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.)
Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Week 5 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 24, 2025
Few sports dominate school-year weekends like girls volleyball does with its Saturday tournament schedules each fall.
This past week's again included several events, most notably the East vs. West Challenge (won by the East 11-9) at Brighton's Legacy Center. This weekend could be even bigger with teams from all four divisions locked up in elite competition; see below for plenty of notes referencing some of the best matchups to come.
Records and results are based on what is submitted to MHSAA.com for Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) that determine seeding of the top two teams in every District. Rankings referred to 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. South Lyon East d. Rockford (25-22, 25-22) Although South Lyon East (21-5-1) did also lose to Jenison at the East vs. West Challenge, the Cougars made the biggest wave by handing Rockford (20-1-0) its lone loss this season – and moved up to No. 8 in Division 1 this week.
2. Flat Rock d. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11) Flat Rock (18-4-0) has won 15 of its last 16 matches and now owns its first win – ever – over Monroe St. Mary (13-2-1).
3. Farmington Hills Mercy d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (14-25, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25) These rivals should meet at least a few more times this fall, but Mercy (8-2-1) handed Marian (23-2-0) just its second match loss and despite falling in the first set.
4. East Grand Rapids d. Grand Rapids Christian (25-19, 25-20) The Pioneers (20-5-0) finished 5-0 at the Lake Odessa Lakewood Invitational, with this win over last week’s No. 2 team in Division 2 likely helping to jump them onto the Division 1 honorable mention list.
5. Brighton d. Northville (25-16, 25-22, 25-22) In a matchup of Division 1 honorable mentions, Brighton (18-3-0) defeated reigning champion Northville (6-6-0) for the first time since 2019.
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Farmington Hills Mercy (8-2-0) The Marlins – Division 1 champions most recently in 2023 and ranked No. 3 this week – are again among the elite coming off a 2-1 run at the East vs. West Challenge. Mercy defeated Division 1 honorable mention Lowell and Muskegon Mona Shores and lost to top-ranked Rockford there, but its only other defeat came to Division 1 No. 2 Bloomfield Hills a month ago. Mercy opened last week with the big Marian victory noted above.
Jenison (19-2-0) A 4-0 run through the East vs. West Challenge included sweeps of Brighton, Northville, South Lyon East and Grosse Pointe South as Jenison moved up to No. 5 in Division 1. The Wildcats – Regional finalists last season – also have downed Division 1 honorable mention Byron Center and Division 2 No. 8 Grand Rapids South Christian and split with Division 1 No. 9 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, the other defeat coming to Division 2 No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian.
DIVISION 2
Lansing Catholic (13-1-1) The Cougars received an honorable mention in the Division 2 poll this week coming off a 4-0 run through the Mt. Morris Invitational. Lansing Catholic also went 3-0-1 at the Bay City Western Tournament to start the season – getting a win over Midland after previously tying the Chemics that day. Lansing Catholic suffered its first loss Tuesday, to Portland.
North Branch (21-2-0) The 2022 and 2023 Division 2 champion reached the Quarterfinals last year and is blasting through another tough schedule in preparation for another potentially big run. The Broncos moved up a spot to No. 2 in the rankings this week after defeating Mona Shores, Lowell and Grand Rapids Northview at the East/West, and their only losses this season were to Northville and Bloomfield Hills the weekend before. They’ve downed Division 2 No. 7 Frankenmuth and Division 3 top-ranked SMCC among several others.
DIVISION 3
Hanover-Horton (16-1-1) A 6-0 run through the weekend’s Spring Arbor University Invitational was topped off by the No. 7 Comets sweeping Division 2 honorable mention Parma Western in the clincher. That actually also avenged Hanover-Horton’s only loss, in three sets, during the season-opening Chelsea Invitational where the Comets went 2-1-1 against Division 1 and 2 teams. They also count a pair of wins over Division 4 Concord among their most notable.
Plymouth Christian Academy (18-5-0) The Eagles are holding steady at No. 3 in Division 3 coming off a 4-1 run against Division 1 and 2 opponents at the weekend’s Portage Northern Invitational. A Regional finalist as well a year ago, PCA opened this season with a championship at the Leland Invitational against a field that also included Division 2 honorable mention Marshall, and got more valuable matches against Division 1 and 2 opponents at two more tournaments.
DIVISION 4
Lake Linden-Hubbell (17-2-0) The Lakes have won the Copper Mountain Conference Preseason Tournament and finished second at the Baraga Invitational on the way to already approaching last season’s 22-12-0 record. The lone losses came to No. 10 Hancock in four sets and Chassell at the Baraga event, and they’re set to see both again at least once more – home against Chassell next Monday and at Hancock on Oct. 21. All three are in the same District as well.
Ubly (10-2-2) The Bearcats jumped three spots to No. 2 in Division 4 this week as they seek to build on last season’s 37-8-0 finish and Quarterfinal run. Ubly went 4-0-2 at the weekend’s Eaton Rapids Tournament, twice defeating then-No. 2 Fowler plus honorable mention Adrian Lenawee Christian, which jumped to No. 4 this week. The defeats this season were solid as well, both coming during the opening weekend at the Cadillac Invitational to the Division 2 Vikings and Division 3 No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Thursday – Onekama (12-4-0) at Suttons Bay (13-0-0) – Both are honorable mentions in Division 4, and the winner could push for a spot among the top 10.
Saturday – Motor City Power Series at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac – A total of 28 teams will play as the Power Series reconvenes, including a pool with Division 1 No. 3 Mercy, No. 6 Utica Eisenhower, honorable mention Brighton, Traverse City Central and Division 2 No. 2 North Branch.
Saturday – D3 & D4 Showdown at Schoolcraft College in Livonia – This bracket will feature Division 3 No. 5 Pewamo-Westphalia and honorable mention Cass City, and Division 4 top-ranked Mendon and No. 2 Ubly among others.
Saturday – Battle Creek Lakeview Invitational – Division 2 No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central might be the headliner, but host Lakeview, Detroit Renaissance, Otsego and Coldwater are among other intriguing teams in the field.
Tuesday – Hancock (14-2-2) at Negaunee (11-4-2) – These two split at the season-opening Kingsford Invitational, and this matchup will mean more with Western Peninsula Athletic Conference ramifications.
PHOTO Bloomfield Hills Marian and Farmington Hills Mercy faced off last week for the first time this season. (Photo by Kristina Sikora/KMS Photography.)