Mustangs Complete Volleyball Three-Peat!

Nov. 19, 2022

Tom Lang, Special to the Detroit Free Press

Marian retains Division 1 title

BATTLE CREEK — Birmingham Marian, No. 1 in the state, shook off dropping the opening set to roll past No. 2 Northville and win its third consecutive Division 1 volleyball state championship on Saturday afternoon at Kellogg Arena, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-11.

"The biggest thing we talked about is, this is our home court," said Marian coach Mayssa Cook. "We've been here now our third year in a row ... and we knew we had that advantage. We had the experience of playing on this stage, in this gym. We know the way it smells, it looks, it feels, all that stuff.

"We love pressure, we crave it we want it. And something about that, it was a spark and I saw the fire in their eyes, and I knew we were going to get it done. The way that got turned around and took over the rest of the match, was every coaches' dream."

This final featured Marian stars and Miss Volleyball finalists Ava Sarafa (Kentucky) and Ella Schomer (Wofford) against Northville's Abby Reck (Northeastern), another Miss Volleyball finalist. Marian's only loss this season was to Northville, when Schomer was out with an injury.

Marian (49-1) had 57 kills, led by Izzy Busignani's 27. Reck had 21 for Northville (47-4).

"I think having a lot of players on their team that have been here before — the crowd, the noises, the sound — it's hard when you've never experienced that," said Northville coach Sarah Lindstrom. "I am proud of the girls for pushing through, coming out and taking that first set. I think that was the set that was scariest for all of us, because we knew that they had done this multiple times before. We came out strong and I could not be more proud."

Marian seemed to really take this game personally, not only due to the regular season loss to Northville but so much chatter in the volleyball community that they couldn't do it three years in a row.

"Kids that don't normally make spectacular digs and defensive plays were making them, and it was so beautiful to finally see us play the kind of defense, "Cook said about the champs. "More than any other year, this has felt like a true, team effort. It was beautiful to watch."

"Nobody knows this about me, but every single national anthem, I pray," Cook added. "And what I prayed for tonight was that these seniors play with the kind of heart, conviction, confidence, just to have that peace and wisdom about this last match being their best match ever."

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