Farmington Hills Mercy spotted Bloomfield Hills Marian a two-set lead, then powered and finessed their way to win the next three sets to successfully defend their CHSL A-B Volleyball title at Madonna University.
Madison Heights Bishop Foley took care of Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes with relative ease for the C-D volleyball title, but you’d have to go back 26 years – to 1985 – to find the last time the Ventures were league champs.
Mercy down, but far from out
Mercy found itself in a familiar hole against Marian: down two sets to none.
It was familiar because on two occasions during the regular season, when No. 1-ranked Mercy beat archival, No. 3-ranked Marian, six times in nine meetings, in two of those victories Marlins were down 2-zip – and bounced back to win.
“I can’t explain it (about the comebacks),” said Coach Loretta Vogel afterwards. “Marian has an outstanding defense.”
Heading into the third set after losing 22-25 and 26-28, Vogel urged patience. “I could tell they were frustrated and pressing.”
Mercy fell behind 13-15 but went on a 6-1 streak for a 19-16 lead, its largest spread the rest of the way down a nip-and-tuck finish for a 29-27 win.
In the fourth set, the Marlins outpointed Marian 22-15 after taking a 7-6 lead for a 25-21 win. And in the deciding fifth set, Mercy led all the way for a 15-9 victory.
“They’re better,” said Marian Coach Irick Gardner. “They’re better mentally and physically. The comeback was impressive, but more impressive is to win three games in a row. They had a stronger desire not to lose than us.”
He added a caution: Chances are that the two teams could meet in the state tournament. Marian (50-12) is the two-time defending Class A champion, having beaten Mercy (53-3, the losses all to Marian) last year in the finals.
“Maybe we’ll be better then,” Gardiner said.
Leading Mercy were senior Madeline Doyle (26 kills, 30 digs), junior setter Mary Kate Duzio (58 assists), and senior Jenna Lerg (38 digs).
Marian’s Mary Henry had 61 assists, just two shy of a state record. The Mustangs’ attack was pretty evenly spread among senior Pohlman (19 kills), sophomore Jessica Kopmeyer (15 kills), sophomore Paige Carey (14 kills), senior Kari Fidelholtz (11 kills, 39 digs).
Timeout pep talk inspires
It was a matter of confidence.
Bishop Foley played with self-assurance, and Our Lady of the Lakes didn’t.
The Ventures, winning the first set handily 25-13, trailed 10-17 in the second set when second-year coach, Brian Kim, called a timeout.
“I told them to be patient, to play with confidence. There was a lot of game left. Fight for every point.”
The pep talk worked. Bishop Foley (23-2-4) outscored the Lakers (17-8-6) 9-1 for a 19-18 edge, which they built into a 25-22 decision. They maintained their focus for the third set for a 25-15 win.
Sophomore Annie Schmidt had 36 assists and senior Danielle Partyka a dozen kills to pace Bishop Foley. Freshman Haley Howell had a dozen assists. No other teammate was in double figures in any other category.
