Back by popular demand - my 2013 girls tennis finals predictions. I filled out my bracket - including the winners of every match - in each of the four divisions. Now, I do not intend on exposing those picks here for the sake of the players, but I do intend on letting everyone know of my team predictions, as well as each my projected championship matches this weekend.
In case you are wondering how I did last year, you can view that blog HERE.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY STATE FINALS PREVIEW

DIVISION 1
Grosse Pointe South 25, Clarkston 23, Port Huron Northern 22, Farmington Hills Mercy 21, Northville 16, Troy 15, Ann Arbor Huron 14, West Bloomfield 13, Ann Arbor Pioneer 11, Traverse City Central 9, Midland Dow 9, Novi 8, Troy Athens 5, Utica 5, Saline 4, Hudsonville 2, Grand Blanc 2, Holland West-Ottawa 1, Utica Eisenhower 0, Kalamazoo Central 0, Dearborn 0, Livonia Franklin 0, Livonia Stevenson 0

Thoughts: Clarkston has the most talent at the tournament. Grosse Pointe South has the most depth. Port Huron Northern has the most balanced lineup. So who wins the title? As is the case in any sport where your last starter is as important as your first, I like South's chances to repeat. I've got the Blue Devils scoring at all flights, reaching the semifinals at six and winning 3-4 doubles. If this were a five-flight tournament, Clarkston wins running away. But the Wolves — if they want a chance at winning their second title in three years — will have to score more than the three points I see them getting out of their 2-3-4 doubles teams. If they can, then they have a shot. If PHN can score some points at 4-doubles, they have a chance as well. Mercy is a wild card. The Marlins are balanced, much like GPS, but may not be able to score enough points on Day 2 to make a push for a title.They may prove to be a spoiler to one or more of the top contending teams (see also, Troy, whose doubles teams are scary). I picked against Spindler-Pendelton (part 4) at 2-singles, though if it happened, it would be a great match. My best bet to win a state title: Paige Olsen and Alex Whall at 1-dubs. They've beaten everyone this year — including the two teams I've picked to win state titles in divisions 2-3. And they've beaten them each twice.

Predicted flight finalists
1S Davina Nguyen (Utica) d. Mary Hanna (Saline)
2S Isabella Spindler (Clarkston) d. Lizzie Brozovich (PHN)
3S Dana Olsen (Clarkston) d. Rae Brozovich (PHN)
4S Jessie Guindi (Mercy) d. Madie Flournoy (GPS)
1D Paige Olsen-Alex Whall (Clarkston) d. Fran Basha-Alexis Wirtz (PHN)
2D Hope Keating-Claire Keating (Troy) d. Jordan Hermiz-Elizabeth Sakorafis (Northville)
3D Kate Krueger-Angelica Kalogeridis (GPS) d. Christy Snyder-Julia Shaw (Mercy)
4D Morgane Flournoy-Kelly Beardslee (GPS) d. Shannon Williams-Libby Quinn (Northville)


DIVISION 2
Birmingham Marian 29, Birmingham Seaholm 27, Bloomfield Hills Andover 21, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 18, Okemos 16, Mason 13, Bloomfield Hills Lahser 12, East Grand Rapids 12, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 11, Portage Central 11, North Farmington 8, Battle Creek Lakeview 8, Grosse Pointe North 7, East Lansing 6, Richland Gull Lake 5, Holly 2, Fenton 2, SCS Lakeview 1, Riverview 0, Allen Park 0, Dearborn Heights Crestwood 0

Thoughts: Boy, where to begin. I've gone back and forth on who I think will win. And I would not be surprised one bit if Seaholm picks up an extra win or two, or Marian drops a match I did not predict, and the Maples win by a point. But as it stands, I just like Marian's draws much better. Seven seeds, none lower than a 3, including six 1 or 2 seeds, means the Mustangs should reach Day 2 in all seven. That's 21 points right there. I believe that where each team has an advantage over the other, seeding has come into play. Seaholm has tough draws at 2-singles and 3-doubles. Marian has great draws at those flights. Andover also has seven seeds, but four of them are 4-5 seeds, meaning they'll run into the 1-seed at those flights. The Barons should make their presence felt, but it would be tough for them to challenge the Maples and Mustangs. This, if it happens, will be the final match between Kerry Hu (Andover) and Mollie Fox (Lahser), as high school opponents. They are on track to face each other in the semifinals. Fox is the 1-seed, Hu the 4. They'll be teammates next year. Lahser has a good chance to finish in the top-10. The Knights will also play a key role in the head-to-head battle between Seaholm and Marian. Fox faces Marian's Elaine Apaza in the second round, while 2-seeded Meryl Reams is on the same half of the 4-singles draw as Seaholm's Rachel Fenberg. If she advances past Fenberg (or Forest Hills Northern's Sidney Whitfield), she may very well face Marian's Catherine Yaldoo in the final. 

