Marian Meets Championship Expectation in Finishing Repeat Run
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 20, 2021
BATTLE CREEK – Winning the MHSAA Division 1 Volleyball Finals title was the expectation for Bloomfield Hills Marian.
Not just Saturday, when that expectation became reality with a 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19 win against Ann Arbor Skyline. Not just as the postseason began.
That was the expectation from the time the ball was rolled onto the court for the Mustangs’ first practice in August.
“Although it was a goal, that never made us get complacent or get lazy,” Marian senior and Miss Volleyball winner Ava Brizard said. “We always worked our butts off like we were the underdogs, like we were the last-ranked team in the state. We always worked so hard even though people were expecting us to go back-to-back. But we just kept setting that bar higher and higher for ourselves, and I think that’s what really helped us get to this moment right here.”
The title was the second straight for Marian, and fourth in program history. The Mustangs rolled through the season as Division 1’s top team, going 53-1, and dropping just four sets coming into Saturday’s matchup. All this with a giant target on their collective back.
“I felt this enormous amount of pressure all season,” Marian coach Mayssa Cook said. “As a coach you like to think you have more control than you do. I tried to carry as much of it for them – I knew they had a lot on their plate and a lot on them. I will say I was so impressed with their composure and how they handled stress all season long. I absolutely know the four seniors on this team (Brizard, Janiah Jones, Sophie Treder and Sarah Sylvester) are very ready to step into playing roles at the next level. Most girls going into college don’t have this level of experience, level of play under pressure that they have had. So, we’re exceptionally proud of them as a school.”
Marian did not play like a team under pressure, running out to a double-digit lead in the first set and winning comfortably. But Skyline (55-4-2) came roaring back in the second with an attack led by Harper Murray and Cari Bohm, and handed the Mustangs just their fifth set loss of the season.
“I think we just have the offense that has the ability to compete with them,” Bohm said. “With Harper and me, we have some big hitters – Kate (Maley) -- they haven’t seen that competition yet.”
Marian responded to the rare setback, and while Skyline hung tough for most of the final two sets, Marian simply had too much down the stretch.
“Throughout the game, more of in the second and the later sets, we figured out that their right side defense wasn’t as strong, so we started targeting that,” Skyline senior setter Lauren Lee said. “Toward the end of that last set, they kind of caught onto what we were doing and polished it up.”
Brizard and Murray put on the show they were expected to provide as two of the state’s best attackers, each finishing with 25 kills. Brizard was backed by Treder’s nine kills for Marian, while Ella Schomer had six and Jones and Sylvester each had five.
Ava Sarafa had 44 assists and 12 digs for the Mustangs, who played solid team defense. Brizard led the team with 13 digs, while Lauren Heming had 12 and Treder had 10.
Bohm finished with 11 kills for Skyline, and Lee had 46 assists. Jordan Hall had 21 digs for the Eagles, and Murray added 14.
The trip to the Finals was the first for Skyline in its fifth year as a program. It had qualified for the Semifinals in 2019.
“I think this year it was our focus to get to Battle Creek and be in the Finals, and to give whatever team was on the other side a battle,” Skyline coach Chris Christian said. “I’m proud of these ladies, because they gave Marian a battle. It wasn’t like it was two years ago when we were here and we were just not ready mentally, not really equipped. This time, we were ready, and I think for them to be able to see that anything is possible from where this program started five years ago, we’ve come a long way. There still is room for growth for us.”
PHOTOS (Top) Bloomfield Hills Marian raises the Division 1 championship trophy after finishing a repeat title run Saturday. (Middle) Marian’s Janiah Jones (5) sends a potential kill at the block of Skyline’s Kate Maley (11) and Cari Bohm (18). (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Block Party: 2026 Girls Volleyball Week 9 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 21, 2026
It’s always tournament season for Michigan’s high school girls volleyball teams, but this moment in time seems to especially stand out.
This past Saturday, a total of 257 teams – almost 37 percent of the state’s varsities – played at least one match, the majority as part of multi-team events.
And this Sunday, Oct. 25, this season’s District brackets will be announced, including the top two seeds in each as determined by Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
Below are highlights from the past week with more to come as the final calculations are made to set those postseason matchups.
Records below are those reported and tracked on this website, and rankings referred to below reflect the latest polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA).
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Byron Center d. Grand Rapids Christian (25-12, 25-12) The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs (34-4) continued to cement themselves as contenders in Division 1 with the championship at the prestigious Beast of the East, sweeping Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian (24-4) to finish a 6-1 day.
2. Traverse City Christian d. Kingsley (25-21, 25-21) Division 4 No. 3 Traverse City Christian finished 4-1 at the McBain Invitational, losing only to the host Ramblers but also becoming just the fifth team to defeat the Division 2 No. 8 Stags (40-5-1).
3. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (25-22, 25-23) Division 1 No. 6 FHN (28-9) finished 3-1 at Beast of the East with a win as well over honorable mention Grand Haven but this one over formerly top-ranked-now-No. 2 Marian (31-4) was the most notable.
