OAA Red Breakdown: Top Players, Top Teams In 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2025 MHSAA season about to get started next week, it's worth taking a look at some of the strong conferences in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One is in Oakland County, where the OAA Red consistently produces top talent and teams that compete for a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season should be no different, as a number of future Division 1 college stars are already committed at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the top teams and what players to be watching out for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Clarkston</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending league champs have some holes to fill this year, but are still going to pushing to be one of the best in the state. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442995' first='Marlie' last='Smith']</strong> is newly-committed to North Carolina for 2027, and the junior setter is coming off a dynamite club season that saw her establish herself as one of the best at her position nationally. She loses three of her top hitters from the 2025 squad, but has a good connection with returning juniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809036' first='Maya' last='Kuebler'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442985' first='Josie' last='Seets']. </strong>Both were consistent options at the net last fall. Defensively, the Wolves should be strong as well, as they add in freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='757121' first='Stella' last='Smith']</strong> to the roster. Smith has proven to be one of the top defenders in her class nationally, and brings the same competitive fire we've seen from her sister.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Bloomfield Hills</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Black Hawks only suffered a loss to Clarkston last fall in the conference race, but enter 2025 with a new coach. Despite the new leadership, Bloomfield Hills still has one of the top players in the state in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze']</strong>, who put down over 500 kills in 2025 and can use her explosiveness to impact the game from anywhere. The Harvard commit is someone who can't be stopped, only hoped to be somewhat contained. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584598' first='Allison' last='Stakoe']</strong> was a standout freshman on the outside and she's back as a sophomore after producing over 200 kills last fall. Also back is junior setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='512892' first='Brynn' last='Wilcox']</strong>, who knows how to get both hitters the ball in a good place. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='804480' first='Alyssa' last='Moir']</strong> is also back after leading the team in digs as a sophomore. Keep an eye out for freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768151' first='Emily' last='Nwabueze']</strong>, who has a lot of potential and cold be an impact player this fall as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lake Orion</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Always one of the top contenders in the OAA Red, the Dragons are hoping to regain the crown in 2025. The Dragons graduated a fair amount of talent, but still should be able to reload and be competitive. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='807779' first='Isabelle' last='Lawhorn'] </strong>enters her junior year after leading Lake Orion in kills by a wide margin as a sophomore. She's a proven commodity anywhere along the net and has show improvement each year defensively. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586771' first='Julia' last='Graebner']</strong> and senior <strong>Lilah Eliassen </strong>were middles that contributed for the Dragons and could be relied on more this fall. <strong>Sarah Traynoff </strong>is a returning senior setter that had some experience in the lineup last year as well. Defensive experience is somewhat lacking, but sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='709804' first='McKenzie' last='Reid'] </strong>and senior <strong>Elle Cyr </strong>each return after having over 100 digs in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Stoney Creek</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a few bumpy years with a young lineup, 2025 could be the year that those tough times payoff. The Cougars have a talented roster on paper, it is just a matter of whether or not they have the poise to win the tough matches. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569772' first='Lauren' last='Sheldon'] </strong>is one of the most impressive hitters in the Class of 2028. She led the team in kills last year and could be in store for a much more dominant season. She's got all the tools. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='456855' first='Annie' last='Zellen'] </strong>is also back as an outside hitter, as is junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442973' first='Brooklyn' last='Rummler']</strong> in the middle. Between those three alone, Stoney Creek has a lot of explosive firepower. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442997' first='Morgan' last='Bates'] </strong>is also back at setter after her 2024 season was cut short. Add in a returning dig leader in junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='808796' first='Kaitlyn' last='Gustafson']</strong>, and it's easy to see why Stoney Creek could be a dark horse in the OAA Red.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Other Players To Watch</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sr. [player_tooltip player_id='824468' first='Ella' last='Abraham'], MH Rochester; Sr. [player_tooltip player_id='569764' first='Amani' last='Agoot'], MB West Bloomfield; Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='490049' first='Maya' last='Colon'], OH/DS Troy; Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='586776' first='Lyla' last='Gorny'], MB/RS Troy; Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='442992' first='Lucy' last='Goss'], OH Rochester Adams; So. [player_tooltip player_id='587018' first='Sasha' last='Jackson'], L West Bloomfield; Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='727867' first='Lauren' last='Johnston'], DS/OH Rochester Adams; Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='513767' first='Rachel' last='Johnston'], RS/MB Rochester Adams; Sr. [player_tooltip player_id='793930' first='Esha' last='Mengle'], L Rochester; Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='514753' first='Kyleigh' last='Peacock'], MH Troy; Sr. Gracie Ruddle, S Rochester; Jr. Kate Signorello, MH Rochester.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->