Predicted flight finalists
1S Sara Remynse (Gull Lake) d. Mollie Fox (Lahser)
2S Emily Struble (Okemos) d. Lauren Dietz (Marian)
3S Claire Markley (Seaholm) d. Breann Lunghamer (Marian)
4S Catherine Yaldoo (Marian) d. Meryl Reams (Lahser)
1D Nancy Benda-Jackie Meier (Seaholm) d. Victoria Minzlaff-Shelby Moored (FHN)
2D Rachel Wilson-Laine Boitos (Seaholm) d. Tatyanna Dadabbo-Sally Thoresen (Marian)
3D Bianca Emde-Tatum Schwartz (Marian) d. Alana Gutman-Jenna Yousif (Andover)
4D Charlotte Garrison-Madison Lorenz (Andover) d. Lauren Benderoff-Sam Lareau (Seaholm)


DIVISION 3
Cranbrook-Kingswood 40, Country Day 24, Allegan 21, Holland Christian 18, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern 18, St. Clair 14, Haslett 14, GR Catholic Central 13, GR South Christian 10, Spring Lake 10, DeWitt 6, Whitehall 5, Cadillac 3, Edwardsburg 2, Chelsea 2, Parma Western 2, Sturgis 1, BC Harper Creek 1, Armada 1, Trenton 0

Thoughts: Yes, I predicted Cranbrook to sweep the finals. I tried to talk myself out of it. I tried to find a chink in the Cranes' armor, but I couldn't. Alexandria Najarian is the best player in the state. Anna Short and Allison Motea have proven to be the best 2-3 singles combination in the state. Sarah Lipworth is a seasoned veteran playing 4-singles. The only possible threat — in my opinion — is Country Day's Madelyn Karoub at 2-singles. She's a smart player. But Short is the favorite. The seeding committee did what they could to derail a Cranbrook sweep of #1 seeds. Allegan is the 1-seed at #1 doubles, with Country Day's Jane Ziecik and Ellie Miller holding down the 2-seed. Cranbrook's Alissa Rowens and Meg Phyle are at #3. Talk about fuel. And at #2, the Cranes' Kendra Sweet and Christina Roualet are the 2-seed, behind Allegan. No losses, just a couple scores against common opponents  taken into consideration. Look for Cranbrook to win at 1-2 doubles. And their 3-4 doubles (Briana Letica-Holly Meers and Lauren Lanzon and Emily Harvey) are pretty much a lock to win state titles. So in the end, yes, I see a sweep on the horizon. 

Predicted flight finalists
1S Alexandria Najarian (Cranbrook) d. Sydney Liggins (GRCC)
2S Anna Short (Cranbrook) d. Madelyn Karoub (Country Day)
3S Allison Motea (Cranbrook) d. Haley Mullins (Country Day)
4S Sarah Lipworth (Cranbrook) d. Sarah Carroll (Country Day)
1D Alissa Rowens-Meg Phyle (Cranbrook) d. Christin Drozd-Kaycee Harness (Allegan)
2D Kendra Sweet-Christina Roualet (Cranbrook) d. Blake Day-Emmarie Gorby (Allegan)
3D Briana Letica-Holly Meers (Cranbrook) d. Taylor Orr-Carlie Vanklompenberg (Allegan)
4D Lauren Lanzon-Emily Harvey (Cranbrook) d. Saja Fadda-Mariah Chapin (GRFHE)


