Volleyball

Published November 10, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Marian volleyball sweeps Stevenson on way to regional title

TROY — The Birmingham Marian volleyball team withstood the efforts of the Sterling Heights Stevenson squad to come away with a regional title in a 3-0 win Nov. 10 at Troy High.

The Mustangs (26-9) advance to take on Novi High in a Class A state quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 also at Troy High.

"This is a goal we've had all year," Marian coach Angela Kalczynski said. "It was good to see them execute and pull out a win."

The regional title is the first for Marian since 2013.

Published November 10, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

Walled Lake Central volleyball maintains spot as a program on the rise

WALLED LAKE — There will come a time when Novi High won’t be this dominant.

And when that day arrives, Sarah Lindstrom and her Walled Lake Central volleyball team will be ready to pounce.

“We can be that team that others fear, because of how we work and how we play,” Lindstrom said one day after the Vikings’ season came to a close in a regional semifinal loss to Novi Nov. 8.

As it is in Class A volleyball right now, though, Novi is in a class of its own.

Published November 8, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Stevenson volleyball downs Troy Athens to get to 2nd straight regional final

TROY — It was a goal of the Sterling Heights Stevenson volleyball team to get back to a regional final after falling to Grosse Pointe North at that point last season.

The Titans accomplished that goal, beating Troy Athens 3-0 in a Class A regional semifinal Nov. 8 at Troy High.

Stevenson (41-6-2) advances to take on either Grosse Pointe North or Birmingham Marian in a regional final set for 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Troy High.

Published November 8, 2016

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Roseville High volleyball wins first division title since 2008

ROSEVILLE — What a turnaround.

After winning just one match all of last season, the Roseville High volleyball team went 21-11-1. That included a 9-1 finish in the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division, giving the Panthers their first division title since winning the MAC Gold in 2008.

To put the season in perspective, Roseville won three times as many matches in the MAC Silver this season as it did total matches in 2014 and 2015 (three).

Published November 4, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Grosse Pointe North volleyball beats Lakeview for second straight district title

EASTPOINTE — Grosse Pointe North volleyball coach Chelsea Brozo said the team's Nov. 4 match against St. Clair Shores Lakeview was the first time in a long time that the team played like a unit.

The Norsemen picked the perfect time to exhibit continuity, picking up a 3-0 win against the Huskies to claim a second straight Class A district championship.

"They played well today," Brozo said. "They fought their hearts out. They weren't about to let this district title slip away."

Published November 4, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Lake Shore volleyball coach looks back on season

ST. CLAIR SHORES — St. Clair Shores Lake Shore volleyball coach Margaret Kwapisz said she’s proud of how her team battled this season after the Shorians fell 3-1 to Lakeview Nov. 2 in a Class A district semifinal.

Lake Shore ended the season at 12-19-2 overall and 4-6 in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division. The Shorians moved to the Blue this fall after winning back-to-back MAC Gold championships.

Published November 2, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Mercy volleyball advances to district final with sweep of West Bloomfield

FARMINGTON — She called them a very good team, a “great team,” to be exact.

Dana Gray’s assessment of the Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball squad proved to be pretty accurate Wednesday night as the Marlins ousted her West Bloomfield High group in straight sets from a Class A district semifinal at Farmington High.

Published November 2, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Lakeview volleyball upends Lake Shore to move on to district final

EASTPOINTE — A long-standing city rivalry continued Nov. 2 when the St. Clair Shores Lakeview and Lake Shore volleyball teams met in a Class A district semifinal hosted by Eastpointe East Detroit.

The Huskies avenged last year's semifinal loss to the Shorians, scoring a 3-1 win to advance to take on Grosse Pointe North in a district final set for 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at East Detroit. Grosse Pointe North (10-13-0) beat Warren Woods Tower (22-15-2) Nov. 2 to advance to the district final.

Published November 2, 2016

Farmington Press

City rivals meet to begin volleyball playoffs

FARMINGTON HILLS — With two meetings already in the books, the Farmington High and Farmington Hills Harrison volleyball teams will officially begin the postseason against each other.

Not a bad way to get into playoff mode.

“I feel like, come playoff time, anyone can lose any given day,” Farmington coach Katherine Drews said. “So that means anyone can win any given day. That’s the mindset we’re going into this one with, knowing that we have a chance if we play our game.”

Published November 2, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

WL Central volleyball claims conference title, takes aim at district

WALLED LAKE — The second season for the Walled Lake Central volleyball team officially begins Nov. 3 when the girls host Walled Lake Western in a playoff-opening Class A district semifinal.

The first part of this fall was nothing but a success for the Vikings, who capped it off Oct. 18 with their second Kensington Lakes Activities Association Lakes Conference championship in as many years.

