Four Marquee Matchups In Week 8
In this article:
Pinning down four matchups this week was very difficult. Week 8 of the 2023 MHSAA season has a lot of marquee contests happening, including some of the top rivalries in the state, and one matchup that has two of the…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPinning down four matchups this week was very difficult.
Week 8 of the 2023 MHSAA season has a lot of marquee contests happening, including some of the top rivalries in the state, and one matchup that has two of the best in their respective divisions colliding.
PrepDig is putting on the Michigan Top 250 Expo for Class of 2024-27 prospects on Dec. 9 in Pontiac. Click here to sign up for the event. You can use promo code “EllisExpo2023” for $10 off your registration.
Rockford at Hudsonville, Tuesday
Hudsonville has just two losses on the season, and one of them came at the hands of Rockford back in August. Now the two meet up in a best-of-five match that should bring a lot of fireworks. The Eagles struggled at the net defensively in the loss, putting up just one block against the Rams. That game Rockford a hitting advantage of .200 to .157 for Hudsonville. The Eagles will need a little more out of the block this matchup as Rockford comes loaded with the 1-2 punch of Liv Hosford Liv Hosford 5'11" | OH Rockford | 2026 State MI and Mallory Wandel Mallory Wandel 6'0" | OH Rockford | 2027 State MI . They attack early and often. Hudsonville has a pretty good feel for its offense, led by Isabelle Swiercz Isabelle Swiercz 6'2" | OH Hudsonville | 2024 State #110 Nation MI , who also is a standout defender in the back row alongside Gianna Bender Gianna Bender 5'6" | DS/L Hudsonville | 2024 State MI . The two Miss Volleyball finalists can certainly live up to their billing with a strong performance on Tuesday.
Mercy at Marian, Wednesday
Rivalry matchups don’t get much bigger than this. Marian and Mercy used to meet up twice during the regular season, but with the addition of new teams to the CHSL out of Ohio, this featured pairing now comes just once during the regular season. This year, it happens on Wednesday at Marian. The Marlins and Mustangs did square off during a tournament earlier in the year with Mercy getting a two-set win in an evenly-matched game. I would expect more of the same in this best-of-five setting. Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI being back for Mercy has added another dimension, understandably, to their play. She’s getting the best out of young hitters like Kate Kalczynski Kate Kalczynski 6'1" | OH Mercy | 2027 State MI , Maya Zarow Maya Zarow 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2026 State MI and Cree Hollier Cree Hollier 5'8" | MB Mercy | 2026 State MI . Marian will counter with power arms in junior Isabelle Busignani Isabelle Busignani 6'1" | OH Marian | 2025 State #73 Nation MI as well as freshmen Calli LeFevre Calli LeFevre 5'11" | OH Marian | 2027 State MI and Sophia Smith Sophia Smith 6'2" | RS Marian | 2027 State MI . Senior Danielle Mertz Danielle Mertz 5'11" | OH Marian | 2024 State MI has also been stepping up as of late, bringing a veteran arm to the net.
Lakewood at SMCC, Wednesday
There’s a special treat happening in Monroe this week as SMCC welcomes Lakewood to town for a non-conference, best-of-five matchup featuring two of the best in their respective divisions. MIVCA’s No. 1 in D3 hosts No. 3 in D2. This game should be a technically-sound contest as both programs are well-coached and have a large pedigree of success. SMCC has two of the most productive juniors in the state to rely on in Jessica Costlow Jessica Costlow 5'11" | OH SMCC | 2025 State #142 Nation MI and McKenna Payne McKenna Payne 5'7" | DS/L SMCC | 2025 State #105 Nation MI . Mix in sophomore power arm Madeline Dettling Madeline Dettling 6'0" | OH SMCC | 2026 State MI and the Kestrels have the ability to compete around the court with anyone. Lakewood has defensive ace Carley Piercefield Carley Piercefield 5'4" | DS/L Lakewood | 2024 State #90 Nation MI as a Miss Volleyball finalist leading the way. Abby Pickard Abby Pickard 5'10" | S Lakewood | 2025 State MI is a veteran junior setter/outside option that has helped develop some of the inexperienced hitters on this team to make it a very balanced squad that is hard to prepare for.
Clarkston at Lake Orion, Thursday
Talking about rivalries, Clarkston and Lake Orion are certainly one of the top ones in the state as well. This pairing has routinely decided an OAA Red championship or a district championship. The Dragons need this win as they have a league loss already and it’s a chance to play spoiler for Clarkston while potentially getting into the co-champion discussion. These two met back August with Clarkston getting a 2-sets-to-1 victory. This time around, Lake Orion has started to tap into freshman Isabelle Lawhorn Isabelle Lawhorn 6'0" | MB Lake Orion | 2027 MI ‘s potential. She’s a great compliment to senior Devin Brunk Devin Brunk 5'10" | OH Lake Orion | 2024 State MI and junior Charlotte Peplowski. The Dragons will need to finish points as they face a fierce attack and defense in Clarkston. The Wolves are very balanced with Kiley Gallagher Kiley Gallagher 5'5" | DS/L Clarkston | 2024 State MI as a veteran libero that has a lot of big-match experience. The same goes for setter Emery Kuebler Emery Kuebler 5'7" | S Clarkston | 2024 State MI , who is getting a lot of big swings out of Miss Volleyball finalist Cayla Cogan Cayla Cogan 5'10" | OH Clarkston | 2024 State #96 Nation MI , as well as freshman Marlie Smith Marlie Smith 5'10" | S Clarkston | 2027 State MI and junior Isabelle Henry Isabelle Henry 6'1" | MB Clarkston | 2025 State MI .