ROCHESTER HILLS — Intense.
Those who have witnessed a confrontation between Bloomfield Hills Marian and Farmington Hills Mercy might have other words to describe what happens when these archrivals collide restricted by 60-foot by 30-foot volleyball court dimensions.
One — this reporter is a prime example — doesn’t have to know the intricacies of the sport to admire, even be awe-struck, by the harmony, the precision, the rhythm of the participants to keep a large ball in motion, from side to side over an 8-foot net, by striking it with the hands with the intention of grounding the ball on the opponent’s side of the net for a point.
There were, maybe, 500 spectators at Oakland University’s O’Rena on Oct. 8 who witnessed Marian and Mercy battle for the Catholic High School League Bishop Division championship. Marian won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-18. Mercy retaliated to win the match and the championship by winning three sets: 25-18, 25-15 and 15-10.
“Phenomenal,” was Mercy coach Loretta Vogel’s word.
Vogel, in her 16th year at Mercy, explained the Marlins’ turnaround: “The first game, we were really working hard just to play and we were very sluggish. And then I think we tried a couple of things in the second game.
In the second game, “we knew what they were going to do a little more. I think that makes a difference,” she said.
The difference was noticeable in the third set. The Marlins (26-3-0) led from start to finish and played with unshakeable confidence in the fourth and fifth sets to repeat as Bishop Division titlists, 12th in their history coming 50 years after they won their first CHSL title in 1975.
Among the notable individual stats: Junior Kate Kalczynski — a certain Miss Volleyball candidate next year — was a force at the net, tallying 29 kills and 15 digs. Senior Maya Zarow added 17 digs, freshman setter Kaelyn Easton directed the offense with 49 assists, senior Cree Hollier recorded 12 kills, and freshman libero Kate Berghoff contributed 17 digs.
Coach Mayssa Cook, in her 10th year at Marian (34-4), found it difficult to express her disappointment.
“We just stopped playing. That’s what it was. We were up 2-0. We had the momentum. The energy was up,” she said. “I truly have not seen with this team this season on the court, what I saw tonight. We didn't pass or serve quite as well as we did in sets one and two. We made many serving errors at bad times. And then hitters were trying to do too much. There's too much talent, too much high-level experience.”
Four days later, the state Division 1 fourth-rated Mustangs regained their stride winning five of six matches in a weekend showcase tournament. The loss was handed down by No. 1-ranked Rockford.
Marian’s statistical leaders: Sophomore Quinn Nelson 268 kills, junior Sophia Smith 198 kills and 48 blocks, sophomore London Gibson 46 blocks, senior setter Allie Davison 706 assists, and sophomore libero Ashley Pelon 211 digs.
Up next: State tournaments
Three CHSL squads have won seven state volleyball championships in the last five years: Clarkston Everest Collegiate won Division 4 back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
Mercy won Division 1 in 2019 and 2023.
Marian ruled Division 1 three years in a row, 2020-21-22.
Everest, which lost eight seniors from last year’s team including Miss Volleyball candidate Sarah Bradley, appears to have the slimmest odds of repeating.
State tournament action begins on the district level Nov. 3-8. The ultimate destination: the championship game Nov. 22 at the Kellogg Center in Battle Creek.
Contact Don Horkey at dhorkey4gmail.com.
