D1/4 Recap: Lake Orion Rallies to Advance
November 16, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Lake Orion will play for its first MHSAA volleyball championship Saturday.
The No. 2-ranked Dragons, previously Class A runners-up in 2011, downed top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy in five sets in their Semifinal on Friday to earn a spot in this season’s Division 1 Final at Kellogg Arena.
Senior Paige Briggs – a Miss Volleyball Award finalist this fall – had 43 kills as Lake Orion (67-6) twice fought back from one-set deficits. The 43 kills are tied for fifth-most in one match in MHSAA history.
The Dragons won the fourth set 25-20 and edged Mercy (52-3) in the final set 15-13.
Senior Wren Macaulay had 53 assists and three aces for Lake Orion. Junior Jess Mruzik led Mercy with 27 kills and three blocks, and sophomore Julia Bishop had 44 assists.
Division 1: Rockford 3, Northville 1
The No. 7 Rams won the final two sets to return to the championship match for the second time in three seasons after finishing runners-up in 2016.
Seniors Lindsay Taylor and Emmy Webb split the attack, Webb with 21 kills off a .514 kill percentage and Taylor with 20 kills. Senior Emilee Karelse had 52 assists for Rockford (47-11-1).
Northville, ranked No. 8 entering the postseason, was led by sophomore Jenna Boksha’s 11 kills plus 10 digs. Senior Gabriella Fisette had 24 assists for the Mustangs (47-7-1).
Division 4: Mendon 3, Southfield Christian 0
Mendon will play for its first championship since 2001 after a Semifinal performance that improved the No. 2 Hornets to 48-6-3.
Sophomore Anna Smith led Mendon both with 20 kills and nine digs, and senior Aubrey Crotser had 31 assists.
Junior Emily Van Dyke had 13 kills for No. 4 Southfield Christian (27-10-3), and junior Caitlin Warnshuis added 10. Senior Rachel Stiteler had 20 assists. The Semifinal was the first in Eagles program history.
Division 4: Leland 3, Carney-Nadeau 0
Leland’s powerful seniors led the way as the top-ranked Comets earned a chance to win their first championship since 2015.
Senior Ella Siddall had 34 assists and five aces, while senior Hanna Elwell had 17 kills for Leland (47-10-1).
Carney-Nadeau, also playing in its first Semifinal in this sport, got a big defensive performance from junior Alanis Harris, who had 22 digs. The No. 9 Wolves finished 26-4-1.
PHOTO: Lake Orion celebrates advancing to the Division 1 championship match after Friday’s Semifinal.
Story in Photos: 2025 Volleyball Division 1 & 4 Semifinals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 20, 2025
BATTLE CREEK – The first day of these MHSAA Girls Volleyball Semifinals saw three of four matches go five sets over 10 hours at Kellogg Arena, with the dramatic moments starting early and ending when the final point hit the floor.
All of the excitement set up Saturday's Division 1 and 4 championship matches, and possibilities for first-time champions in both – but with highly-ranked contenders hoping to stand in the way of those aspirations.
Saturday’s first two title matches will see the following face off:
10 a.m. – Division 4 – Fowler (35-8-2) vs. Mendon (38-6-1)
Noon – Division 1 – Farmington Hills Mercy (41-5-3) vs. Bloomfield Hills (43-6-1)
Mendon is seeking its first Finals championship since 2019, and Fowler its first in program history. They finished Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the final regular-season coaches poll.
Mercy, No. 3 in the final Division 1 rankings, most recently won the Division 1 title in 2023. No. 2 Bloomfield Hills has never won a Finals title – but ended an incredible run by top-ranked Rockford on Thursday to earn the opportunity.
Division 2 and 3 Semifinals will be played Friday. Click here for more.
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Thursday’s action.
Bloomfield Hills senior Kayla Nwabueze (far right) sends a kill attempt into a Rockford block during the Black Hawks' 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13 win over Rockford. Nwabueze finished with 43 kills, which are tied for second-most for a single match during the MHSAA Semifinals or Finals since the start of the rally scoring era in 2004-05.
Rockford senior Liv Hosford (1) sends a kill attempt into the block of Bloomfield Hills junior Brynn Wilcox (2) and freshman Emily Nwabueze (8). Hosford had 23 kills for the Rams, who finished 46-2-1.
Farmington Hills Mercy junior Kate Kalcynski (2) attempts to slam a kill past Byron Center senior Lainey VanTol (5) and junior Cara Crittendon during the Marlins’ 25-27, 24-26, 25-16, 25-17, 16-14 victory. Kalcynski totaled 30 kills and 21 digs.
Byron Center junior Caitlin Hartson (1) attempts to get a kill over the Mercy block of Kalczynski and sophomore McKenzie Andrews (12). Hartson finished with 16 kills as the Bulldogs ended their season 37-6-2.
Mendon junior Karyssa Holtz (3) sets as teammates Cienna Nightingale (9) and Sabrina Monroy make their moves toward the net. Holtz finished with 40 assists, Nightingale had six kills and Monroy had four in Mendon’s 25-18, 25-22, 27-25 win.
Ubly senior Sophi Heleski (4) elevates for a kill attempt. She finished with three kills and four digs for the Bearcats (30-11-4).
Fowler players celebrate their 26-24, 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 15-8 win over Crystal Falls Forest Park in the day’s first match.
Forest Park junior Vienna Price (4) sets with senior Elsie Williams (2) ready for the next attack. Price had 17 assists and Williams had 32. The Trojans finished this season 42-2.
TOP PHOTO Bloomfield Hills players celebrate their five-set comeback win over Rockford on Thursday at Kellogg Arena.