Block Party: 2026 Girls Volleyball Week 6 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 30, 2026
League play is in full swing across Michigan, and several leagues include multiple teams earning statewide respect in the latest Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association polls as well.
As we gear up for the middle of this girls volleyball season, we’ll of course continue to feature many of the major tournaments taking place on weekends – we have several coming up this Saturday – but we’re also turning our eyes to some of these significant league matchups, including a few from last week and a few more coming up.
Records below are those reported and tracked on this website, and 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. Parma Western d. Marshall (20-25, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 15-10) These Interstate 8 Athletic Conference rivals went the distance in a match that also had statewide interest with Western (21-0) ranked No. 3 in Division 2 and Marshall (18-7-1) No. 8.
2. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central d. Flat Rock (26-24, 15-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-9) This Huron League matchup also carries intrigue extending past local play, with SMCC No. 8 in Division 3 and Flat Rock earning honorable mention in Division 2.
3. Bloomfield Hills Marian d. Lowell (25-19, 25-14, 25-12) Division 1 No. 2 Marian (25-3) went 3-0 at Grand Haven’s quad, also defeating Lake Orion and the No. 10 Bucs, but this win over the No. 9 Red Arrows (18-13) particularly stands out.
4. Edwardsburg d. Otsego (25-13, 14-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12) The Division 2 No. 7 Eddies (15-5) multiple times held off comeback attempts by honorable mention Otsego (9-6) to win a key Wolverine Conference match.
5. Hudsonville d. South Lyon (25-18, 25-21) The Division 1 No. 5 Eagles (20-2) finished 4-0 at their invitational, the highlight this sweep of the honorable mention Lions (18-9-1).
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Midland Dow (34-4-4) The unranked Chargers earned honorable mention in the Division 1 poll during the season’s first month and are making a play to get that recognition back, with a 5-0 day at their co-hosted Charger/Chemic Challenge the latest success. Two losses were to No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian and Division 3 No. 4 Clinton, and victories over Division 2 No. 5 Kingsley, No. 10 North Branch, honorable mention Tecumseh and Division 3 No. 2 Roscommon stick out among several.
Utica Eisenhower (23-2) After reaching at least 33 wins the last two years, Eisenhower is on pace for the same and potentially more. The Eagles have won 14 straight matches dating back to the first day of September and with both losses to Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian at the same August tournament. Victories over Division 1 No. 7 South Lyon East, No. 9 Lowell and honorable mentions Bloomfield Hills, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and South Lyon all have contributed to Eisenhower’s No. 6 ranking.
DIVISION 2
Dearborn Divine Child (15-4) Divine Child is unranked but maybe not for long considering a nine-match winning streak that’s included a comeback win over honorable mention Tecumseh. The Falcons have won District titles and most seasons much more every year this decade and are lining up for another run with good losses to Division 1 No. 10 Grand Haven, honorable mention Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Novi and Plymouth and more competitive matches coming up – notably in Catholic High School League tournament play and against Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central on Oct. 14.
Tecumseh (19-5-2) Tecumseh is an honorable mention in the latest poll and enjoying an eight-match unbeaten streak, with a pair of tournament ties to Lansing Catholic and Williamston over the weekend – and a win over the Cougars at the same event. Tecumseh also owns two impressive victories over Division 3 No. 4 Clinton, and the losses have been strong, against No. 5 Kingsley and Midland Dow during the season’s first weekend, Linden, and No. 3 Parma Western and Divine Child before starting the current success streak.
DIVISION 3
Grass Lake (11-2-2) The Warriors are an honorable mention this week and climbing as well, as they haven’t lost since the season’s first weekend and have dropped only four sets during an eight-match winning streak. The losses came during the first week to current Division 2 honorable mentions Tecumseh and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, and that weekend they also earned draws with Gabriel Richard and Division 3 honorable mention Hanover-Horton.
Traverse City St. Francis (15-7-1) The Gladiators are another honorable mention and riding high after defeating Division 4 No. 4 Traverse City Christian in four sets Monday. That was their second win this season over the Sabres, and a loss to Division 3 No. 5 Elk Rapids two weeks ago is the only flaw during a current 8-1-1 run. St. Francis spent most of August and early September playing larger opponents, mostly from downstate, but wins over No. 7 Manton and Division 4 No. 10 Onekama closer to home also were highlights during that time.
