YPSILANTI — It was 3-2-1 at the Catholic High School League volleyball championship finals.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep won its third straight Cardinal Division title.
Clarkston Everest Collegiate claimed its second consecutive Ste. Anne Division trophy.
The “one” belonged to Farmington Hills Mercy, winning its first Bishop Division championship since 2019 (sixth in the school’s history) by sweeping Bloomfield Hills Marian, who had won the last four years.
The contests were staged Oct. 10 for nearly six hours in the spacious George Gervin GameAbove Center on the Eastern Michigan University campus.
Everest (21-0) opened the program by handily beating Ann Arbor Greenhills (14-6) for the second year in a row, 25-13, 25-17, 25-15.
Senior outside hitters Sarah Bradley (15 kills, 3 aces, 6 assists) and Madelyn Krappmann (12 kills, 4 aces, 6 digs) led the Mountaineers’ attack off 27 assists by senior setter Erica Walker.
Senior Layla Kouatli had 10 kills for Greenhills.
St. Mary’s (16-10) struggled past Warren Regina (11-7-1) in four sets, 25-20, 25-18, 24-26, 25-17. Allison Winiarski, who wasn’t hired to coach the Eaglets until 10 days before practices began in August, attributed their success to players “show(ing) up every day ready to work and work hard.”
“This was a big stage for our young team,” Regina coach Laura Papa said. “They were nervous playing not to lose rather than to win.”
Mercy (18-2) and Marian (30-5) are two of the state’s elite volleyball programs. “It’s a high-pressure rivalry,” said Marian coach Mayssa Cook. “Everyone’s more on edge.”
Mercy won the first two sets, 25-17 and 25-20, and was on its way to a lopsided third set decision, charging out to a 10-1 lead, then 14-5, then 22-9.
Marian rallied six points in a row to trail 22-15 before a visibly shaken Mercy squad regained its composure for a 25-20 victory.
“I was very pleased with the battle, how we fought,” Cook said. “We had some moments of greatness. We have to tweak a few things with offense. The defense was great on both sides.”
“We have to remember these are still young athletes,” Mercy coach Loretta Vogel said. “We have to settle the kids down to keep it simple.” She repeated: “Keep it simple.”
Vogel revealed that the squad had recently played a two-day tournament in Chicago against teams from Nebraska, Kentucky and Illinois. “There were some good teams there. It was a good experience.”
Sophomore Kate Kalczynski led Mercy’s offense with 16 kills. Junior Ella Andrews had 11 kills, senior Keiro McNutt a dozen digs, and Miss Volleyball nominee senior Campbell Flynn had 33 assists.
Marian’s Miss Volleyball nominee Izzy Busignani had 10 kills and junior setter Allie Davison 23 assists.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association volleyball playoffs begin Nov. 4. Mercy and Everest are both defending champions in Divisions 1 and 4, respectively.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
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