Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Week 8 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 15, 2025
We easily could devote the majority of this week’s “Block Party” to the one that took place at Schoolcraft College on Saturday as several of the state’s top teams across Divisions 1, 2 and 3 met to play more than 50 matches, including several which may have nudged this week’s state rankings.
The Region 15 Showcase also had some notables – including wins by Clarkston and Lake Orion over Division 1 contender Bloomfield Hills before both fell to South Lyon. And those were only two of several events of note.
But the biggest matches of the season are still on the way, and we continue to advance into our final three weeks before the start of the MHSAA Tournament.
Records, results and schedules below are those posted for teams on MHSAA.com, and rankings reflect the latest polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Rockford d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (25-16, 25-22) What a week for the Division 1 top-ranked Rams (31-1-0) – over the last six days they defeated No. 8 Grand Haven and No. 9 Hudsonville in league play and went 6-0 at the Beast of the East Tournament topped by this win over No. 3 Marian (34-4-0).
2. Grand Rapids Christian d. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 27-25) Fresh off moving up a spot to No. 1 in Division 2, the Eagles (19-7-0) held on for a key win over the No. 5 Cougars (26-9-1).
3. Farmington Hills Mercy d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (20-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-15, 15-10) The Division 1 No. 2-ranked Marlins came back from two sets down to claim the Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament championship after previously losing the first set but defeating Marian in four during league play.
4. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s d. Detroit Country Day (25-18, 25-19, 25-20) The Eaglets are unranked but might get some attention soon with a 26-6-3 record, CHSL Cardinal championship won last week and now this win over the formerly Division 2 top-ranked Yellowjackets (12-7-0), who also lost to Romeo over the weekend.
5. Hudsonville d. South Lyon East (20-25, 26-24, 15-8) The Eagles’ last two matches have been losses to Rockford, but Hudsonville (25-8-1) otherwise has continued to rise – moving up a spot to No. 9 in Division 1 this week after going 4-1 at Beast of the East topped by this win over the formerly No. 6 Cougars (26-7-1) and another over Grand Rapids Christian.
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (26-8-1) The Huskies are coming off a solid run at Beast of the East, falling to Marian but defeating Mattawan and then-No. 5 Utica Eisenhower. That saw them move up from No. 8 to No. 6 in this week’s poll, and they also have wins over No. 9 Hudsonville, No. 8 Grand Haven, honorable mentions Jenison, East Grand Rapids and Byron Center and three current top-10 teams in Division 2 – No. 5 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, No. 6 Holland Christian and No. 10 Edwardsburg.
Lowell (24-7-2) The Red Arrows have been especially sharp the last three weeks, with a run of 9-1-1 that has seen them move up to No. 5 in the Division 1 poll. Over those 11 matches they’ve defeated No. 8 Grand Haven, No. 6 Forest Hills Northern and Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian among others. Lowell finished undefeated in River Cities Alliance matches with the league tournament this weekend, and the Red Arrows can take another step when they host several of the state’s best Oct. 25 for the East vs. West Challenge.
DIVISION 2
Essexville Garber (32-9-2) The Dukes are on the move again after last season’s run to the Division 2 Semifinals, with 16 wins over their last seven matches including a 6-0 march through the New Lothrop Tournament this past weekend during which they gave up just one set. Garber tested itself right away this fall, with a pair of early losses to Marian and one apiece to Kingsley and Flat Rock especially sticking out over the first few weeks. They’ll get the chance Oct. 30 to avenge a midseason loss to Division 3 No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran.
Marshall (25-8-1) A win over Division 3 honorable mention Bronson last week was the latest highest for the Redhawks, who sit at No. 9 in Division 2 with 10 wins over their last 11 matches. They are undefeated in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference play with Battle Creek Harper Creek and Hastings left before the league tournament Oct. 25. Much like a win over Division 3 No. 7 Kalamazoo Christian earlier this month, upcoming matches against No. 10 Edwardsburg and Division 3 No. 6 Pewamo-Westphalia also will be solid tune-ups for the postseason.
