Block Party: 2026 Girls Volleyball District Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 2, 2026
Girls Volleyball District Tournaments begin tonight with 176 matches across the state, and this week will conclude with 128 champions advancing to Regional play as we take a first giant step toward eventually ending up at Finals weekend Nov. 19-21 at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
Below is a look at a few final regular-season results of note and glances at three Districts in each division that could be especially notable as postseason progresses. Links to interactive brackets for all four divisions plus information on purchasing tickets are available on the Girls Volleyball page, and a list version of tonight’s slate is posted on the Scores page – with green TV icons linked to broadcasts on the NFHS Network.
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 (MIVCA).
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Marshall d. Edwardsburg (28-26, 25-15) Division 2 honorable mention Marshall (29-13-1) finished 2-1 at its quad, but this win was most significant as the No. 7 Eddies (27-6) also are highly regarded in that division.
2. Cass City d. Traverse City St. Francis (27-25, 18-25, 25-16) Although Division 3 No. 10 Cass City (27-8-5) fell to host Kingsley at the Stags quad, this win over the No. 5 Gladiators (27-17-2) is significant heading into the Division 3 postseason.
3. Flat Rock d. South Lyon (13-25, 27-25, 25-20) The Division 2 honorable mention Rams (26-9-1) came back after losing the first set to pick up some momentum for the postseason with this win over the Division 1 honorable mention Lions (27-17-2).
4. Edwardsburg d. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (35-33, 27-25) The No. 7 Eddies (27-6) had to go the extra mile in both sets to get past the Division 1 honorable mention Eaglets (16-15-3).
5. Portage Northern d. Battle Creek St. Philip (3-0, scores N/A) The Huskies (24-11-4) won both of their matches at the Coldwater mini, sweeping the Division 4 No. 4 Tigers (29-13-4) and Mendon.
Districts at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold, and top two seeds at each are noted.
DIVISION 1
Greenville
#1 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (34-13-1), #2 Lowell (29-17), Rockford (16-21), Greenville (26-7-1), Grand Rapids Northview (10-19), Cedar Springs (5-26-2).
Forest Hills Northern entered last week ranked No. 7 and Lowell No. 9, and if they meet in Saturday’s District Final it will be their first matchup of the fall – although both have played most of the rest of the best in Division 1 this season. To reach Saturday, FHN will face the winner of Cedar Springs and Greenville, while Lowell will take on the winner of Northview and Rockford. The Rams could present an intriguing challenge – all but three of their losses came to ranked or honorable mention teams in Divisions 1 and 2.
Mount Pleasant
#1 Midland Dow (40-8-5), #2 Traverse City Central (30-5-1), Mount Pleasant (31-15-2), Cadillac (31-12-1), Traverse City West (18-15).
None of these teams were ranked heading into the final week of the regular season, but all finished with winning records and Dow has several wins over teams ranked in Divisions 2 and 3. That said, a notable result to recall was Dow’s five-set win over Mount Pleasant on Sept. 17 that came down to 16-14 in the decider. They would see each other in a Wednesday District Semifinal, while Big North Conference rivals Central and Cadillac are lined up on the other side of the bracket that day and Central entering with a regular-season sweep of that series. If seeds play out and they meet again, Dow and Central played to a draw at Mount Pleasant’s invitational Sept. 19.
Romeo
#1 Utica Eisenhower (39-4), #2 Port Huron Northern (26-5), Romeo (15-11-1), Port Huron (28-3), New Baltimore Anchor Bay (20-20-1).
The No. 5-ranked Eagles are 3-1 this season against No. 10 Romeo and would see the Bulldogs in a Wednesday District Semifinal, and Romeo might be eager having won their most recent matchup Oct. 17. But Romeo also can’t look past Port Huron tonight; the Red Hawks have won 11 straight matches with a three-set sweep of Port Huron Northern in that mix. Notable on the other side of the bracket, one of Northern’s few other losses came to Anchor Bay early this fall. Northern won the rematch Oct. 24, and they face off Wednesday.
DIVISION 2
Hopkins
#1 Holland Christian (20-10-1), #2 Grand Rapids South Christian (26-7), Hamilton (22-9), Hudsonville Unity Christian (15-20-1), Hopkins (23-16-2), Wayland (12-19-2).
Holland Christian entered the final week of the regular season an honorable mention in Division 2, and South Christian was ranked No. 9 – and the Sailors won their lone meeting 2-1 on Sept. 1. To earn a rematch, Holland Christian will have to face a league rival, either Hamilton or Unity Christian, and is 2-0 against both. Hopkins is an intriguing contender on South’s side of the bracket; the Vikings have won 12 of their last 14 matches but did fall to tonight’s opponent Wayland in their only meeting this fall.
