Block Party: 2026 Girls Volleyball Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 9, 2026
Matchups anticipated all season long decided Girls Volleyball District championships all over the state last week – and the intensity only ramps up from here for the 128 teams that have advanced to this next round.
Regional Semifinals in all four divisions will be played Tuesday and Regional Finals on Thursday. Links to interactive brackets plus information on purchasing tickets are available on the Girls Volleyball page, and a list version of this week’s slate is posted on the Scores page – with green TV icons linked to broadcasts on the NFHS Network.
See below for glances at District Finals that caused some of the loudest statewide buzz, and quick previews of three Regionals in each division that could provide the most talked-about highlights in the days ahead. 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 (MIVCA).
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Rockford d. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (25-18, 29-27, 25-22) It was only a matter of time before the Rams (19-21) returned to their traditional spot among the Division 1 elite, and it’s fair to say they arrived with this District-clinching win over No. 7 FHN (35-14-1) on Saturday after advancing with a 3-1 victory over honorable mention Lowell.
2. Buckley d. Traverse City Christian (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10) The Bears (32-9) flew under the radar a bit most of the season, cracking the honorable mention list right before the start of the playoffs, but they made a loud statement with this Division 4 District Final win over No. 3 TCC (38-9).
3. Clinton d. Grass Lake (25-23, 25-19, 26-28, 25-13) These two Division 3 contenders played a few monster sets across their two matches over the last three weeks, and this time No. 7 Clinton (39-9-1) came back from dropping one to avenge its Oct. 22 defeat by the No. 5 Warriors (28-6-3).
4. Chelsea d. Tecumseh (14-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19, 20-18) Twice the unranked Bulldogs (15-10-3) came back after losing a set to emerge with the Division 2 District-clinching win in five, after losing twice to honorable mention Tecumseh (35-9-2) during the regular season.
5. Holland Christian d. Grand Rapids South Christian (18-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-22) No. 8-ranked South Christian (27-8) had won their lone regular-season meeting, but after losing the first set Holland Christian (22-10-1) came back to clinch a Division 2 District title.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold.
DIVISION 1
Bloomfield Hills Marian
Bloomfield Hills Marian (40-5) vs. Grosse Pointe South (8-27-2)
Detroit Renaissance (29-2-2) vs. Farmington Hills Mercy (28-3)
Renaissance claimed its first District title since 2019, and GPS came back from a tough regular season to advance to Regionals for the 13th straight season. They will try to break up an expected rematch of top-ranked Mercy and No. 2 Marian, who have played four times this season – Mercy with a 3-1 edge including winning their most recent meeting Oct. 24.
Holland West Ottawa
Hudsonville (36-5) vs. Rockford (19-21)
East Grand Rapids (27-9-1) vs. Grand Haven (32-11-1)
As noted above, Rockford has become a dangerous team – so despite losing twice previously to Hudsonville, including in their regular-season finale, the Rams can’t be overlooked. That said, Hudsonville’s losses all came to ranked opponents, and they picked up a pair of wins apiece against No. 10 Grand Haven and honorable mention East Grand Rapids along the way. EGR and the Bucs are seeing each other for the first time this fall.
Lake Orion
South Lyon East (39-7) vs. Clarkston (27-4-1)
Bloomfield Hills (33-11) vs. Brighton (28-10-1)
Clarkston and Bloomfield Hills both have won a Regional title over the last three seasons, while Brighton is seeking its first since 2001 and South Lyon East its first ever. Clarkston has wins over all three teams in this field but did lose a rematch to Bloomfield Hills on Oct. 17. All four of the Wolves’ losses came to ranked opponents, but the other three also have plenty of momentum: East has won 10 of its last 11 matches, Brighton 13 of its last 14 and Bloomfield Hills nine of its last 12.
DIVISION 2
Clio
Essexville Garber (35-15-5) vs. North Branch (39-9-3)
Frankenmuth (33-4) vs. Alma (35-11)
There is plenty of familiarity here with honorable mention Garber, No. 4 Frankenmuth and Alma all from the Tri-Valley Conference Red and No. 5 North Branch formerly of that league but also a regular at this stage of the tournament (and beyond). While the Broncos lost in their Regional Final last season, they’re seeking a fifth trip to the Quarterfinals over the last six years. North Branch has played, and defeated, several ranked opponents, but Garber did win their lone matchup, Sept. 19. The Dukes also downed Alma twice but lost their lone match with Frankenmuth in four sets. The Eagles’ only losses this season came against Division 1 opponents, but they saw their 2025 run ended by Garber in a Regional Semifinal.
Dearborn
Flat Rock (28-9-1) vs. Dearborn Divine Child (26-6)
Dearborn Heights Robichaud (11-5-1) vs. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard (34-6-2)
Entering the postseason ranked No. 10, Divine Child is a sensible favorite this week. The Falcons have a pair of wins over honorable mention and league rival FGR and overall have only two losses since the start of September. But honorable mention Flat Rock was last season’s Division 2 runner-up and is riding a 10-match winning streak. FGR has won eight of its 10 matches since falling to Divine Child a second time, and both of those matches against the Falcons went five sets. And Robichaud enters with one of the postseason’s best stories, as the Bulldogs won a District title for the first time.