DIVISION 4
Sacred Heart 29, Grosse Ile 25, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 20, Williamston 18, Lansing Catholic Central 17, Traverse City St. Francis 16, Monroe St. Mary CC 15, Portland 14, Kalamazoo Christian 12, Grandville Calvin Christian 11, North Muskegon 9, GR Northpointe Christian 8, Jackson Lumen Christi 7, Liggett 5, Ludington 5, Kalamazoo Hackett 5, Harbor Springs 4, Saginaw Nouvel 3, Clarkston Everest Collegiate/WOLL 1, Niles Brandywine 1, Berrien Springs 0, Frankenmuth 0, Hemlock 0, Paw Paw 0

Thoughts: Sacred Heart is a perfect definition of a deep team. There is talent from top to bottom. And that bodes well in Division 4. The Gazelles are favored in 2-3-4 doubles, earning the top seed at each flight. If you look at some of their tournament results from the regular season —- particularly those against D4's other top teams — you'll see why. Sarah Spangler and Heidi Lemon (2-dubs) Kendall Lehmann and Hannah Gerard (3-dubs) and Elia Wilson and Gretchen Lemon (4-dubs) dominated the competition within the division. I see them all picking up state championships on Saturday in Kalamazoo. I also predicted a doubles sweep for Sacred Heart — with Kelsey Nagle and Emily Nash avenging an earlier-season loss to Williamston's Delaney Nikolai and Caitlin Chick in the finals. And don't think all the talent lies in doubles. The Gazelles' doubles lineup will put the team in a position to win a second straight state title, but Tyler Papazian, Abby Hildebrand, Teresa Walawender and Tate Lehmann will prove to be the difference.

Predicted flight finalists
1S Meika Ashby (K-Zoo Hackett) d. Colleen O'Brien (AA Gabriel Richard)
2S Anjali Sood (AA Gabriel Richard) d. Brianna Riley (Grosse Ile)
3S Audrey Bouma (K-Zoo Christian) d. Maddy Szuba (AA Gabriel Richard)
4S Alexandra Latala (Grosse Ile) d. Tate Lehmann (Sacred Heart)
1D Kelsey Nagle-Emily Nash (Sacred Heart) d. Delaney Nikolai-Caitlin Chick (Williamston)
2D Sarah Spangler-Heidi Lemon (Sacred Heart) d. Alex Carney-Katherine Kuzmiak (Grosse Ile)
3D Kendall Lehmann-Hannah Gerard (Sacred Heart) d. Kelli Bowes-Molly Huisingh (N. Muskegon)
4D Elia Wilson-Gretchen Lemon (Sacred Heart) d. Rose Tucker-Casey Guthrie (Grosse Ile) 

When I opened up the state tennis draws this afternoon, my mind immediately began to go to work. Oakland County received 61 seeds in the four divisions, including 19 top-seeds (of the 32 awarded).
Though I plan on breaking down the draws and making my predictions next week, here are some early observations after glancing up and down the draws:

Division 1

• Not excited for Clarkston that Lexi Baylis and Utica's Davina Nguyen are the 2-3 seeds in the No. 1 singles draw. In my honest opinion, this potential semifinal matchup should be the state final. No disrespect to top-seeded Mary Hanna (who earned the top seed with a three-set win over Baylis a few weeks back), but Nguyen - the defending state champion - should be on the top-line. BUT, because of this, we have two potential tremendous semifinal matchups, as Hanna may now have to face West Bloomfield's Raven Neely in the top half of the draw. Neely is playing well right now. Upset alert?
• Clarkston's Isabella Spindler earned the top-seed at No. 2 singles, where she's on a collision course to meet West Bloomfield's Aerielle Pendleton (#2) in the finals. Spindler beat Pendelton in the dual, Pendleton won in the OAA Red finals, while Spindler won the rubber match at the regional last week.
• Farmington Hills Mercy grabbed more seeds (6) than any county team. Jessie Guindi (#2) at No. 4 singles leads the way. The potential is there for the Marlins to surprise some people. A couple upsets and they could find their way into the top-3.
• Clarkston is currently ranked No. 2 in Division 1 - behind Port Huron Northern. For the Wolves to have a chance at winning a second state title in three years, three things have to happen. 1) Their big guns must come to play. Baylis, Spindler, Dana Olsen, and the No. 1 doubles team of Paige Olsen and Alex Whall have the potential to score 16-19 points. 2) The other four flights must do their part. Katie Hubregsen earned the No. 5 seed at 4-singles. She has the potential to really help her team score a few big points. Nos. 2-3-4 doubles all have an opportunity to score. They must. 3) And finally, the team will need help from others to deny PHN and Grosse Pointe North points. Funny enough, some of Clarkston's rivals (Mercy, Troy and West Bloomfield) are in a position to do so, at 2-3 singles and 1-3-4 doubles.