Published November 1, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Volleyball teams prepped for second season as playoffs approach

After a season of late nights, Saturday tournaments and practice preparation, the chance at the ultimate payoff has arrived.

The playoffs officially launched Oct. 31.

Here’s a quick look at each local team and what the district draws have in store.

Better late than never

As she spoke about the Class A playoffs last week, Royal Oak High coach Bridgette Sanborn and her young squad were still searching for their first victory of 2016.

Still, her confidence in her team was as high as ever.

Published November 1, 2016

Sterling Heights Sentry

Unblemished record

STERLING HEIGHTS — The Sterling Heights Stevenson volleyball team sat at 38-6-2 at press time — a record that shows the team has had a strong year.

The strength of the Titans campaign has been no more evident, though, than in the run through the Macomb Area Conference White Division.
Stevenson finished 10-0 in divisional play to win its first league title since 2012.

The Titans were dominant against MAC White competition — so dominant that the team didn’t drop one game in any of the matches.

Published October 27, 2016

Sterling Heights Sentry

Utica Ford II volleyball relishing its success

STERLING HEIGHTS — Utica Ford II senior volleyball player Julia Malewicz has seen all the lows she wants to see as a four-year varsity player.

Malewicz and her teammates are now riding high as the team, at press time, sat at 21-3-1 overall and 8-0 in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division.

The Falcons are in first place in the MAC Blue by one game over Fraser High. A division title would be the first for the team since 2009.

Published October 25, 2016

Macomb Township Chronicle

Playing for a friend

Sterling Heights Stevenson remained undefeated in league play, sweeping Macomb L’Anse Creuse North on Oct. 18 in a Macomb Area Conference White Division affair.

But both teams were playing for more than just conference standings, as the two schools jointly honored a fallen coach.

Wendy Papenberg passed away on Aug. 22 after a fight with cancer. She served for 30 years, helming the volleyball and softball teams at Warren Woods Tower before spending nine seasons with Utica Ford II.

Published October 25, 2016

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Serving up a fresh start

CLINTON TOWNSHIP/FRASER — Playoff time is approaching for the volleyball teams from Clinton Township Chippewa Valley and Fraser High.

Fraser hosts the Class A district, which includes the Big Reds in the field.

Chippewa plays at 5 p.m. Oct. 31 in a first-round match against Utica Ford II.

After receiving a first-round bye, Fraser plays against Macomb Area Conference White Division champion Sterling Heights Stevenson at 5 p.m. Nov. 2.

Published October 25, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

Volleyball teams prepped for second season as playoffs approach

WEST BLOOMFIELD — After a season of late nights, Saturday tournaments and practice preparation, the chance at the ultimate payoff is about to arrive.

The high school volleyball regular season has reached its final chapter, and in less than a week’s time, teams from across the state will meet with two simple goals in mind.

Win.

Advance.

Published October 25, 2016

Madison - Park News

The playoffs approach for local volleyball squads

Local volleyball squads are getting ready to take the court for the district tournament.

In Class B, Hazel Park High received a bye and takes on the winner of Ferndale University High and Detroit University Prep at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Detroit Mumford.

Hazel Park coach Lisa McClellan said the postseason presents an opportunity for the Vikings to make some positive memories.

Published October 24, 2016

Woodward Talk

‘It’s exciting and it’s fun’

The postseason is drawing near for the Berkley High and Ferndale High volleyball squads.

The Bears play Southfield Arts & Technology at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 in a Class A first-round district match hosted by Detroit Renaissance.

Ferndale plays a Class B first-round match at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 1 against host Detroit Mumford.

Berkley coach Chantelle Korson likes what she has been seeing from her team as the playoffs approach.

Published October 21, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Dreams of a postseason title

ST. CLAIR SHORES — There could be a meeting of city rivals for the second year in a row in a Class A district semifinal while the third St. Clair Shores Shores volleyball team battles in a Class B bracket.

Lake Shore and Lakeview play in the same Class A district, hosted by Eastpointe East Detroit.

The Shorians get the host Shamrocks in a district quarterfinal at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31. The winner plays the Huskies in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2.

The final is at 6 p.m. Nov. 4.

Published October 18, 2016

Grosse Pointe Times

South volleyball enjoying winning campaign

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Grosse Pointe South volleyball is going strong.

At press time, the Blue Devils were 20-8-1 overall and two games back of first place in the Macomb Area Conference White Division with a record of 5-2.

Head coach Kevin Nugent said South’s goals are to win the MAC White, along with district and regional titles.

Last season, South made it as far as the final game of a Class A regional tournament before being stopped by Livonia Churchill.