Plainwell
Holland Christian (22-10-1) vs. Edwardsburg (29-6)
Plainwell (18-20-1) vs. Grand Rapids Christian (29-7)
Top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian has reached the Semifinals at Kellogg Arena three of the last five seasons. The Eagles took over the top spot in the poll this fall at the end of August and never relinquished it, and all seven of their losses were to Division 1 teams – six to opponents ranked among the top eight entering the playoffs. But all three possible opponents this week have had success against teams in the polls. Plainwell avenged a loss to honorable mention Otsego from just two weeks prior on the way to winning its District. As noted above, Holland Christian got here with the win over South Christian, which was ranked No. 2 for most of September. Edwardsburg closed the regular season with wins over Division 1 honorable mentions Battle Creek Lakeview and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
DIVISION 3
Farwell
McBain (25-16-2) vs. Beal City (21-11-6)
Roscommon (40-9-5) vs. Hart (30-12-3)
Roscommon is the top-ranked team in this division, and its only losses over the last six weeks have come to ranked Division 1 and 2 opponents. But this week should provide plenty of challenges as McBain and Beal City were honorable mentions heading into the postseason and unranked Hart has been a top-10 team at multiple points. All but one of Hart’s losses were to Division 1 or 2 teams (with the other to Division 3 No. 4 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian). Like Roscommon, Beal City and McBain also are from the Highland Conference, with Beal winning its lone meeting with the Ramblers on Oct. 15 in five sets. Roscommon did sweep both during the regular season.
Mt. Morris
Saginaw Valley Lutheran (53-9-3) vs. Cass City (29-8-5)
Mt. Morris (31-18-8) vs. St. Louis (34-4-3)
Valley Lutheran spent most of this fall ranked No. 1 and ended the regular season at No. 2 after a late loss to Roscommon. All but one of the team’s other defeats were to Division 1 and 2 teams, and the Chargers are seeking a fourth straight Regional title. This will be the first time they’ve seen No. 9 Cass City in two years, but the Red Hawks ended Valley Lutheran’s tournament runs three seasons in a row from 2022-24 and have faced a similarly rigorous schedule with similar results. St. Louis is an honorable mention in the coaches poll and riding a 12-match winning streak, but has an intriguing opponent in host Mt. Morris, which is playing in Division 3 for the first time after formerly playing in Division 2. The Panthers continued to face several larger schools this fall and tied St. Louis in Sept. 12 tournament play.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford
Hanover-Horton (33-10-5) vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (31-3)
Clinton (39-9-1) vs. Quincy (31-9-1)
This is another impressive group with Clinton ranked No. 7, St. Mary No. 8 and Hanover-Horton No. 10, and Quincy unranked but 24-4 since losing to St. Mary in tournament play in mid-September. The Kestrels have won nine straight Regional titles and reached the Semifinals in Battle Creek again last season, and their only losses this fall were to South Lyon twice and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – and St. Mary also defeated NDP in tournament play that same day. Hanover-Horton will be seeking to avenge last year’s Regional Final loss to the Kestrels, and the Comets have seen their share of strong opponents as well – with a split against Clinton, which is noted above and has taken all of its losses and the tie from ranked opponents and also has wins over Roscommon and Beal City.
DIVISION 4
Athens
St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran (32-10-1) vs. Battle Creek St. Philip (32-13-4)
Mendon (24-12-4) vs. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (23-6-3)
One of the strongest overall groups in any division might be this one in Division 4, with St. Philip ranked No. 4, Michigan Lutheran No. 7, Hackett No. 10 and Mendon last season’s Division 4 runner-up. St. Philip was stopped by the Hornets last season and is seeking its first Regional title since its most recent Finals championship year of 2021. The Tigers haven’t lost to a Division 4 opponent this season – and defeated Mendon on Sept. 29 – but Michigan Lutheran has won eight of its last nine matches and has plenty of experience against larger teams as well as it pursues a first Regional title. Hackett has won 11 of its last 12 matches and is hoping to break through for its first Regional championship since 2001.
Concord
Concord (25-8-3) vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian (41-6)
Hillsdale Academy (23-8) vs. Fulton (24-13-4)
Top-ranked Lenawee Christian has held down the top spot all but one week this season, and the Cougars have certainly impressed with wins over Division 3 ranked Clinton, Traverse City St. Francis and Plymouth Christian Academy. Lenawee Christian has a solid pair of wins as well over honorable mention Hillsdale Academy, which otherwise has lost this season only to Clinton and Battle Creek St. Philip. Concord also is an honorable mention and has won 13 of its last 14 matches as it seeks a second Regional title in three years. Fulton is seeking its first ever but is another great story coming off claiming its first District championship since 2015.
