Mercy Turns The Tables, Wins D1 Title In Five Sets

In the theme of the first-half of Saturday’s state finals, Farmington Hills Mercy overcame a two-set deficit to defeat Forest Hills Northern in the D1 championship at Kellogg Arena.

“Unbelievable, just unbelievable,” Mercy coach Loretta Vogel said after the victory, which came by scores of 13-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-12.

The Marlins looked outmatched early, as the Huskies dominated the opening set behind the play of seniors Elana Erickson Elana Erickson 5'10" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #79 Nation MI and Kendall Hopewell Kendall Hopewell 6'1" | MB Forest Hills Northern | 2024 State #193 Nation MI .

Both were impactful at the net with their hitting and also a problem for the Marlins with their defense. Erickson was digging up a lot of attacks while Hopewell was a wall with her blocking in the early stages.

The second set saw Mercy lead most of the way before Erickson got hot, racking up seven kills in the set to give the Huskies the two-set advantage.

“I think we definitely were a little timid in the first because we have kind of a young team,” said Mercy setter Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #5 Nation MI . “It was our first time actually being in the finals, so we were just a little nervous. But I think we stay composed a little later in the match, and then also kept our rallies alive.”

It was Flynn that helped get the Marlins on track. Her control of the offense, along with her defensive instincts allowed Mercy to take the third set and get the momentum from the Huskies. From there, Northern didn’t seem to have a way to get it back.

“They kind of came after us with the game plan that we had, and the Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #5 Nation MI took over the match there, Forest Hills Northern coach Valerie Lurye said. “We had to worry about her. She started finding other people to go to and they’ve got some firepower up there. (Mercy) just had a few more (hitters), a little bit more firepower there.”

The main source of Mercy’s firepower came from freshman outside Kate Kalczynski Kate Kalczynski 6'0" | OH Mercy | 2027 State MI . She came through in the second half of the match and finished with a match-high 25 kills in the victory.

“She played amazing today. I literally just had to set her the ball and she got kills,” Flynn said of Kalczynski. “I’m so proud of her. She’s only a freshman. But she played a big role that was just so big for us today.”

Flynn finished with 41 assists in the match, as well as 15 digs. Middle Cree Hollier Cree Hollier 5'8" | MB Mercy | 2026 State MI had 10 kills for Mercy while Angie Butler Angie Butler 5'10" | OH Mercy | 2024 State MI had seven kills with 22 digs and Jillian Collins Jillian Collins 5'11" | OH Mercy | 2025 State MI tallied 24 digs.

Erickson finished with 22 kills and 27 digs for the Huskies while Hopewell had 16 kills, 11 digs and three solo blocks. Madalin Hersman had eight aces with 11 digs and four kills, while Lexie Stotenbur Lexie Stotenbur 5'9" | S Forest Hills Northern | 2026 State MI had 41 assists with nine digs.

The state title for Mercy is its second in program history and first since 2019. The Catholic League has now won five consecutive D1 state championships.