Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Week 3 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 10, 2025
We’re having a party, and volleyball fans everywhere are invited.
Volleyball has become Michigan’s most popular girls high school sport, with nearly 20,000 high school players last season. “Block Party” is our newest MHSAA.com endeavor, and we’ll be providing glances at some of the best and brightest on courts all over the state during the buildup to our annual Finals weekend at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
We hope these weekly reports – as they have for football and basketball – shine more light on the week-in, week-out competition that shapes every season, and on programs you may already know about but also several more than maybe you’ll read about for the first time.
This season's first matches were played Aug. 20, making this the midst of our third week (and hence, our Week 3 Report). Records, results and schedules below are based on what’s posted for teams and used to calculate Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) on MHSAA.com. Rankings noted below reflect the latest polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA).
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. North Branch d. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (25-17, 25-19) The Division 2 No. 3 Broncos finished 6-0 at the Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Invitational, with this toppling of the No. 2-ranked team in Division 3 its best victory.
2. Rockford d. Grand Rapids Christian (25-19, 25-21) The Rams downed the Division 2 No. 2 Eagles and also No. 7 Grand Rapids South Christian among other notables during its Rockford Rumble.
3. Traverse City St. Francis d. Roscommon (25-23, 23-25, 25-20) The Division 3 No. 8 Gladiators’ win over top-ranked Roscommon made a big wave, although St. Francis did also fall to Division 1 Midland Dow on this night.
4. Bloomfield Hills Marian d. Utica Eisenhower (29-23, 19-25, 15-9) This was arguably Division 1 No. 3 Marian’s most impressive win during a MI Elite Program Cup run that also included a two-set sweep of No. 9 Brighton. Eisenhower was ranked No. 6.
5. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central d. Imlay City (25-18, 20-25, 15-11) SMCC’s only loss at Notre Dame Prep was to North Branch (above), and the Kestrels earned a notable victory over Division 2 No. 5 Imlay City along the way.
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Bloomfield Hills (15-1-0) The No. 4-ranked Black Hawks did suffer their first loss of the season last week – in two sets to Marian. But they’ve otherwise have been unbeatable with wins over No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy, honorable mentions Lake Orion and Novi and another Tuesday over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, which ended Bloomfield Hills’ season last fall in a District Final. The Black Hawks will see Marian again Thursday.
Rockford (16-0-0) As noted above, the top-ranked Rams cruised through their Rockford Rumble, never dropping a set during victories over South Christian, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Christian and Division 1 honorable mention Mattawan. The win over the Eagles was Rockford’s second this fall; they’ve also downed No. 8 Grand Haven, honorable mention Byron Center and Division 2 No. 4 Holland Christian among several impressive squads over the first three weeks.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Christian (7-4-0) The Eagles’ losses have all come to ranked Division 1 teams – twice to Rockford and once apiece to Grand Haven and honorable mention Hudsonville. Meanwhile, Grand Rapids Christian defeated Division 1 No. 7 Jenison and Mattawan at Rockford over the weekend, and most recently Grand Rapids South Christian and Holland Christian at a power-packed tri last week. South Christian had ended the Eagles’ season with a five-set Regional Final loss last year.
Parma Western (9-0-1) The Panthers will pick up Thursday after a two-week match break and are ranked No. 10 in Division 2 coming off last season’s Regional Final run. Their only non-win was a two-set draw with Division 4 honorable mention Adrian Lenawee Christian, and wins over Division 3 No. 4 Pewamo-Westphalia to start the season and No. 9 Hanover-Horton at the Chelsea Invitational stand out most. Parma Western will see No. 9 Tecumseh on Thursday.
DIVISION 3
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (10-1-1) The reigning Division 3 champion is off to another fast start, with that loss to North Branch over the weekend and an early two-set tie against New Boston Huron their only non-victories this fall – and the Kestrels have defeated Huron twice since including 25-18, 25-17, 25-12, on Tuesday. SMCC has lost only four sets total, and only one during an eventual match win.
Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-2-1) The Chargers aren’t ranked at this time but may get some looks soon. They opened the season with a loss to Division 4 No. 7 Crystal Falls Forest Park at the Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Invitational, but came back to defeat the Trojans in the semifinals that day before falling to still-undefeated Division 1 Greenville in the championship match. Valley Lutheran has lost only one set over six matches since, to Division 2 Williamston at the Owosso Tournament where the Chargers finished 4-0-1.
DIVISION 4
Hancock (8-1-1) The Bulldogs have followed up last season’s run to the Division 4 Semifinals with a fast start, finishing 4-1-1 at the Kingsford Invitational against a field including several larger opponents after finishing 1-2-1 at the same event in 2024. Hancock will have another chance to improve on last season when it heads to The Rock Invite on Saturday at Gladstone – where it went 1-1-1 in 2024.
Mendon (12-1-1) The Hornets are coming off their toughest weekend of these first few, having finished 3-1-1 at the Cereal City Classic with a loss to Division 1 Battle Creek Lakeview and draw with Division 2 Pennfield but wins over Division 1, 3 and 4 opponents. They also opened the fall with a 5-0 run through the St. Joseph County Tournament as they look to build on last season’s Regional Final run.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Wednesday – Flint Powers Catholic (7-5-1), Yale (14-2-0), Traverse City St. Francis (9-6-0) at Essexville Garber (9-6-2) – This quad features the No. 8 team in Division 3 – St. Francis – and the Division 2 honorable mention Dukes.