Parma Western
#1 Parma Western (47-1), #2 Marshall (29-13-1), Three Rivers (23-13-6), Vicksburg (22-17), Battle Creek Pennfield (26-13-1).
The Interstate 8 Athletic Conference was one of the state’s deeper leagues this season, and No. 3 Western, honorable mention Marshall and Pennfield were among reasons why. Western’s only loss came 2-1 to Portage Central on Oct. 24, but it’s also important to note that the Panthers’ lone match against Marshall, on Sept. 23, went five sets. Marshall has wins over Pennfield and Vicksburg and sees the former Wednesday, and Vicksburg opens tonight against Wolverine Conference foe Three Rivers having won their regular-season match in four sets.
Macomb Lutheran North
#1 Macomb Lutheran North (37-3), #2 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (28-17-6), Armada (10-27-1), Madison Heights Lamphere (18-9-1).
No. 6-ranked Lutheran North has enjoyed a fantastic campaign this fall, with its few losses to Division 1 Port Huron Northern and Division 2 No. 2 Detroit Country Day and No. 5 North Branch. The Mustangs have defeated this week’s first opponent Armada twice but haven’t seen the other two contenders in this bracket. Notre Dame Prep and Lamphere also will be facing each other for the first time, NDP on an 11-2-1 run and Lamphere 10-2-1 over its last 13 matches.
DIVISION 3
Clinton
#1 Grass Lake (27-5-3), Clinton (37-9-1), Manchester (13-22-4), Whitmore Lake (8-13), Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (4-16).
Grass Lake is ranked No. 6 and Clinton is No. 7 in Division 3, and they faced off just once, Oct. 22, with Clinton winning the first set but Grass Lake winning the next two 25-22 and then 31-29. Both were eliminated last season by Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, Clinton in SMCC’s District and Grass Lake in a Regional matchup, and the winner this week could very well be earning the opportunity to potentially see SMCC again in next week’s Regional at Ottawa Lake Whiteford.
Mancelona
#1 Traverse City St. Francis (27-17-2), #2 Elk Rapids (17-10-3), Johannesburg-Lewiston (30-5-9), Maple City Glen Lake (18-13-2), Mancelona (15-15-1), Grand Traverse Academy (1-16).
St. Francis is the only ranked contender in this bracket at No. 5, but there are plenty of teams to push the Gladiators as they seek a fourth-straight District title. Elk Rapids won their Sept. 17 match in five sets before St. Francis won the rematch in a sweep two weeks later. The Elks will play for another opportunity but sit on the same side of this bracket with Glen Lake and Johannesburg-Lewiston; those two face off tonight, and Elk Rapids’ lone match against either was a five-set win over Glen Lake just last week.
McBain
#1 Manton (27-12-1), #2 McBain (23-16-2), Lake City (21-19-3), LeRoy Pine River (19-20-1), Evart (4-24).
Manton and McBain are both honorable mentions in the most recent Division 3 coaches poll, and all five of these teams play in a Highland Conference that also includes top-ranked Roscommon and another honorable mention in Beal City. McBain won the lone meeting this season with Manton, just last Tuesday, in four sets after Manton won the first. Those two both went undefeated against the other three teams in this bracket, but with familiarity abounding it will be intriguing to see if one of those three can shake things up.
DIVISION 4
Baraga
#1 Hancock (28-2-1), #2 Baraga (26-1), Lake Linden-Hubbell (16-6), Dollar Bay (13-12-1), Calumet Copper Island Academy (14-19-4), L’Anse (9-15-2), Chassell (9-16-4).
Hancock is No. 10 and Baraga an honorable mention in the latest coaches poll, with Hancock dealing the Vikings their lone defeat Oct. 8, 3-0. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ only losses this season were to Division 2 Kingsford, both during an Oct. 22 tournament hosted by the Flivvers – and Hancock is a combined 5-0 against the rest of this field while Baraga is 14-0 against those five teams – but has battled through some tough sets against Lake Linden-Hubbell in multiple matches.
Central Lake
#1 Bellaire (33-7-2), No. 2 Suttons Bay (18-12-2), Central Lake (16-15-4), Leland (7-23-1), Lake Leelanau St. Mary (2-20).
Bellaire opened this season 13-1-1, and aside from an 0-3 night at the Buckley quad on Oct. 22 hasn’t slowed down, coming back to cap the regular season with a 7-1-1 string. The Eagles are unranked and haven’t seen Suttons Bay, which earned honorable mention in the most recent coaches poll and started this season 9-0 but has endured a difficult stretch of late but while facing multiple Division 3 teams and falling to Division 4 No. 3 Traverse City Christian twice last week. Central Lake has lost twice to Bellaire but took a set the second time and will have to defeat Suttons Bay to earn another opportunity.