DIVISION 3
Beal City (23-5-0) All five of the Aggies’ losses this season have come against either Division 2 teams or ranked Division 3 opponents – the latter a pair against No. 4 Kingsley and their most recent, to No. 10 Manton a week ago. That loss to the Rangers was Beal City’s only one over its last eight matches, and big opportunities remain including a regular-season finale Oct. 28 against top-ranked Roscommon. On Thursday, the Aggies will travel to face honorable mention McBain – which won both of their matchups last season including in the Regional Semifinals.
Traverse City St. Francis (18-13-0) The Gladiators’ No. 8 ranking in Division 3 tells the story more than the team’s record. All but St. Francis’ first loss this season (to Manton) came against Division 1 or 2 opponents, including four that are ranked on their respective top-10 lists this week. All of that experience could pay off with another long tournament run after the Gladiators finished Division 3 runners-up a year ago. They are one of only two teams this fall with a win over top-ranked Roscommon and began this season with Cadillac Invitational victories over honorable mention Cass City and Division 4 No. 2 Ubly.
DIVISION 4
Atlanta (26-0-1) The Huskies are closing in on a third-straight 30-win season and after reaching the Quarterfinals a year ago. A tie with Traverse City Christian at the Sept. 27 Onaway Invitational – which Atlanta then bettered with a three-set championship win over the Sabres – was the only trip-up during an otherwise flawless run so far. The Huskies have lost only five sets to a combined three opponents and have multiple wins over Oscoda and Onaway – two of the five teams that defeated Atlanta a year ago.
Buckley (22-5-1) The Bears have won 11 straight matches, but more importantly have clinched a share of the Northwest Conference championship – their first league title in this sport. That came with wins this month over Frankfort and honorable mention Onekama, and Buckley also went 4-0 at the Brethren Tournament this past weekend. The Bears will get an opportunity Monday to avenge one of their losses when they host Manton, and on Oct. 30 they face Traverse City Christian – which ended Buckley’s 2024 season in a Regional Final.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Thursday – Jenison (27-3-1) at Byron Center (22-4-0) – A pair of Division 1 honorable mentions face off in nonleague play.
Saturday – Motor City Power Series at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac – This will be the final Power Series weekend this season, and arguably the most intriguing pool includes Division 1 No. 10 South Lyon East (26-7-1), Division 2 No. 4 North Branch (25-7), New Baltimore Anchor Bay (12-15-1), Lake Fenton (13-10-0) and Detroit Cass Tech (8-11-1).
Saturday – McBain Invitational – Included in this field are Division 3 No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis (18-13), No. 4 Kingsley (39-4-1), honorable mentions Beal City (23-5-0) and host McBain (14-9-0), Division 4 No. 6 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-6-3), Traverse City Christian (21-7-2) and Midland (23-7-2).
Saturday – Clash of the Divisions at Kingsford – A handful of the Upper Peninsula’s best will compete including Calumet (15-9-1), Division 4 No. 7 Crystal Falls Forest Park (30-1), Marquette (9-9-1) and the host and Division 2 honorable mention Flivvers (16-0-0).
Tuesday – Lake Linden-Hubbell (20-4-2) at Hancock (21-3-2) – Division 4 No. 8 Hancock begins this closing stretch with Ishpeming on Thursday before facing the Lakes, a very possible District Final opponent.
PHOTOS (Top) Lake Orion’s Lilah Eliassen (9) powers a kill attempt toward a block by Bloomfield Hills on Saturday. (Middle) Farmington Hills Mercy’s Cydnee Speights (39) elevates above the net as Bloomfield Hills Marian’s Cecilia Murray goes for the block during the CHSL Cardinal championship match. (Photos by Kristina Sikora/KMS Photography.)
