Orchard Lake St. Mary's volleyball team will compete in the Catholic League's Bishop Division this season, facing top Michigan programs including Farmington Hills Mercy, Bloomfield Hills Marian, and new league member Detroit Country Day.
Orchard Lake St. Mary's volleyball team is set for a major transition this season as it moves up to the Catholic League's Bishop Division, where it will compete against some of Michigan's most established high school volleyball programs. The Eaglets, who have dominated the Cardinal Division for the past four years, will now face new challenges and higher-level competition.
The Bishop Division includes perennial contenders Farmington Hills Mercy and Bloomfield Hills Marian, as well as Birmingham Detroit Country Day, which joins the Catholic League after decades as an independent program. Country Day enters the division as the defending Division 2 state champion, adding further depth to the league's competitive landscape.
Rising to New Competition
Orchard Lake St. Mary's earned its promotion after winning four consecutive Cardinal Division championships, including an undefeated league record last season. The program, which began varsity play in 2021 after the school admitted its first class of female students in 2020, has quickly established itself as a force in Michigan high school volleyball.
Senior captain Avery Kapeller, a Georgetown University commit, said the team is eager to prove itself at the next level. The Eaglets see the move as an opportunity to compete against stronger opponents and further develop their program. Teammate Alexis Donovan echoed this sentiment, noting that the new division offers a chance for the team to gain recognition among Michigan's top volleyball schools.
Building a Program and Earning Respect
Since its inception, the St. Mary's girls volleyball program has grown rapidly, with the varsity team making its debut just a year after the school began admitting girls. Despite their recent success, players and coaches acknowledge that the program is still working to earn respect among established Bishop Division teams like Mercy and Marian.
Marian coach Mayssa Cook said the addition of St. Mary's and Detroit Country Day strengthens the division and brings greater Michigan representation to the league. Country Day coach Kim Lockhart, who has watched St. Mary's progress since 2022, described the Eaglets as a disciplined and competitive team that has quickly become a contender.
Pursuing a State Title
Beyond league play, St. Mary's has set its sights on reaching the state finals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. The school has won more than 40 MHSAA state championships in various sports, but none from a girls program. Head coach Ross Talbott, now in his second year, believes the team has the talent to make a deep postseason run, though he acknowledges the challenge of competing against more established programs.
Last season, the Eaglets finished with a 37-6 record and advanced to the regional semifinals before falling to eventual Division 1 champion Farmington Hills Mercy. Regular season matchups against Mercy, Marian, and Country Day are expected to provide valuable experience as St. Mary's aims to become the first girls team in school history to win a state title.
Orchard Lake St. Mary's volleyball program continues to grow in both size and reputation, with players and coaches focused on proving they belong among Michigan's elite. As the 2026 season begins, the Eaglets will look to make their mark in the Bishop Division and pursue new milestones for the school's young but ambitious girls athletics program.
