Teams:
Grand Valley State
Saginaw Valley State
Michigan State
Central Michigan
Siena Heights
Davenport
The Michigan Region once again was the most dominant in the NCDA during the 2013-14 season. In fact, three Michigan teams made it to the “Final Four” at Nationals 2014. While the top tier teams in this region garnered most of the headlines, the 2013-14 season also saw the addition of two new NCDA member teams: Siena Heights and Davenport. Here are my awards for the Michigan Region:
Best Team:
Grand Valley State
GVSU won their second consecutive National Championship with a record of 32-1 overall. That is the most wins in one season in NCDA history.
Most Improved Team:
Saginaw Valley State
A year ago, SVSU was eliminated in the Quarterfinals at Nationals 2013. This season was a lot more impressive for the Cardinals. They reached the National Championship Game this year, while also winning the Michigan Dodgeball Cup, one of the NCDA’s premier regular season tournaments.
Most Valuable Player:
Eric Paul (MSU)
In Eric’s last season of dodgeball, he proved to be one of the best players in the NCDA. He was a consistent leader for a Michigan State squad that reached the Final Four for a second consecutive year. Over the last few seasons Eric Paul has been one of College Dodgeball’s most well rounded players. He was one of the best catchers in the nation, while also having a strong, accurate throw that MSU was able to rely on time and time again. The Spartans will surely miss his production next season.
Team to Watch Next Season:
Central Michigan
There were several quality options for “Team to Watch” in the Michigan Region. MSU is going to be a much improved team next year, and should be favored to reach their third straight Final Four, but I’m giving this one to CMU. The Chippewas had a fairly young team this year. Central was eliminated in the first round of the NCDA Tournament, but don’t expect the same result next year. This team is filled with talented young players. As they gain more experience, I expect CMU to become a tough team to beat, even by other Michigan Region opponents.
