Kicking off with preps

When the dog days came to a end last week with the first official day of school, another budding season of preps began.

For me, another season means the smell of freshly cut soccer fields and the screeching of sneakers on the hardwood of a volleyball court.

That's where you can catch me — on the sidelines covering boys soccer in the Oakland Activities Association Red and Blue divisions , the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference and the Catholic High School League, and in the stands watching volleyball teams in the Macomb Area Conference White, Blue and Bronze divisions.

Here's a few teams to watch out for in both sports:

Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day's soccer team might be young, but the elite program returns to the pitch as the Division 3 defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in Division 3 by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association's Sept. 8 poll.

Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (9-0-0 overall) returned 12 players from last year's Division 4 state runner-up squad and aims to make another title run. Leading the squad is seniors Jacob Stanko on offense, Josh McKenna in midfield and Kramer Everett in goal. The Lancers are ranked No. 1 in Division 4.

Troy High (1- 1- 1 in the OAA Red and 2- 1-1 overall) was ranked No. 4 in the MHSSCA's rankings and comes in with a strong senior class, which hopes to capture the district title that Birmingham Brother Rice snatched from it last year.

Some volleyball teams were shifted around into new divisions this fall, while an entirely new division, the Bronze, was created to accommodate Clawson High, which joined the MAC this year.

Warren Cousino's volleyball squad (1-0 in the MAC White, 7-5 overall) packs a powerful punch in outside hitters seniors Kate Sak and Danielle Meyer. Coach Patti Hunter said this is the year for Cousino to break out and make a run in the state tournament.

The Blue Division welcomed two new teams in Sterling Heights High and Grosse Pointe South. While Utica High dominated the league last year (12-0), with Utica Stevenson (10-2) close behind, this year there's much more parity.

Warren Fitgerald returns as the favorite after winning the MAC Silver division last year. The Spartans, who are now in the Bronze Division, are guided by a senior-heavy squad that is aiming for league and district titles.

But the Spartans should look for a hard-hitting Clinton Township Clintondale squad and an energized Madison Heights Lamphere's team.