Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Week 9 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 22, 2025
A volleyball season full of weekend excitement will again enjoy one of its most attention-grabbing highlights Sunday.
More than two months of matches will boil down to the selection of first and second seeds for every District bracket, with MHSAA Tournament play set to begin a week later on Nov. 3.
Seeds are determined by Michigan Power Ratings (MPR), and as noted previously you can follow how teams stack up statewide, in their respective divisions and even in their respective Districts on the MPR page. The formula for determining the rest of the District is posted here.
Records, results and schedules below are those posted for teams on MHSAA.com, and rankings reflect polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Kingsley d. Traverse City St. Francis (25-22, 25-15) The Division 3 No. 3-ranked Stags (44-4-1) went 5-0 at the McBain Tournament, defeating honorable mentions McBain and Beal City as well but topping the day with this sweep of the No. 8 Gladiators (24-14-0).
2. Hudsonville d. Grand Haven (25-20, 27-29, 20-25, 25-18, 15-11) The Division 1 No. 9 Eagles (27-8-1) prevailed after falling behind 2-1, avenging a pair of previous losses to the No. 8 Buccaneers (33-9-0) from Sept. 25 and Oct. 4.
3. Crystal Falls Forest Park d. Kingsford (25-15, 25-14, 25-21) The Division 4 No. 5 Trojans (35-1-0) continued to justify their status among the Upper Peninsula’s best regardless of division, with this win over the Division 2 honorable mention Flivvers (19-2-0) – during a 3-0 day at the Clash of the Divisions – one of their most impressive this fall.
4. Grand Haven d. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (25-17, 25-19) Three days before the Hudsonville loss, Grand Haven went 4-0 at the Mattawan Invitational with this win over the Division 4 No. 5 Cougars (30-10-1) arguably the best although the Bucs also downed Division 1 honorable mention Byron Center.
5. Hancock d. Lake Linden-Hubbell (25-12, 22-25, 25-14, 27-25) The Division 4 No. 8 Bulldogs (23-3-2) followed up a big sweep of Ishpeming with this win over Lake Linden-Hubbell (22-5-0) to further firm up their place among the best in the Upper Peninsula and Division 4 as a whole as well.
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Brighton (25-6-2) The Bulldogs are holding onto an honorable mention in the latest Division 1 rankings with a run of nine wins over their last 12 matches and their losses this season coming to an incredible group of No. 1 Rockford, No. 2 Farmington Hills Mercy, No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian, No. 7 Utica Eisenhower (twice) and honorable mention Jenison. Brighton clinched the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title and will play Northville in the KLAA Gold Tournament championship match Saturday. The Bulldogs also are slated for a top seed in their District.
South Lyon East (30-7-1) The No. 10-ranked Cougars finished 4-0 at the final Motor City Power Series last weekend, highlighted by a 2-1 win over Division 2 No. 3 North Branch. All but one of their losses have come to a top-10 or honorable mention team in Division 1 as well, and they remain the only team to defeat top-ranked Rockford. East followed up that Sept. 20 win by defeating Division 2 No. 2 Detroit Country Day as well, and is tied for first in the Lakes Valley Conference with the league tournament coming up Saturday.
DIVISION 2
Flat Rock (22-6-0) A Sept. 22 win over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central – the program’s first against the Huron League foe – put Flat Rock into the spotlight this fall, and it has received honorable mention again this week in the Division 2 poll. But the Rams have much more to boast, including a victory over Kingsley, and have also built up their experience in losses most recently to No. 6 Tecumseh and honorable mention Milan. Tune in for tonight’s for the rematch with the Kestrels.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (30-10-1) After opening this season with three losses at the Traverse City West Invitational, the Cougars have strung together plenty of success including 13 victories over their last 15 matches. They did fall to Grand Haven over the weekend at Mattawan but defeated DeWitt, Portage Central and Division 3 No. 7 Kalamazoo Christian and moved up a spot to No. 4 in this week’s Division 2 rankings. They’ve already far surpassed last year’s 23-22-2 finish, with a likely top seed awaiting in their District as the only team in the bracket with a winning record.
DIVISION 3
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (17-3-2) The Fighting Irish are not ranked currently but may draw some notice with a 9-1-2 run that’s included a 25-23, 28-26, sweep of Division 4 No. 6 Battle Creek St. Philip and just a three-set loss to Division 2 Buchanan after Hackett won the first set. The Irish are lined up right now as the likely second seed in their District opposite No. 7 Kalamazoo Christian, which defeated Hackett in last year’s District Final and this season on Sept. 23. The only other loss this fall came to Delton Kellogg.
Pewamo-Westphalia (24-7-3) The 2022 Division 3 champion – and a quarterfinalist the last two seasons – No. 6 P-W is riding a seven-match winning streak as it gears up for another potential run. The best win over these last few weeks was a 2-1 comeback victory over No. 2 Plymouth Christian Academy at the Mt. Morris Tournament, and wins over No. 7 Kalamazoo Christian, No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran and Division 2 No. 10 Battle Creek Harper Creek also stick out from this season’s overall work.
DIVISION 4
Midland Calvary Baptist (23-5-1) The Kings need two more wins to equal the total from last year’s Regional finalist team, and on Saturday went 4-1 at the Tawas Tournament with especially notable victories over Division 3 Johannesburg-Lewiston and Alcona and the loss to Division 2 Ogemaw Heights. All of Calvary Baptist’s defeats and the one tie came against Division 2 or 3 opponents, and as of today the Kings are slated to be the top seed in a District bracket that also includes No. 6 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
Onekama (23-7-2) The Portagers are 9-2-2 over the last two-plus weeks and an honorable mention in this week’s rankings as the prepare to attempt next month to extend a five-year District title streak. They went 3-1-1 at the Farwell Paula Sullivan Tournament over the weekend, tying and then falling to Division 3 No. 10 Manton. But Onekama has solid wins over honorable mention Suttons Bay and Manton from earlier this season and plenty of other tough losses as well.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Wednesday – Davison (24-4-0) at Mount Pleasant (25-6-1) – Both went undefeated in their divisions and earn their spots in this overall Saginaw Valley League championship match.
Wednesday – Carrollton (27-1-2) at Saginaw Valley Lutheran (35-8-3) – This is a winner-take-all matchup for the Tri-Valley Conference Blue regular-season championship.
Saturday – Lowell East vs. West Challenge – The 16-team field includes Division 1 top-ranked Rockford, No. 2 Farmington Hills Mercy, No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian, No. 4 Bloomfield Hills, No. 5 Lowell, No. 7 Utica Eisenhower and honorable mentions Jenison, Byron Center and Clarkston among several others.
Tuesday – Detroit Country Day quad – The Division 2 No. 2 Yellowjackets (13-7-0) will welcome Marian (34-4-0), Eisenhower (30-3-1) and Fenton (15-10-0).
Tuesday – Beal City (28-7-0) at Roscommon (42-2-0) – Division 3 top-ranked Roscommon can finish a perfect run through the Highland Conference, but honorable mention Beal City hopes to stand in the way.
PHOTOS (Top) Mount Pleasant's Tessa Ervin (2) digs the ball during a match against Saginaw Heritage. (Middle) East Grand Rapids' Heidi White (1) elevates to get to the ball against Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. (Mount Pleasant/Heritage photo by High School Sports Scene. East Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Central photo by Michigan Sports Photo.)
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.)