The 2026 prep volleyball season is upon us and Oakland County should once again be a force within the state.
If you’re a top 10 team in the county, you’re likely a team that has lofty goals for the season.
Here’s a look at the 10 programs we expect to be among the best in the county for the 2026 season.
1. Farmington Hills Mercy
The 2025 Division 1 state champions will be just as potent as ever. Leading the way will be senior outside hitter Kate Kalczynski, who has already helped propel Mercy to two state titles in her prep career. The Penn State commit will have some talented middles working alongside her in 6’5” junior McKenzie Andrews, who is already committed to Stanford, as well as 6’2” sophomore Saniya Tucker. Running the offense will be sophomore setter Kaelyn Easton, who is fresh off winning a gold medal with Team USA’s U17 program at the FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship.
2. Bloomfield Hills Marian
The Mustangs are going to be right on the heels of Mercy once again. Marian returns a lot of experience, led by its powerful outsides in junior Quinn Nelson and senior Sophia Smith (Boston College). Those two provide a great 1-2 punch for Marian. Senior Calli LeFevre has battled injuries the last two seasons, but could provide added depth in her senior year to give an added boost. London Gibson is a junior middle hitter already committed to Central Michigan, while junior libero Ashlyn Pelon is committed to Maryland. This team looks strong at all positions.
3. Detroit Country Day
The two-time defending Division 2 state champs make the move to the CHSL Central this fall, now competing alongside Mercy and Marian. That should keep the Yellowjackets strong for the postseason. Country Day is led by junior setter Payton Woodruff, an LSU commit. She’s got a pair of strong senior middles to work with in Leah Green (Hope) and Aliyah Potapenko. DCD will need to develop some new primary hitters on the outside, but the Yellowjackets tend to reload instead of having to rebuild.
4. South Lyon East
The Cougars have one of the best sophomores in the nation in outside Lexi Coleman, who was alongside Easton winning gold for Team USA in recent weeks. She will be the go-to option for East this fall, working with 6’2” junior setter Ava Kiernan, a Central Florida commit. South Lyon East also features one of the top liberos in the state in senior Addison Stepp, who is committed to Alabama.
5. Bloomfield Hills
The Black Hawks made an incredible run to the D1 final in 2025, but graduated do-everything outside hitter Kayla Nwabueze. Still, this year’s roster should keep Bloomfield Hills in the mix. Brynn Wilcox is a senior setter with a lot of big-match experience, and Allison Stakoe is a returning junior outside hitter that was a key piece to the offense in 2025. Sophomore middles Emily Nwabueze and Suri Ewing could each see larger roles to help solidify the offense. Defensively, seniors Alyssa Moir and Julia Colosimo return to give Bloomfield Hills a lot of leadership in the back row.
6. Clarkston
The Wolves are always a threat in the OAA Red, which makes them a threat in the state title picture. Senior setter Marlie Smith, a North Carolina commit, is back to lead the team and she’s got some talented hitters to work with in seniors Josie Seets and Maya Kuebler. Defensively, sophomore Stella Smith is one of the top liberos in her class, and brings the same intensity as her older sister.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep’s Nicole McDowell, middle, hits between a pair of Lutheran North players in a district championship victory Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 in Macomb. (BRYAN EVERSON – MediaNews Group, file)
7. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
The Eaglets will be part of a stacked CHSL Central this fall as well. But, they bring plenty of experience this year to be a threat. Avery Kapeller (Georgetown) is one of the top senior outside hitters in the state and will be able to hold her own against anyone she’s up against. Seniors Katelynn Dabish, Anna Duggan, and Reese Holton all were contributors last fall on offense, while Lindsey Schwegman returns at setter alongside fellow senior Anneliese Weber (Winthrop), who dealt with injuries in 2025. Defensively, Zoey Kapeller is a steady libero that will keep the Eaglets in any match.
8. Stoney Creek
The Cougars did some good things in 2025 with a relatively young roster, so they have high hopes entering 2026. Junior Lauren Sheldon, a Michigan State commit, is an outside hitter to keep an eye on. She’s got a lot of power at the net. Senior 6’2” middle hitter Brooklyn Rummler (Florida International) is also a handful for opponents to deal with. Senior Bianca Micakovic and sophomore Gabby Parrish add depth on the attack, with Morgan Bates and Ava Youhanna both returning as senior setters. Senior libero Kaitlyn Gustafson is also back to provide this team with a deep starting lineup.
9. South Lyon
The Lions made some big splashes in the Division 1 picture last fall and will be hungry to follow up on that this season. Senior outside hitter Kennedy Duncan is a great leader on the court that will provide a lot of excitement for the Lions. Senior middle Kate Sulkowski is a 6’1” talent that can also change the momentum of a match. Mari Hardin returns as a senior setter for the Lions to keep the chemistry of the offense at a high level.
10. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
The Fighting Irish are always a team you have to bring your best against, especially in Division 2. This fall could be an opportunity for NDP to get back to making a long postseason run. Nicole McDowell (Rider) and Vanessa Artinian are a potent pair of hitters for the Irish, while Tessa Bordogna, Campbell Bordogna, and Stephanie Lulaj are also returning offensive contributors. Lulaj is also a standout defender, which the Irish have been known for developing.