Source: Hometown Life

Author: Marty Budner

Mercy's had Marian's number all season. It was no different in Monday's Catholic High School League A-B Division championship volleyball match hosted by Madison Heights Bishop Foley.

The Marlins again had little problem with the Mustangs, winning in three straight games by the scores of 25-18, 25-22, 25-20, to capture their second straight CHSL crown and seventh in program history. It marks the fourth time this season they've beaten the Mustangs without dropping a game.

"We've always been competitive. We just look at it as if we can play our game, we should accomplish this," said Mercy's veteran head coach Loretta Vogel. "I don't mean it like we're above everyone. I just mean that if every one plays to their ability, there should be a level of success."

Marian's first-year head coach Mayssa Cook believes her squad is getting closer, but keeps hurting itself with mistakes at key moments.

"The scores were very similar to what we did the last time we played them," said Cook, whose team is 31-9 on the season. "I think we executed at the net better and I think we learned a little bit more about them.

"I think we just have to take care of some basic things on our side of the net. When we do I think we win those close ones," she said. "I still think we can take them. I do. I'm frustrated because we just gave up some easy stuff."

Pivotal middle game

Mercy led the distance in the first game, taking a 9-2 lead and never trailing in the eventual seven-point victory.

The middle game proved pivotal for the Mustangs.

The teams kept trading points and were tied a number of times, including 22-22. However, the Marlins went on tally the next three points winning on a dunk kill by senior outside hitter Ella Louissia on teammate Maddy Benoit's serve.

The third game was also competitive, only to have Mercy slowly pull ahead at crunch time while leading 21-16 en route to the five-point victory.

Vogel said the Marlins changed things up a bit this time around against the Mustangs.

"I think the first thing is we changed our blocking and I think that created differences there so I thought that was important for us," said Vogel. "And we need to serve strong so that they're out of system and can't get the ball to the middle. But, that goes for anyone that we play.

"Once we get the lead we want to keep the lead. In that first game I thought we played well, but we missed too many serves so they think they can play with us and we never want that.

"Every time we play them it's more of a challenge for both of us," she said. "So, we anticipate all of that."

Marian's junior outside hitter Christina Audette led her team's offense with 13 kills while freshman teammate Ava Brizard added eight kills. Sarah Kavanaugh and Mallory Lynch led Marian in digs while senior setter Maddie Dowd finished with a team-high 30 assists.

For Mercy, junior outside hitter Jess Mruzik finished with 20 kills in 35 attacks while sophomore Ellie Tisko had four kills in five attacks. Benoit finished with nine digs and Charlie Atiemo had two block assists.

Sophomore setter Julia Bishop posted a game-high 35 assists and two block assists.

A possible fifth meeting

Marian will host a five-team Class a district in the state tournament which starts Monday with Berkley taking on Birmingham Seaholm. Marian will take on that first-round winner in a semifinal game set for Wednesday. Royal Oak and Groves will play in the other semifinal.

The semifinal winners play for the district championship 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at Marian.

Mercy, meanwhile, will play in the five team district hosted by Farmington. Southfield A&T and the host Falcons will play in a first-round game with the winner meeting Livonia Stevenson in one Wednesday semifinal. The other semifinal features Mercy and North Farmington.

The semifinal winners play for the district championship 6 p.m. Nov. 2 at Farmington.

Marian and Mercy are both defending district champions who went on to win regional titles last year. They met in the Class A state semifinal, with Marian winning 3-1.

It was the last time the Mustangs beat the Marlins and they could very well meet again in the state tournament this season. If it happens, it would be for the regional championship which would be played at Marian.

Contact Marty Budner at mbudner@hometownlife.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MartyBudner.