Thursday – Fowler (7-2-1) at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (8-3-3) – The Division 4 top-ranked Eagles visit No. 8 Sacred Heart, which reached the Semifinals last season.
Thursday – Frankenmuth (3-3-4), Rochester (1-6-0), Temperance Bedford (9-1) at North Branch (11-0-0) – In addition to North Branch being ranked No. 3 in Division 2, Frankenmuth is No. 8 and Bedford always is a top team in Division 1.
Saturday – Motor City Power Series at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac – Division 1 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills, honorable mention Northville, previously-mentioned North Branch, Canton, and White Lake Lakeland will make for an intriguing field.
Saturday – Makayla Kohn Memorial Invitational at Caledonia – The field of Mattawan, Edwardsburg, Byron Center, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Ionia, Portage Central, Cadillac, Ada Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and Traverse City St. Francis includes ranked teams from Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
PHOTO Laingsburg and Bath volleyball players meet over the net while connecting with the ball during a match Aug. 27. (Photo by John Johnson.)
Laker Following Mother's Path as Wayland Multi-Sport Standout
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
March 5, 2024
When Wayland junior Harmony Laker opted to embrace athletics many years ago, she never worried about following some pretty impressive footsteps nor matching the hefty accomplishments of someone very close to her, a mentor who had herself been a standout three-sport athlete in high school.
In fact, Laker has wound up starring in the same three sports in which her mother, 2000 Wayland grad Kara Potter, also excelled in high school – basketball, volleyball and softball.
Kara was all-conference in all three sports and earned all-state recognition in volleyball and basketball. Harmony has been all-league since her freshman season in the same three, and all-region in volleyball and basketball.
Just a chip off the old block? Maybe, says Harmony.
But if there is anything mother and daughter have in common it's a love of sports.
"They introduced me to sports, and I've always strived to be like my parents," Harmony Laker said. "I was always drawn toward basketball, volleyball and softball. That's where my heart has always been, on a court or a field.
"I always wanted to play three sports; that's been my goal since middle school. Like my mother, I've always taken them seriously."
Like her mother, Laker hasn't just lettered in three sports – she's been outstanding. As a junior, she's already shattered the 1,000-point career basketball mark, reaching the milestone when she scored 38 points against Grand Rapids South Christian in late January. She's averaging 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists per game.
In volleyball, Laker had 864 kills, 513 digs, 80 blocks and 64 aces while serving 90 percent this season.
In softball, Laker has a 29-4 record as a pitcher over her first two seasons while batting .449 with six doubles and three homers as a sophomore. She's twice made all-conference in that sport, leading Wayland to two conference titles.
Kara Laker – also Wayland’s volleyball coach – said she and Harmony's father, Lance, a former varsity basketball coach at Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, never tried to edge their daughter toward athletics.
But when Harmony took up a variety of sports, the parents had one standing rule: Commit to the sport you're playing at the time. Worry about the other sports when it's time.
"Sports has always been a big part of our lives," Kara said. "We've never pushed our kids, but we've told them if you're going to be successful, you have to put in the time. My parents wanted us to do what we could (in sports). It was always in our prayers that our kids would truly love all sports. We're a competitive family, and we've always been drawn to sports."
The Laker family navigates a busy sports schedule. Liberty Laker plays volleyball at Grace Christian University, eighth grader Charity plays the same three sports as her mother and sister, and third grader Christian plays football, baseball and basketball.
"We divide and conquer," Kara said of her and her husband following the robust schedules of four children.
Harmony's first memories of sports involve supplying water to her father's basketball players. From there, she progressed to copying the three sports in which her mother excelled.
Kara won Wayland's coveted Multer Award as the school's top multi-sport athlete. Harmony hasn't won the award yet, but seems a shoo-in before she graduates in 2025.
Kara said it's tougher for athletes now to play three sports as AAU and travel sports often collide with high school athletics. But in terms of playing three, she said that decision has always been left to the kids.
"It's harder these days, but we were three-sport athletes who wanted to be good in all three," said Kara, who admits she's had discussions with Harmony about narrowing her participation list.
"It's actually a discussion we're having at this moment," she said. "A lot of it comes down to coaches and having them all work together so Harmony can play."
In order of preference, Harmony lists her favorite sports as basketball, volleyball and softball. But when it comes to cutting out a sport, Harmony hedges. If she plays all three as a senior – and that's currently the plan – she'll leave Wayland with 12 varsity letters, a rarity in today's high school sports world.
Harmony said the advice offered by her parents is the same that trickled down from their parents (her grandparents). Play as many sports as you choose, but also be well-rounded off the courts and fields.
Harmony is a member of the National Honor Society, leads the Wayland chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a member of the student council and has gone on numerous mission trips through her church.
But when it comes to athletics, Harmony is quick to revert to what she was taught early.
"I just want to work at my craft. You're only as good as the time you put in," she said. "My mom and dad have always said it's the heart that makes sports great. There are so many moments which are trials in sports and games, but ultimately that is what's going to make you better.
"Playing with pressure is a privilege. If a game is close and you have to execute, that's a privilege. God has put you out there for a reason, and you take the moments as they come."
PHOTOS (Top) Wayland’s Harmony Laker lines up for a free throw while playing her favorite sport, basketball. (2) Harmony, right, is successfully following in the multi-sport footsteps of her mother, Kara Laker. (3) Harmony Laker (12) soars to get a hand on a ball during volleyball season. (4) Laker makes her move toward the plate as a pitcher during the spring. (Action photos by Shannon N Jessica Photography.) mother/daughter photo courtesy of the Laker family.)