Division 2

• Marian and Seaholm are seeded right where they need to be to bring home a second-straight D2 state championship to Oakland County. Each received seven seeds. Each received three top seeds. But I think Marian has the slight edge when you break down all the flights. The Mustangs have a distinct advantage at No. 2 singles and No. 3 doubles. Yes, Seaholm (Labina Petrovska) got the 3-seed at No. 1 singles, and I don't like unseeded Elaine Apaza's draw - Lahser's Mollie Fox (#1) - in the second round, but Petrovska drew defending state champion Abby Perkins of Mason in her quarter of the draw. That's a huge match for the Maples now. Huge. 
• The state did a nice job - unintentionally of course - of splitting up Seaholm and Marian in the draws. They are on the opposite sides of the draw at all eight flights. So each has a fighting chance to make their way through the brackets - void of each other.
• Andover did very well for itself, garnering seven seeds. Shouldn't come as a suprise. The Barons are ranked No. 4. It's just easy to forget them when you've got Seaholm and Marian competing less than five miles down the road.
• Intriguing draw at No. 1 singles. Fox is the top-seed, as warranted with a 21-2 record this year - both losses coming to Baylis in OAA Red play. She's on course to face future teammate Kerry Hu (Andover) in the semifinals. If she can beat her rival, she'll face the winner of Petrovska, Perkins or Richland Gull Lake's Sara Remynse, the No. 1 ranked senior in the state (Tennisrecruiting.com).

Division 3

•  When freshmen Anna Short and Allison Motea decided to make Cranbrook their home this past fall, it kind of took the fun out of Division 3. The only question is whether the Cranes can sweep all flight championships. They're top seeds at all singles flights - with Alex Najarian leading the way at No. 1. Their 3-4 doubles teams are No. 1 seeds as well. Something tells me Alissa Rowens and Meg Phyle (#3 at No. 1 doubles) and Kendra Sweet and Christina Roualet (#2 at No. 2 doubles) have something to prove in Holland.
• Country Day is ranked No. 2 in the division, but will have to play well if it hopes to finish that high. Forest Hills Eastern and Allegan are seeded well and any of the three could finish 2-3-4. Country Day's singles (Marina Selenica, Madelyn Karoub, Haley Mullins and Sarah Carroll must all score well.

Division 4

• Much like Cranbrook in Division 3, Sacred Heart is the favorite to win a second-straight Division 4 state championship. The Gazelles are positioned well - four top seeds, including three in doubles. Their depth is key. They won three of the four doubles championships this year. They have a chance to sweep in 2013. But coaches Judy Hehs and Jim Slaughter are not taking anything for granted.
• Grosse Ile - ranked No. 2 - is the wild card. Not much is known about it, which concerns Hehs and Slaughter. Sacred Heart's Tyler Papazian and Grosse Ile's Mary-Kate Mcshane will square off in a first-round matchup at No. 1 singles. Guess both schools will learn a lot about each other right away. Seed-wise, these two schools seem to be the teams to beat.

I will have predictions - and may add to this particular blog after talking to a coach or two - coming up, so check back often.

I guess the rain had to stop at some point. And because of it we're in for some great competition this week. There are generally a few big matches I like to see each year. They generally pit the best against the best.

• Today Marian travels to Seaholm in a battle of two Division 2 state powers. It'll be a prelude to the regional tournament in a couple weeks, as well as the state tournament, where I believe the two teams - along with Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern - will again battle it out, that time for a state title. I will try to live tweet from the match @JasonESchmitt.