4. Tecumseh d. Adrian Lenawee Christian (17-25, 25-21, 15-10) Division 2 honorable mention Tecumseh (31-6-2) finished 6-0 at the Lenawee County Tournament, with Division 4 top-ranked Lenawee Christian (34-5) the only team to take a set during those matches.
5. Saginaw Valley Lutheran d. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (25-16, 25-20) Division 3 top-ranked Valley Lutheran (44-6-2) went 6-0-1 at the M3 Invitational, with this the only loss taken on the day by the Division 4 No. 2 Irish (30-7-3).
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Bloomfield Hills (28-9) The Black Hawks graduated Miss Volleyball Kayla Nwabueze after last season, but have navigated some tough competition to remain among the highly-regarded. They are an honorable mention in the Division 1 poll and coming off a 3-1 day at the Novi Wildcat Showcase with a win there over No. 9 Clarkston. Bloomfield Hills followed that up Tuesday by downing Division 2 No. 2 Detroit Country Day 3-0.
Brighton (23-9-1) A four-set win over honorable mention Orchard Lake St. Mary’s last week was the latest boost for the also-honorable mention Bulldogs, who have won eight straight matches. Five losses and the tie have come against ranked or honorable mention teams in Divisions 1 and 2, and a 2-1 win over Division 1 No. 7 Hudsonville at the East vs. West Showdown on Sept. 19 was memorable as well.
DIVISION 2
Kingsford (21-3-2) The Flivvers nearly have matched last season’s 22-3 record thanks in part to a 3-0 Saturday at the Clash of the Divisions where they defeated Division 1 Marquette, Division 3 honorable mention Calumet and Division 4 No. 9 Crystal Falls Forest Park after finishing 1-2 against that group a year ago. The Calumet win avenged a Sept. 10 loss, and the other two defeats this season came during a 2-2 day at the Cadillac Fall Tournament.
North Branch (28-9-3) The Broncos have maintained their usual place among the Division 2 top 10 all season, but after multiple weeks in the No. 10 slot have built back up to No. 7 thanks to a 10-2 run that’s included wins over Division 1 No. 7 Hudsonville and Division 2 honorable mention Flat Rock. Earlier triumphs over Division 1 honorable mention South Lyon, Division 3 No. 1 Saginaw Valley Lutheran and Division 4 No. 2 Sacred Heart also pop off the page.
DIVISION 3
Hanover-Horton (26-8-5) The Comets climbed to No. 9 in Division 3 this week and have downed No. 5 Clinton, No. 7 Grass Lake and No. 3 Plymouth Christian Academy and tied Division 4 No. 4 Battle Creek St. Philip over the last two weeks. The Clinton and Grass Lake victories avenged earlier losses, and Hanover-Horton could see one of them again in Regional play next month.
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (24-2) Another annual contender – and Division 3 champion most recently in 2024 – St. Mary sits No. 8 in the coaches poll with its only losses both to Division 1 honorable mention South Lyon. SMCC finished 4-1 at Beast of the East after last week also finishing a sweep of Division 2 honorable mention Flat Rock amid a perfect run through the Huron League.
DIVISION 4
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (30-7-3) The Irish have reached at least the Regional Finals the last six seasons and could be headed back to Battle Creek with all of its losses coming to ranked or honorable mention teams in Divisions 2 and 3. The Irish are ranked No. 2 in Division 4 with wins over No. 3 Traverse City Christian, No. 7 Ubly and Division 3 honorable mention Morley Stanwood.
Onekama (24-6-1) The Portagers went 3-5 in August and have been on a 21-1-1 tear since with only three sets lost over their last 20 matches. They’ll see Division 3 honorable mention Manton on Saturday as they tune up for the postseason, where they’ll attempt to add to a string of six straight District championships.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Thursday – Hillsdale Academy (21-6) at Battle Creek St. Philip (28-12-4) – This Southern Central Athletic Association crossover game features the Division 4 No. 4 Tigers facing honorable mention Hillsdale Academy.
Thursday – Detroit Country Day (14-7-1) at South Lyon East (29-6) – The Division 1 No. 4 Cougars host Division 2 No. 2 Country Day in what should be an excellent postseason prep match for both.
Thursday – Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (26-8) at Plymouth Christian Academy (26-11-5) – The Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue is topped by this pair of ranked teams, PCA at No. 3 in Division 3 and Oakland Christian at No. 5 in Division 4.
Saturday – East vs. West Challenge at Lowell – The field includes No. 1 Farmington Hills Mercy, No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian and No. 3 Byron Center among six top-10 Division 1 teams, five more Division 1 honorable mentions, and Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian.
Saturday – Frankenmuth Invitational – Another impressive field includes the Division 2 No. 6 Eagles and Division 3 top-ranked Saginaw Valley Lutheran, No. 2 Roscommon and honorable mention Manton.
PHOTOS (Top) A Bath hitter puts the ball over the net during a match against Lansing Christian this season. (Middle) Rockford’s Kendall Anderson (12) sets during a match against Grandville. (Bath/Lansing Christian photo by Click by Christine McCallister. Rockford/Grandville photo by Michigan Sports Media.)