Lakes Valley Conference 2025 Season Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakes Valley Conference is entering an historic year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following the 2025 campaign, the 9-team format will see some major changes, as two programs are leaving, but another five will be coming in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That should lead to some interesting competition for the 2025 prep volleyball season, where the league title seems up for grabs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the top teams and players for the LVC this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>South Lyon East</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars have claimed the title the last two seasons and been one of the best teams in the state. However, East graduated a lot of hitting talent, including four All-LVC honorees. That leaves some questions, but East should remain a top contender regardless. Freshman outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587564' first='Lexi' last='Coleman'] </strong>looks to be ready to take the lead in every sense of the word. The phenom is coming off a dynamite club season and is playing with plenty of confidence and maturity early in 2025. She's got a cannon for an arm, but also makes smart plays offensively and defensively. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='806631' first='Mallory' last='Kreider'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='815995' first='Lily' last='Timko'] </strong>are providing options n the middle of the net as well. South Lyon East has roster flexibility at setter with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='804940' first='Brooke' last='Scheuher']</strong>, junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442969' first='Avery' last='Stepp']</strong>, and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='644142' first='Ava' last='Kiernan']</strong>. All are capable of running the offense. The big strength of this team is at libero where Alabama commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442967' first='Addison' last='Stepp']</strong> is one of the best in the state regardless of class. The junior will be relied on a lot this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>South Lyon</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions finished a game behind East last fall, but did so with a young and hungry team. That hunger looks to have carried over in 2025, as South Lyon is playing right with some of the best the state has to offer. The Lions have plenty of hitting options, led by junior outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='456516' first='Kennedy' last='Duncan']</strong>. She does a nice job of mixing up her attacks, both in speed and location. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='807504' first='Teagan' last='Wesner'] </strong>is also a finisher on the pin, while junior middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523875' first='Kate' last='Sulkowski'] </strong>and sophomore middle <strong>Abby Dafforn </strong>can be very imposing with their length. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226935' first='Lucy' last='Stoll'] </strong>is the lead setter, but also an option to move to the right side while junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='747660' first='Mari' last='Hardin'] </strong>runs the offense. Defensively, Duncan, Stoll and Hardin do a great job making digs to help senior libero <strong>Lauren Chanko</strong>. This team has a lot of chemistry already, and plenty of belief in what it can become.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lakeland</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles are the last team to win the LVC title prior to South Lyon East's two-year run. Last year, Lakeland finished third and this year's squad can pose some problems with a flexible roster of players that can play multiple positions. While they did graduate a lot of contributing talent, this roster shows a lot of potential. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446706' first='Payton' last='Nelson'] </strong>is a returning senior outside that can finish on either pin. She brings good power to the net. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='460587' first='Bridget' last='Boughton'] </strong>has been impressive as a setter than can also play the right side. She has a lot of surprising explosiveness on her attacks. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518956' first='Jamison' last='Aratari'] </strong>also looks to be an outside option that can get on a run. Sophomore <strong>Audrey Tobin </strong>and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826801' first='Kelsey' last='Robert'] </strong>provide some imposing length in the middle as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Milford</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mavericks are a dark horse in the conference, as they have some of the top hitters in the league. The question will be if they can maintain consistency during the matches against top teams. Junior outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454368' first='Lexa' last='Pierson'] </strong>is already racking up the kills and giving the rest of the conference someone to chase. Pierson has a lot of athleticism and won't back down from anyone in the conference. Junior outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534728' first='Ashlyn' last='Charder'] </strong>has been putting the ball down at a solid rate to start 2025 as well. In the middle, juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812962' first='Ellaena' last='Michelin'] </strong>and <strong>Brynlei Gunn </strong>could be gamechangers for the Mavericks. <strong>Delaney Heflin</strong> is a returning senior setter that got All-LVC honors last year and will spread the ball out well. Defensively, Milford could be as strong as anyone in the conference with senior libero <strong>Millie Ashcroft </strong>and junior DS <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442989' first='Kyler' last='Madison']</strong>. These two really lock down the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Other Players To Watch</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='803228' first='Raegan' last='Amshay'], Jr. L Waterford Kettering; [player_tooltip player_id='490040' first='Jordan' last='Kaplan'], Sr. S WL Northern; [player_tooltip player_id='826733' first='Katelyn' last='Landale'], Sr. OH WL Western; Anna Lock, Fr. OH WL Northern; [player_tooltip player_id='828307' first='Madeleine' last='Lock'], Sr. MH WL Northern; Lillian Miracle, Sr. MH WL Central; [player_tooltip player_id='261199' first='Morgin' last='Parsley'], Sr. S/RS WL Northern; [player_tooltip player_id='804370' first='Alaynnah' last='Scherer'], Sr. OH WL Northern.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->