Onekama Seeking to Take Next Step After Back-to-Back Trips to Regional Finals
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
October 11, 2024
Over the past few seasons, the Onekama Portagers have demonstrated they have the right skills to consistently win high-profile volleyball matches.
And they are hoping to carry those skills into another postseason rematch with Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
Sacred Heart has stood in the way of Onekama reaching the Quarterfinals – winning their Regional Finals matchups the last two seasons.
Anticipating winning a fifth-straight District title, the Portagers can’t help but look ahead to another possible Regional meeting with the Irish, the current top-ranked team in Division 4. Onekama is listed as honorable mention in coaches poll.
The Portagers improved their record to 23-8-1 overall Thursday with a Northwest Conference title-clinching sweep of Benzie Central. It was the first championship for Onekama since returning to the conference during the 2016-17 school year.
With the conference title and another trophy from winning their own invitational this fall, the Portagers have a fifth-straight District championship in their sights.
“We’d like to make this five, and the girls are looking forward to it,” Onekama coach Linda Elo said. “Winning the conference is special because it has been a competitive conference for a lot of years.”
The key to Onekama’s success has been the play of setter Elizabeth McKeough, libero Ava Mauntler and outside hitters Hailey Hart and Delaney McCarthy.
McKeough, McCarthy and Mauntler, a member of the all-Region team last year, are sophomores. Hart is a junior. The Portagers also have a host of support players who posses defensive prowess.
“The strength of my team is a strong setter, my libero and two outside hitters, and they do a really good job,” said Elo, now in her ninth season as the Onekama coach. “Defensively, I am a coach who pushes a lot of defense – it’s an important part of the game.”
Heading into the conference clincher, Hart was leading the team with 251 kills, McCarthy had 200 and senior middle hitter Leah Gary – also the team leader in blocks – had 101. At 5-foot-9, Gary and McCarthy are the team’s tallest players.
Also prior to the Benzie match, Mauntler had 70 serving aces and 379 digs, both team highs. McCarthy and McKeough are right behind Mauntler in aces, and McKeough leads the team in setting at eight assists per game.
During the sweep of Benzie, McCarthy racked up a 19-point service run and Hart added a 13-point service run. Hart added 16 kills, while Gary chipped in with eight kills and McKeough collected 30 assists in the 25-9, 25-4, 25-4 dominating performance.
“The girls have really good systems play, and they get better all the time,” Elo said. “We are not the tallest team, but these girls get good touches blocking to start our defense and we have people in the back line that are willing to go on the floor if they need to.”
While acknowledging most coaches love their own squads, Elo is quick to say her team is special. She notes her Portagers are fun to watch, and she gets frequent compliments from opponents and their supporters.
“When they get going and get up to speed, they don’t quit,” Elo said. “And they do a good job being great teammates. When you add that all in, it’s a good formula.”
Eight of the team’s 13 rostered players came into the season with previous varsity experience.
District play for the host Portagers will get underway on their home court in early November. Bear Lake, Brethren and Frankfort are the other teams in the District. Frankfort also is a Northwest Conference opponent, and Brethren will join the league next year.
The Portagers have a Quarterfinal appearance on their minds. But if the Portagers get out of the District, Sacred Heart will likely be an obstacle again in the Regional.
Onekama first appeared the rankings Sept. 16. The Irish, on the other hand, have been listed among the top five all season, moving into the top spot this week.
They’ve met once this fall, on Aug. 24, with Sacred Heart winning a two-set match 26-24 and 31-29.
“You’ve always got to look down the road,” Elo said. “We faced Sacred Heart last year in Regional Finals with three freshmen on the team. We lost, but they learned the pressure of those high-profile games.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Onekama players including Elizabeth McKeough (3), Maddie Gunia (10), Hailey Hart (11) and Ava Mauntler (20) huddle during a match. (Middle) Leah Gary (3) works to get the ball past an opposing block. (Below) The Portagers pose for a team photo following their home invitational championship. (Photos courtesy of Meredith McNabb.)