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian
#1 Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (21-6-3), #2 Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (28-4-1), Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (22-8-1), Martin (8-16), Byron Center Zion Christian (14-18-2), Grand Rapids Wellspring Prep (2-21).
Hackett and Sacred Heart are both honorable mentions in the latest rankings and would meet for the first time if both reach Saturday’s District Final. Hackett is 9-1 since the start of October, with five losses this season to Division 2 teams and the sixth to a Division 3 opponent. Sacred Heart also has losses to Division 2 and 3 opponents, but did take an early defeat against Tri-unity Christian and another against Martin – although both of those during the first month of the season. Sacred Heart and Tri-unity could meet again in a Thursday District Semifinal.
PHOTO Marquette’s Grace Filizetti (13) winds up for a kill attempt during a sweep last week of Calumet Copper Island Academy. (Photo by Randy Ritari Photo.)
Country Day, Senior Star Hiemstra Cap Repeat Run in Dominating Fashion
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 22, 2025
BATTLE CREEK – Elise Hiemstra’s final swing in a Detroit Country Day uniform was the perfect way to end her high school volleyball career.
The senior outside hitter took a well-placed set from sophomore Payton Woodruff, like she has so many times over the past two years, and spiked it through the Flat Rock defense onto the floor at Kellogg Arena.
Her 21st kill of the day closed out a 25-18, 25-19, 25-12 sweep for the Yellowjackets in the Division 2 championship match, and back-to-back Finals titles.
“I just really wanted Payton to get me the ball,” Hiemstra said. “I just really wanted to go out the best I possibly could.”
This weekend marked just the second time Country Day had even made the Semifinal, but the Yellowjackets (29-9) looked like seasoned veterans, clinically putting away Flat Rock in a dominant performance.
“Our goal today was just to kind of come in and take care of business,” Country Day coach Kim Lockhart said. “Go back to the basics, serve tough, pass the ball. Just go out there and do our thing, and I think that’s what we did. We handled ourselves well. I felt our nerves were settled right out the gate. We came in with confidence and a lot of communication.”
Flat Rock, meanwhile, felt the nerves and inexperience in this moment were a factor as the Rams (39-9) were making their first appearance at Kellogg Arena.
“I feel like the pressure, this was our first time even making it here, and I feel like we were just not used to that,” Flat Rock junior Sarah Giroux said.
Giroux’s assessment looked accurate, as Country Day’s athleticism and attacking movement seemed to catch Flat Rock flat-footed.
Woodruff had 35 assists in the match, spreading them out to seven attackers.
“Especially going through semis and quarters, I think their offense was a little bit quicker,” Flat Rock coach Morgan Delhey said. “I would have liked to see a little bit more competition coming up to this so maybe we were a bit more prepared. But, they’re a good team and I have to give credit to them.”
While Woodruff was spreading the wealth, Hiemstra was her favorite target, and for good reason. On Saturday, Hiemstra became Country Day’s all-time leader in kills, both for a career and season.
“When I look at Elise, she was a baby coming into all the camps I used to run when she was just so little and loving the sport,” Lockhart said. “Her sister was older than her, and she was kind of like, ‘I wanna be like my sister.’ She has just been here from the get-go, out of the gate, and has learned from some really great players along the way. Ever since she was a freshman, playing behind some big players. She’s really been a sponge. Going from playing back row, a (defensive specialist) when she was a freshman, to leading the team to back-to-back championships, there’s a lot to be said about her and her success at Country Day.”
While Country Day didn’t show any signs of stress Saturday, they did have to deal with the pressure of defending a title all season. It’s something they really embraced down the stretch.
“There was definitely a lot of pressure, but we took it and we used it to our advantage instead of letting it make us crumble,” Country Day senior Abby Pernick said. “I think that is really what pushed us through. We wanted it so much. That was the thing we talked about from Day 1, tryouts even. We came in, and we knew we wanted it.”
Demi McCoy led the Country Day back line with 14 digs Saturday, while Hiemstra added nine. Aliyah Potapenko had nine kills for the Yellowjackets, and Woodruff added four aces.
Giroux led the Flat Rock attack with 15 kills, adding nine digs defensively, while Zoe Ryan had 21 assists.
“I wouldn’t rather do it with anybody else than this team,” Flat Rock senior Reagan Higdon said. “I wouldn’t rather win or lose with anybody else. Especially for this program, this community, no matter how we came out, I’m still glad that we’re here. We’ve done something that’s never been done before.”
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Country Day players celebrate their repeat championship Saturday at Kellogg Arena. (Middle) Elise Hiemstra (9) smashes a kill attempt at a Flat Rock block including Jaclynn Motyka (14).