• Tomorrow, I'll be heading over to Cranbrook where the Cranes will take on Clarkston in a battle of the state's top-ranked Division 3 and 1 teams. No one will touch the Cranes this year, but this match could be intriguing at a few different flights. Can't wait to see 1-3 singles (Alex Najarian vs. Lexi Baylis, Anna Short vs. Isabella Spindler and Allison Motea vs. Dana Olsen) as well as No. 1 doubles (Alissa Rowens-Meg Phyle vs. Paige Olsen-Alex Whall). Again, I'll try to live tweet from that match, too.
• Andover will take on Country Day on Wednesday, as well. That should be a good one. The Yellowjackets' singles lineup has played well this year, while Andover's doubles have been rock solid. Expect a 4-4 type match here.
•  UPDATED: This weekend there will be a couple of big tournaments. Over at Holly, the Bronchos will host the Red & White Holly Invite. Some of the best teams in the state will be there, including Clarkston (#1 D-1), Port Huron Northern (#2 - D1), Ann Arbor Huron (#4 - D1), Mercy (#5 - D1), Marian (#5 - D2), Grand Blanc, North Farmington and the hosts.
• A previously-scheduled quad involving Country Day and Cranbrook will take on a different look. The two teams will NOT see each other, but will both face Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern. We'll have to wait 'til the regional to see the Cranes and Yellowjackets square off.
• Also this weekend, Seaholm will be traveling over to the west side of the state to take part in the Portage Central quad, which includes the ninth-ranked hosts, the top-ranked Maples and No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, along with Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.

The Holly tournament is the second in two weeks the school has hosted. On Friday, it hosted a quad tournament, which Clarkston beat out Port Huron Northern and Traverse City Central for the title, followed by Holly. It was one of a handful of tournaments this past weekend:

• Academy of the Sacred Heart won five flight championships and cruised to the title at the NorthPointe Christian Invite on Saturday. The Gazelles showed why their depth has them ranked No. 1 in Division 4 and will be a big reason why their favored to win a second-straight state title in a few weeks. Teresa Walawender and Tate Lehmann won 3-4 singles titles, while Heidi Lemon-Sarah Spangler, Hannah Gerard-Kendall Lehmann and Gretchen Lemon-Elia Wilson won 2-3-4 doubles titles.
• Port Huron Northern and Ann Arbor Huron shared the Huron Invitational title on Saturday, both scoring 15 team points. Clarkston and Mercy both had 14 points to tie for third, along with Traverse City Central. Troy was sixth with nine, followed by Midland Dow and Saline. Spindler and Dana Olsen won singles titles for Clarkston, as did Paige Olsen and Whall at 1-dubs. Mercy's Julie Flannigan and Sarah Hinrichs won the 4-doubles title. In an important match at #1 singles, Saline's Mary Hanna beat Clarkston's Baylis in three sets in on semifinal. It was an important matchup that could have big implications for seeding purposes at the Division 1 state finals. Those two, along with defending state champion Davina Nguyen, are expected to battle it out for the title.
• Notre Dame Prep beat out Armada to win the Goodrich Invitational. Kayla Stencel, Erin Moncrief, Hannah Preuss all won singles titles, while Annie and Julie Boniface, Gabby Bering and Maddie Riley, and Hannah Dinardo and Allison Kavanagh won in doubles.

It's taken me a few days to get this blog going. Actually, the MHSAA's posting of the draws caught me by surprise. So, too, did some of the draws of our county teams.


Division 1
OK, call me a homer if you want, but Oakland County tennis is the best in the state. So when it comes to seeding some of the players from this county, I'm a little biased based on the competition many of these teams see match in and match out.
At No. 1 singles, there are three players who have a legitimate shot at winning the state title — no disrespect to fourth-seeded Abby Wang of Novi. Mary Hanna of Saline, Katie Brozovich of Clarkston and Hailey Barrett — seeded 1-2-3 by the coaches — should face off for the title. Hanna and Brozovich are both undefeated, and from what I've heard, Hanna has faired slightly better against mutual competition. She's also taken a set off of who many consider to be the best senior in the state (Greenhills' — and Novi resident — Kasey Gardiner).
I won't take that away from her. Hanna has performed brilliantly on the USTA circuit since the end of last year — where she lost to an unseeded Barrett in the second round a year ago. But on the flip side, Brozovich is also unbeaten, and has played a tough schedule for the Wolves. She plays in the best league in the state (OAA Red) and beat both Mollie Fox (Lahser) and Kerry Hu (Andover), who are seeded 1-2 in Division 2.