Ishpeming
Hancock (30-2-1) vs. Ishpeming (18-8-2)
Crystal Falls Forest Park (36-4-1) vs. Ewen-Trout Creek (14-8-2)
Hancock defeated Forest Park to win their 2024 Regional, and Forest Park returned the favor last fall in a Regional Semifinal before advancing to championship week with a clincher against Ishpeming. Hancock’s only losses this season came to Division 2 Kingsford during the season’s first tournament, and the Bulldogs won their only meetings with Forest Park and the Hematites. Forest Park will be seeing Ewen-Trout Creek and potentially Ishpeming for the first time this fall but defeated E-TC in District play a year ago. Ishpeming has come on over the last month with 10 wins and a tie over its last 12 matches, and E-TC’s District-clinching win over Ontonagon avenged an Oct. 14 loss.
PHOTOS (Top) Allendale (red jerseys) and Fruitport players focus on a hit from Allendale’s back row during the Falcons’ Division 2 District-winning victory Thursday. (Middle) Lansing Catholic’s Katherine Partin (12) sends a kill attempt toward a Williamston block during the Cougars’ Division 2 clincher Thursday. (Allendale/Fruitport photo by Michigan Sports Media. Lansing Catholic/Williamston photo by TCP Photography.)
St. Phil Makes History with 8 Straight
November 23, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
BATTLE CREEK – Sierra Hubbard-Neil finished the final roundhouse swing of her high school career and was on the Kellogg Arena floor with the rest of her Battle Creek St. Philip teammates Saturday before the ball hit the floor.
As with many of her swings during a four-year all-state career, this one finished a point – and one of the most historic victories during St. Philip’s heralded run.
That final kill sealed a 25-19 Game 3 win over Waterford Our Lady and another Class D title for the Tigers – their eighth straight, which tied Marysville’s teams from 1997-2004 for the longest championship streak in MHSAA volleyball history.
Although it’s debatable how much anyone believed it, some said St. Philip might have a tougher challenge this fall after graduating seven seniors in the spring including six starters and Miss Volleyball Amanda McKinzie. But despite only Hubbard-Neil as a returning starter, the Tigers simply rolled on with three more seniors taking on bigger roles.
“Everyone looks up to the seniors. The seniors are just like top dogs,” Hubbard-Neil said. “They lead the younger ones, and they try to keep that motivation through them and keep the enthusiasm to keep the tradition going.”
And so it did, in another way as well. The title was the ninth for St. Philip coach Vicky Groat, tying the total won by her mother, former Tigers coach Sheila Guerra, who died in 2006 but is frequently noted by Groat for her enormous influence on the program and its current coach.
St. Philip finished this run 64-7-2 while again playing some of the best from every class in the state – among those victories were wins over the top-ranked teams in both Class B and Class C at the end of the regular season, Hudsonville and Mendon, respectively.
“Marysville always has been a wonderful program. It’s an honor to be up there with them,” Groat said. “It’s pretty special, but I’m just glad we got nine. I wanted this one so badly for these girls, and to match my mom.
“She was an amazing coach, and I learned so much from her. Just to be on the same level as her; we have nine together, 18 as a family, and that’s pretty special."
The last time a team took St. Philip to a fourth game in a Final was 2007. But after beating back nerves during a first-set 25-12 loss, Our Lady gave the Tigers plenty to consider.
The Lakers were playing in their first MHSAA championship game after returning to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. After the team scored only 12 points in the opening set, hitters Allison Samulon, Courtney Wightman and Kristina Krupiak fell into stride.
“They first game was necessary to get the nerves out,” said Samulon, who finished with seven kills. The second and third games we fought hard, and there were a couple of things we could’ve done differently. But I think the first game had to happen for it to work.”
The Lakers three times gained the lead during a 25-22 loss in the second set, and wouldn’t go away during the third scoring three straight points to pull within 23-19 and cause Groat to call an impassioned timeout.
She’d watched Our Lady come back multiple times during the Semifinal against Leland, which the Lakers beat in three sets by a combined eight points.
“You get to that point, and (the players) know what’s in sight. So I just relaxed them a little bit,” Groat said. “And they responded after that timeout.
“Coach (Angela) Williams and I were talking about how much we love this team, how special they are. They just keep battling and working hard and trying to prove people wrong, and they did that today.”
Hubbard-Neil finished with 19 kills on 31 attempts for a match hitting percentage of .516. She’ll be playing next season at Western Michigan University. Junior Emily Schaub capped her season with 26 assists, four aces and six digs, and senior libero Rachel Gallagher had nine digs.
Wightman, a sophomore, led the Lakers with 11 kills, five digs and three blocks. Our Lady (41-6-6) will graduate the rest of its starting hitters and setter, but return next fall with a new expectation after watching a number of other teams at the school have championship success over the years.
“Now we have a measuring point. The girls know how hard they have to work,” Lakers coach Stephanie Swearingen said. “The younger kids have watched as our success has grown. I think it’s really going to excite the school. Hopefully we’ll be back soon.”
PHOTOS: (Top) St. Philip’s Sierra Hubbard-Neil sends one of her 19 kills during Saturday’s championship match. (Middle) The Tigers celebrate their eighth straight Class D title. (Below) Waterford Our Lady senior Amanda Ludlow returns the ball.