing at a different level than anyone else right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>North Branch over Cadillac in 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Division 3: Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Kalamazoo Christian – 2:30 p.m.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":247936,"width":162,"height":272,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/3-Dani-Pohl-2-610x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247936" width="162" height="272" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dani Pohl</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>P-W walked the walk on Saturday with a dominant sweep of Cass City. The Pirates are so long up front, it's hard to see many in D3 competing with them. <strong>Dani Pohl</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172203' first='Taylor' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462056' first='Saige' last='Martin'] </strong>and <strong>Sierra Schneider</strong> all play very long at the net and are a force offensively and defensively. Kalamazoo Christian has its own problematic size with 6-foot-3 <strong>Marisa Fetterley</strong>. She took over the Comets' comeback win over Calumet on Friday. The key for Kalamazoo Christian will be to get some offensive depth to match the options P-W has. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries']</strong>, <strong>Mackenzie Ash</strong> and <strong>Makenna Ekkens</strong> may need to take on a bigger role to handle the Pirates on Saturday. Defensively, <strong>Jovie Cochran </strong>was huge for the Comets in their semifinal win. She will be tested in this final. The Pirates have waited a long time for an opportunity to win their first state title. Now that it is here, I don't see them squandering it. They are a very mentally strong team and have the combination of size and athleticism that's hard to get past when they don't make any self-inflicted mistakes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>P-W over Kalamazoo Christian in 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Division 4: MP Sacred Heart vs. Athens – 10 a.m.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":247937,"width":203,"height":258,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/8-Alaina-Brubaker-804x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247937" width="203" height="258" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alaina Brubaker</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's finals will open with Division 4, where a first-time champion will be crowned. Sacred Heart suffered heartbreak in a 2021 semifinal loss, but it looked to have learned from that on Thursday when it overpowered Forest Park. The Irish hit .333 as a team led by 16 kills from <strong>Lillie Laney </strong>and 12 from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173615' first='Angel' last='Brown']</strong>. Their 2-setter offense with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595955' first='Sophie' last='Hauck'] </strong>and <strong>Eliza Pieratt </strong>ran very smoothly, thanks to a lot of accurate passing from libero <strong>Bridget Ruiz</strong>. Aggressive serving didn't hurt either, as Pieratt tallied five of the team's seven aces. Athens closed out three tough sets with Lansing Christian in the other semifinal. The Indians had a tremendous defensive effort with 65 digs. Five different players recorded double digits, led by 14 from <strong>Kamryn Parlin</strong> and from setter <strong>Alaina Brubaker</strong>, who added 29 assists. Offensively, <strong>Kylie Quist </strong>hit .321 with 11 kills while <strong>Jocelyn Paul </strong>added nine and <strong>Piper Porter </strong>had eight. If Athens can recrate their defensive effort, it will put a lot of pressure on the Irish. This final is going to come down to the team that makes fewer errors. It feels like a toss-up, as both were polished on Thursday. But, Sacred Heart looks like a team on a mission after missing out in 2021. Athens is a little younger team that could be Sacred Heart in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Sacred Heart over Athens in 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->