Clarkston senior Katie Brozovich

The only reason this bothers me is the fact that the bottom half of this draw is brutal. Not only does it included No. 2 Brozovich and No. 3 Barrett, but lurking in the No. 6 position is Rochester Adams freshman Halle Hyman, who just took Brozovich three sets in the regional final. It'll be interesting to see how Barrett — a senior — deals with Hyman, who is going to be one of the state's best, very soon.
As a team, Clarkston is going to need some help. A pair of 5-3 losses to Port Huron Northern and poor pairings at 2-3 doubles have the Wolves looking up heading into Friday-Saturday's finals in Midland. Last year, Clarkston scored 27 points in winning the Division 1 title. I can see it taking about 25-27 points to win it again. Problem is, I don't know if the Wolves can muster up quite enough. You've got to get points from every flight — more often than not two points from each flight.
I see Clarkston having at least four finalists (1S, 2S, 3S, 1D). But that's just 16 points. They all win and you have 20. Lexi Baylis will win at 2-singles. After that, the Wolves will need its stars — and more importantly its unseeded players — to step up and get a surprise win or two.
Led by Wang, Novi picked up a pair of seeds but has some nice draws. The Wildcats scored nine points to finish 11th last year. I see them scoring a few more this year. Same goes for Troy, which had a top-10 finish in 2012. I've got the Colts scoring the same number of points as Novi, again finishing among the Top 7-8 teams.
Rochester Adams, which had a strong showing at the Rochester regional last week, had some tough luck when the draws were announced. Hyman will score at No. 1 singles, but most other flights have tough second-round matchups.

Division 4
Academy of the Sacred Heart enters the state tournament ranked No. 1 and the favorite to win in Holland this weekend. But the Gazelles know all too well that it'll take a little luck and strong play from their doubles lineup to cash in on the first state title in school history.
Let's start right with the doubles. All four flights are on the top line — meaning they earned top seeds. Kelsey Nagle and Emily Nash, Hannah Gerard and Elia Wilson, Heidi Lemon and Sarah Spangler and Kendall Lehmann and Teresa Walawender will all be favored at their respective flights.
Sacred Heart beat Monroe St. Mary's Catholic Central a few weeks ago, 5-3. I thought after last year's finals, these would be the two teams to beat in 2012. Somehow, Williamston and Lansing Catholic Central are two of a handful of teams that have wedged their way in between Sacred Heart and SMCC in the state rankings. The Kestrels have enough talent to score as many as 20 points, but not much more. No. 2 ranked Williamston seems to be best built to give the Gazelles a challenge. But I just don't see it happening, as long as Sacred Heart's doubles lineup lives up to — or close to — expectations.

Notre Dame Prep's Lisa Savagian

I feel for senior Jessica Davis, the anchor of the Gazelles lineup. For the second-straight year, she'll be facing a daunting task of being drawn into the quarter of the draw with the No. 2 seed. Any points she can get for the team will be very important. Kelsey Hildebrand at No. 2 singles, and Tyler Papazian at No. 3, will also be key for the Gazelles. They're seeded sixth and fifth. And the two points they're expected to score will be huge. Papazian is in the same quarter of the draw as Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard's Surina Sood, a player she beat 6-0, 6-2 earlier this year. I'm not quite sure how she's seeded lower than Sood (injury perhaps?), but if she can get to the quarters and beat Sood again, that's a bonus point for her team.
Notre Dame Prep has climbed all the way up to No. 5 in the latest rankings and the Irish are primed to finish among the top handful of teams in Holland. NDP picked up a pair of seeds — Erin Moncrief at No. 4 singles and Gabby Bering and Maddie Riley at No. 4 doubles — and I can see them scoring as many as 13 points, which would give them a top 5-6 finish. Lisa Savagian, at No. 1, has a nice draw, and could score a couple points for the Irish.

Here's my take on the seeds for Divisions 2 and 3. And later this week (Thursday), I'll be posting my predictions for this weekend's finals.