Source: Hometown Life
Author: Marty Budner
Mercy's volleyball team finds itself in the Final Four for the second straight season.
But, take it from Canisius College-bound senior Ella Loussia, the Marlins are focused on bigger and better things after methodically taking care of Sterling Heights Stevenson, 25-8, 25-17, 2514, in Tuesday's Division 1 quarterfinal game played at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore.
Mercy, which lost in last year's state semifinal to arch rival Marian, next plays Lake Orion in the state semifinal set for 4:30 p.m. Friday at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena. The state championship game is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the same venue.
"It was really hard for us to lose (in the semifinals) last year. We were really excited and we thought we had it in the bag and we ended up losing," said Loussia, an outside hitter from West Bloomfield in her second varsity season.
"I guess it really humbled us for this year. This year we went (into the tournament) with the attitude that you can beat a team 99 times, but the 100th time is what matters. That's kind of what happened last year. We learned that we can lose any time so we know we have to play our hardest and hope for the best. It's not over yet, no matter what.
"But, this year really exciting for us. We're calling it the Bounce-Back season," she said. "We're trying to do better than we did last year and we're all really working hard in practice."
No. 1 Marlins peaking
Mercy's veteran head coach Loretta Vogel has watched her No. 1-ranked team soar through the year's state playoffs without dropping a set, including a sweep of Marian in the regional championship game.
Vogel believes the Marlins are peaking heading into the semifinal match.
"In reviewing (the match against) Marian, there was just a lot of emotion on obviously both sides," said Vogel. "I don't think we had a letdown (against Stevenson). I think they are pretty well focused that it truly is the very next game. And, what we do in practice, getting ready for the game, play our game and make the adjustments that are necessary during the course of the game.
"I think we have a good feeling (going into the Final Four)," she said. "We've had a pretty good feeling most of the year, but we're adding a few small items into the rotation and that's worked well for us."
Mercy was in control the entire match against Stevenson, the unranked Macomb Activities Conference White Division champion which finished the season with a 44-10 overall record.
The Marlins never trailed, taking a 10-0 lead in the opening game, a 4-1 lead in the middle game and a 5-1 advantage in the third.
Mercy took the first game on a dink kill by sophomore setter Julia Bishop on a Loussia serve. The Marlins won the second on a Stevenson miscue and secured the match with a strong cross-court kill by junior outside hitter Jess Mruzik.
Mruzik slams 16 kills
Mruzik, a member of the U.S. National junior team, finished with a team-high 16 kills with five digs, two aces and two block assists. Bishop finished with 31 assists, five kills and sophomore middle hitter Charli Atiemo added five kills and 2.5 blocks.
Junior libero Kalya Shields finished with 14 digs and two assists.
"It's great to come back this year and be able to make it back (to the semifinal) again," said Bishop. "Our big goal was obviously to make it back to where we lost last year, make up for that loss (to Marian) and go further this year.
"I'm beyond proud of the team right now. The bench is what got us here and that's why we're successful," she said. "They're the ones who push us in every practice, they make everyone better and they make us all earn our positions."
Mercy will take a 53-2 overall record into the semifinal against Oakland Activities Association foe Lake Orion. The Dragons, ranked No. 2 in the state, are responsible for one of those losses, defeating the Marlins in a late-August tournament.
Mercy, however, did not have Mruzik in the lineup that day as she was still competing with the national team.
The last time Mercy advanced to the state championship game was in 2010 when it lost to Marian. The Marlins have never won a volleyball state title.
"This is a wonderful feeling and I'm thrilled with where the girls are at right now," said Vogel. "I've watched (Lake Orion) a number of times and they just have a strong team. I mean middles, outsides, and it's going to be a good match up for us, and for them."
Contact Marty Budner at mbudner@hometownlife.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MartyBudner.