Mercy, FH Northern Peak Heading Into D1 Final

There were times during the 2023 season that Forest Hills Northern and Farmington Hills Mercy didn't look like state title contenders.   For one reason or another, the Huskies and Marlins went through some rough patches.   However, there's no debating that both are now playing their best volleyball and that has led them to meeting up for the Division 1 state championship on Saturday.   Both were impressive in dispatching of their respective opponents on Friday.   You can see a photo gallery from <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/11/fh-northern-vs-northville-photo-gallery/">FH Northern vs. Northville</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/11/mercy-vs-clarkston-photo-gallery/">Mercy vs. Clarkston</a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">FH Northern def. Northville 22-25, 25-11, 25-23, 25-19</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D1-Semi-1-7.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-480098" style="width:250px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell']</figcaption></figure>   The Huskies looked like they might succumb to the resilient Mustangs after dropping the first set on Friday, but Northern found another gear in the second set that it never checked out of.   Using a strong service game that led to 12 aces, Northern was able to keep Northville off-balance for most of the match and allow the Huskies to advance to their first state final since 2005.   “I believe serve and pass is the most important part of the high school game,” Lurye said. “That's why we start sets with back-to-back serving subs, because they are the best servers on the team. [player_tooltip player_id='156314' first='Kylie' last='Loehfelm'] subs in for a middle and it's her No. 1 role to serve the ball tough, to an area. I don't need aces from her, I just need it to be tough so (opponents) are out-of-system. [player_tooltip player_id='451187' first='Grace' last='Riedel'] follows her and those two kids have owned the roles that have been given to them.”   Northville would put together some rallies in the third and fourth set, but couldn't overcome the Huskies' all-around play.   Northern got big production out of their two seniors, [player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell'].   Erickson had 19 kills while hitting .320, while also picking up 20 digs and three aces. Hopewell had nine kills, eight digs and three aces of her own.   [player_tooltip player_id='226936' first='Lexie' last='Stotenbur'] played a strong game at setter with 37 assists, 14 digs and four kills. Madalin Hersman added 11 kills, 11 digs and three aces.   Northville was led by Mallory and [player_tooltip player_id='156325' first='Molly' last='Reck'], who each had 14 kills and combined for 21 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'] had 34 assists and 16 digs while [player_tooltip player_id='110313' first='Greta' last='McKee'] tallied 17 digs.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mercy def. Clarkston 25-23, 25-13, 25-20</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/D1-Semi-2-10.jpg?w=953" alt="" class="wp-image-480138" style="width:244px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski']</figcaption></figure>   The Marlins were playing from behind early on in Friday's matchup, but once they got rolling, they never stopped, setting them up for their first finals appearance since 2019.   Trailing 20-14 in the opening set, Mercy went on to score 11 of the next 14 points to take the first set and leave Clarkston a bit shellshocked.   “The first five points, we couldn't pass. I think nerves, who knows, (Clarkston) serves strong. I think once we settled down and were able to start passing, I think that changed everything,” Mercy coach Loretta Vogel said.   The second set was all Mercy, as the Marlins followed the lead of junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn'] who impacted the game in all areas. She put up 23 assists, three assisted blocks, nine digs, eight kills and an ace.   “I think we got so focused on what Campbell was doing at times that it impacted how we handled everyone else and Mercy is a good team with a lot of good players that can hurt you and that showed in this match,” Clarkston coach Ali Smith said.   Those others included freshman [player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski'], who had a match-high 14 kills while hitting .345 for the Marlins. She came through with big shot after big shot when Mercy needed to create some space from the Wolves in the third set to close out the match.   [player_tooltip player_id='226944' first='Maya' last='Zarow'] had 10 kills and 10 digs in the win, while [player_tooltip player_id='226899' first='Cree' last='Hollier'] had five kills with eight assisted blocks.   Clarkston was led by freshman [player_tooltip player_id='442995' first='Marlie' last='Smith'], who had nine kills with five assists and nine digs. [player_tooltip player_id='110288' first='Cayla' last='Cogan'] added seven kills, while [player_tooltip player_id='110309' first='Emery' last='Kuebler'] had 19 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='110299' first='Kiley' last='Gallagher'] had 12 digs.

There were times during the 2023 season that Forest Hills Northern and Farmington Hills Mercy didn't look like state title contenders.