2019 MHSAA Season Preview: Breaking down the Lakes Valley Conference

<p>The <strong>Lakes Valley Conference </strong>has only existed for two years, but has produced some very competitive volleyball in the Oakland County area. The nine-team field has a lot of even matchups despite one team being able to reign supreme for the first two seasons. Can a new champion emerge in year three?</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Lakes Valley Conference Breakdown</strong></p> <p>Through two seasons of play, <strong>South Lyon </strong>has yet to drop a conference regular season match, claiming the championship in 2017 and 2018. <strong>Walled Lake Northern </strong>and <strong>Walled Lake Central </strong>have been the top contenders thus far, but the majority of the conference has had its moments to shine.</p> <p>The Lions could be facing their biggest challenge to the title yet in 2019, as they lose eight seniors from last year’s championship squad. Five of the seniors were All-Region selections, leaving the Lions to replace nearly every starting position it has. The Lions’ top-five hitters from 2018 are gone, as well as their setter and libero.</p> <p>South Lyon’s loss could be the gain for everyone else. Walled Lake Central loses five seniors from 2018, but has a lot of starters back. The Vikings should be strong defensively once again behind junior libero <strong>Avery Horejsi</strong>, who was All-Region as a sophomore. At the net, the Vikings have a promising sophomore outside in <strong>Ellia Sechrist</strong>, who was second on the team in kills. <strong>Treasure Rutherford </strong>is also an imposing middle that can put the ball down and has a tough reach for opposing attacks to get over. <strong>Lindsay Eisenhour </strong>also returns at setter, giving Central a great deal of experience to rely on.</p> <p>Walled Lake Northern lost just four seniors from its 2018 squad, but the team has a new coach in <strong>A’Jhane Smith</strong>. Smith has a nice returning 1-2 punch at the net of <strong>Lauren Scott </strong>on the outside and <strong>Delia Bechmann </strong>in the middle. The two seniors combined for over 400 kills last season. They will have their setter back this fall in <strong>Elise Biron</strong>. The Northern defense relied on three underclassmen in 2018, which should work out well this year, as they will have an experienced back row.</p> <p><strong>South Lyon East </strong>finished in a three-way tie for second last season at 6-2 in the league. The Cougars graduated just three seniors in 2018 and have a great deal of hitting back this year. Junior <strong>Samantha Deinek</strong> is a talented outside that is positioning herself as one of the best at her position in the Class of 2021. Senior <strong>Abby Raguckas</strong> is an OPP that has a great chemistry on the court with Deinek. East will have to work in a new primary setter, but the veteran hitters should help that transition. In the back row, East loses its starting libero, but returns a few experience DS’ in <strong>Emily Hagelthorn </strong>and <strong>Allyssa Hollo</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Lakeland </strong>was a .500 team in the conference last season and loses five seniors from their squad. There’s some potential with the Eagles though, as they used a pair of sophomores and a freshman in 2018 that could really have breakout seasons this year. <strong>Milford </strong>is in a similar boat, as they graduated four seniors, but used a lot of young players in 2018. The Mavericks had three freshmen and a pair of sophomores contribute. Milford could definitely be a dark horse this fall if that young talent took a step forward in the offseason. <strong>Walled Lake Western</strong>, <strong>Waterford Mott </strong>and <strong>Waterford Kettering</strong> were at the bottom of the conference the first two years. With the experience coming back for a majority of the teams ahead of them in the standings, it will be tough for each of the three teams to make too big of climbs this year.</p> <p>It will be awfully tough for South Lyon to earn the three-peat this year. The Lions just lost so much. While there is a winning culture built in the program from the two unbeaten seasons, there is sure to be some bumps in the road with a new starting lineup. Central, Northern and East should all be eager to get a crack at the title. The Knights may need some time to get comfortable with their new coach while East and Central can take off where it ended last year. The Vikings have the edge in my eyes as they were division winners in their old KLAA division and have a great defensive foundation.</p> <p><strong>Lakes Valley Conference Prediction: Walled Lake Central</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>2019 MHSAA Season Preview Content</strong></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2YSsP4E">Division 1 Storylines</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2XOw6pk">Division 2 Storylines</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2OakE2N">Division 3 Storylines</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2Z7rI15">Division 4 Storylines</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2Yhveow">OAA Conference Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2YbDY4d">O-K Gold, Green and Blue Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2Kjv8HQ">O-K Red, White, Black and Silver Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2Yz0RxU">CHSL Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/31g9wTJ">CAAC Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2KrbPMP">KLAA Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2yIrsKj">Flint Metro League Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2YQ00Jz">MAC Red, Gold and Silver Breakdown</a></p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2YJMRlK">MAC White, Blue and Bronze Breakdown</a></p>