Boys Volleyball Cements Legacy As MHSAA Division 2 State Champions
Justin Scott - 6/7/2025
The Lowell boys volleyball team won three straight MIVCA championships heading into Saturday’s first-ever MHSAA Division 2 State Championship match, which cannot be downplayed.
In 2019, current girls volleyball Coach Jordan Drake built the first ever Lowell Boys Volleyball team which featured a hodge-podge of athletes, most of whom had never played organized volleyball before. Student-athletes like Gavin Coxon, Brenan Conlan, Trevor Petroelje, Ricky Braman, and current coach Drew Davidson. All of these players joined the Lowell team, one of just 12 in the state.
Recent elite players like Brant Tiede, Gavin Barber, Ean Wolters, Nick Williams, Jacob Davidson and Lancdon Hamilton helped continue to build the foundation for Lowell’s success. They also played a role in helping boys volleyball grow into a full-fledged MHSAA sport this year.
Similar to Lowell girls golf in the early 1990s, when that sport was still growing, Lowell boys volleyball has been near the forefront of boys volleyball’s growth in Michigan.
While the sport has continued to grow quickly on the east side of the state, it was the west side, where boys volleyball has been more established, that won the day Saturday. Lowell beat GR South Christian 3-1 in the Division 2 state championship match, while Grand Haven beat Lake Orion in the Division 1 final.
Lowell defeated South Christian 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18 to win the state championship led by junior Josh Wolters, senior Max Davidson, and a slew of contributions from juniors and underclassmen.
For senior Max Davidson, the championship carried a different meaning than Lowell’s previous MIVCA titles.
Senior Max Davidson makes it official.
“This championship is different because of the fact that it’s an actual MHSAA sport now, and it’s my senior year, so I got to end on a high note,” Davidson told Red Arrow Preps.
Davidson said Lowell’s past success helped the Red Arrows stay grounded, knowing each match and each set can look different.
“Past success helped today by remembering both teams play very differently every set, so anything could happen. We just needed to play our game,” Davidson said.
It was not a guarantee going in, but the Red Arrows had reason to feel confident. Lowell had not lost a set all tournament and looked strong in its 3-0 sweep over No. 2-ranked Grand Rapids Christian. After beating unranked Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in the semifinal, No. 6 South Christian was the final team standing in the way.
The Sailors played well and pushed Lowell in the opening set, but the Red Arrows held on for a 25-23 win. Lowell took the second set 25-20 and appeared to be in control of the match.
Lowell has six freshman on the varsity team; Liam Bolen, Damon Thomas, Teyton Compton, Will Selent, Isaac Kissinger, and Jaeger Smith. Most of whom had key contributions over the course of the match.
South Christian responded in the third set, pulling ahead 17-11. Lowell, which did not take a timeout the entire match, answered with eight straight points. Seven of those came with junior Lincoln Pollema serving.
Freshman libero Teyton Compton enters the game after a big point.
Junior Josh Wolters said South Christian deserved credit for the way it battled, especially after Lowell had beaten the Sailors twice earlier in the season.
“We had beaten them twice already this season, they really wanted to get us back,” Wolters said. “I think the game overall went well. We could’ve played better, but a win is a win.”
South Christian, led by a core of seniors compared to Lowell’s lone senior Davidson, was able to hold off the run and win the third set 25-23. It was the first and only set that Lowell would lose all postseason.
“We’ve played Lowell three times, but we stood in it with them today, and I thought we played an incredible match,” South Christian coach Mya Udell told the MHSAA. “We took a set off Lowell, and they’re an incredible team.”
Davidson also felt Lowell had another level it could have reached, even in a championship win.
In the fourth, Lowell pulled away early and finished the match with a 25-18 win to claim the first MHSAA Division 2 boys volleyball state championship.
“The progress boys volleyball has made since 2019 is unbelievable. More kids are being introduced to the sport at a younger age, and that experience is raising the level of play across the state. The growth of the game has been incredible to watch,” Coach Drew Davidson said.
Lowell finished the season at 27-6, three of their six losses came to D1 champion Grand Haven.
Lowell fans celebrate a point in the state championship match vs. South Christian.
