Division 1 Semifinals Breakdown & Predictions

As usual, the Division 1 semifinals are set to feature some future Division 1 college talent. A lot of top-level players are set to take the court in Kellogg Arena on Friday night. The story of D1 looks to be Oakland County, which is the home to three of the four teams in this field. The only outside, Lowell, is looking to capture its first state championship after finishing runner-up in 2019. Look for plenty of fireworks and great volleyball. Here’s a breakdown of the two contests. Clarkston vs. Marian – Friday at 4:30 p.m. [caption id="attachment_115910" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-115910" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/Claire-Nowicki-300x272.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="272" /> [player_tooltip player_id="50296" first="Claire" last="Nowicki"][/caption] There were points during the season that both Clarkston and Marian were playing like they were the best team in the state, and each had a down stretch where they looked a little lost. Both have gotten back in their groove, with Marian unseating defending champion Mercy to highlight its path to Battle Creek, while the Wolves have exorcised past postseason letdowns to make their first trip to Kellogg Arena since 2011. These two met during the season and Marian won 2 of 3 sets. Marian has been the favorite to win the title on paper since beating Mercy in the regionals. The Mustangs really found their next gear during the late stages of the regular season and their momentum didn’t seem to get derailed by the two-month layoff. They looked outstanding in their sweep of Dakota on Tuesday and come in with a senior-less roster, yet are very experienced. [player_tooltip player_id="24846" first="Ava" last="Brizard"] has grown into her leadership role this year and is hitting an impressive .405 with 546 kills. She’s assisted at the net by a deep group of finishers in [player_tooltip player_id="24883" first="Sophia" last="Treder"], [player_tooltip player_id="66330" first="Ella" last="Schomer"], [player_tooltip player_id="66329" first="Reagan" last="Sass"] and [player_tooltip player_id="24877" first="Sarah" last="Sylvester"]. Sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"] plays more like a four-year senior and has really gained confidence during this hot finish to the season for the Mustangs. Defensively, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="66305" first="Lauren" last="Heming"] is in the same boat as Sarafa. She excels at libero and plays as well as anyone in any age bracket. Clarkston shook off some rust in the quarterfinal, dropping the first set to Grand Blanc before winning three straight. The Wolves lost some contributors during the layoff, which led to some bumps along the way in their quarterfinal. Clarkston has a similar style to Marian in that the team is very deep and balanced. The Wolves don’t have to rely on any one player. [player_tooltip player_id="50296" first="Claire" last="Nowicki"] is a great all-around talent. She’s got a variety of shots, but also is an elite passer and server. [player_tooltip player_id="66303" first="Paige" last="Giehtbrock"] really broke out as a strong finisher in her sophomore season, while middles Sydney Hasenfratz and Elizabeth Adams will be up to the challenge of taking on Marian’s hitters. Senior Shay Bordine is a confident setter and knows how to properly feed her hitters. Defensively, Clarkston is as tough as they come. [player_tooltip player_id="24860" first="Summer" last="Jidas"] is one of the best liberos in the state (not to mention a great server). During their first meeting, the numbers were pretty even between these two. Both teams have improved a lot since then. Expect a lot of long points in this one. I think this meeting will be just as competitive as the first. Marian has the edge on paper, but will the Mustangs handle the pressure of being the team to beat this weekend? Prediction – Marian over Clarkston in five Novi vs. Lowell – Friday at 6:30 p.m. [caption id="attachment_112701" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-112701" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/Lowell-Jenna-Reitsma-4-300x294.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="294" /> [player_tooltip player_id="14192" first="Jenna" last="Reitsma"][/caption] It was just a few years ago that Novi was completing a three-peat as Class A state champs. Now the Wildcats are back in Battle Creek with a new coach looking to play spoiler. Lowell reached the final a year ago, but received a bye into the semifinals when Portage Central was forced to forfeit its quarterfinal match due to COVID-19. While a free pass can seem like a positive, it could work against Lowell on Friday. After a two-month layoff, Tuesday was a chance for teams to shake off that rust and get in some needed live reps against an opponent. Lowell will be getting that first opportunity on Friday night against a team that just came off a five-set battle. Despite that, Lowell should still be game. [player_tooltip player_id="14192" first="Jenna" last="Reitsma"] has been the most impactful player in Division 1 this year, putting up 834 kills for the Red Arrows. She’s certainly the driving force behind their success. [player_tooltip player_id="24876" first="Emily" last="Struckmeyer"] is a great middle, while Sydney Zandstra has come through as a steady option on the outside to compliment Reitsma. Sophie Powell is a senior setter and a great floor general for the Red Arrows. She will have the team focused and ready to go. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id="50322" first="Emma" last="Hall"] is an experienced senior libero that knows that challenges that will come this weekend. Novi beat a very talented Skyline team on Tuesday in five sets. That win should do a lot for the Wildcats’ confidence level entering Friday’s stage. Novi has dealt with its fair share of adversity this year, but has came out on the other side. The team plays with a lot of balance and unity. Senior Gaby Cummings is the team leader in kills this season, but sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="66340" first="Sarah" last="Vellucci"], senior Megha Gondi and senior Caleigh Robinson all are consistent contributors in the kill department. Setter [player_tooltip player_id="92063" first="Rachel" last="Karr"] runs a great offense, but also makes a lot of plays to finish points. Defensively, they don’t get much better than [player_tooltip player_id="50290" first="Rachel" last="Jennings"]. She’s a top-10 player in the Class of 2021 as a libero for a reason. In the game-winning point against Skyline, Jennings makes a tremendous dig to keep Novi alive to finish the point. This is a tough call. I’ve liked Lowell all season and Reitsma is awfully tough to contain, but the challenge of having this be their first match back from the layoff is a big one. Novi is long past that point and ready to play high-level volleyball. Errors at this stage are even more costly. There’s something about these Wildcats. They have fought long and hard to get back to Battle Creek and have that grit that their past championship teams have shown. Prediction: Novi over Lowell in five