DIVISION 4
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (20-6) The No. 6-ranked Lancers opened the season with eight wins over two tournaments, and they’ve already surpassed last season’s 19 victories. They’ve powered through several opponents from Divisions 1, 2 and 3 especially during two weekends of Motor City Power Series play, during which they’ve gone a combined 4-4. A four-set loss to Division 3 honorable mention Plymouth Christian Academy on Tuesday was tough for league purposes, but they’ll meet again Oct. 22.
Baraga (17-0) The unranked Vikings no doubt are making a bid to join the elite list, as they’ve dropped three sets all season with two of those coming during a five-set win over Painesdale Jeffers last week. This run has included 5-0 days at the Copper Mountain Conference Tournament and Baraga Invitational, and circle a match at No. 9 Hancock on Oct. 8 as another great test of where the Vikings stand. Hancock ended Baraga’s 2025 run in District play.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Wednesday – Essexville Garber (21-7-4) at Frankenmuth (16-0) – The Division 2 No. 6 Eagles must hold off the honorable mention Dukes in the Tri-Valley Conference Red after Garber won the matchup in five sets a year ago.
Thursday – Concord (11-3-3), Grass Lake (11-2-2) at Hillsdale Academy (13-5) – This high-powered set features the host Colts ranked No. 8 in Division 4, with Concord an honorable mention and Grass Lake an honorable mention in Division 3.
Saturday – Jenison Invitational – A strong field includes mostly west-side teams including Division 1 No. 5 Hudsonville and No. 10 Grand Haven and Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian, but with Division 1 honorable mention South Lyon also making the trip among 11 schools total.
Saturday – D3/D4 Showdown at Trinity Health Sports Center – This annual event’s field is filled with several strong small-school teams.
Saturday – Best of the West at Muskegon Mona Shores – The Sailors will host eight teams including Fruitport, Division 2 honorable mention Fremont, Division 3 No. 3 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian and No. 10 Hart.
PHOTOS (Top) East Grand Rapids lines up for a kill attempt during a match this season against Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern. (Middle) Breckenridge and Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart blockers and hitters meet at the net. (EGR/FHN photo by Michigan Sports Photo. Breckenridge/Sacred Heart photo by High School Sports Scene.)
Senior-Led Lake Orion Earns 1st Title
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 17, 2018
BATTLE CREEK – With 10 seniors on the roster, it’s fitting this year’s version of the Lake Orion volleyball team was the one to bring the school its first MHSAA volleyball title.
And while they’re plenty talented, that group brought a trait coach Tony Scavarda said was the difference in getting his program over the top:
Grit.
“We’ve been in situations this year several times where we were down late in sets, and they don’t stop playing,” Scavarda said. “Even the set we lost tonight, they could have just said, ‘Eh, we’ll win the next set.’ But no, they came back, it was 23-24, and fought even to the very end of that set. They’re very resilient, gritty, and they don’t let any set go without a fight.”
Lake Orion defeated Rockford 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 on Saturday at Kellogg Arena to claim the Division 1 title. It was the program’s second trip to the final game, with the first ending with a loss against Rockford in 2011.
Thanks to a 30-kill effort from senior Paige Briggs and a 50-set effort from senior Wren Macaulay, it was clear there wouldn’t be any heart break this time.
“Honestly, it just feels unreal,” Macaulay said while hugging the championship trophy. “Being here for four years and on the team and losing the last three years, it feels so good to end on a winning streak and not with tears this year. It’s exciting, it’s really exciting. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”
The Dragons (68-6) not only brought home the first state title in school history, but became the first team from the Oakland Activities Association to win at the Finals level, something Scavarda learned at the post-match press conference.
“We knew it was the first ever for Lake Orion, which was a pretty big accomplishment. But to be the only one from the OAA, seeing that it’s one of the toughest leagues year in and year out in the state, that’s surprising,” Scavarda said. “But I knew these guys had it in them. It was just a matter of putting it together at the right time.”
After controlling much of the first set, Lake Orion found itself trailing for much of the second. That’s when it decided to lean a bit more on Briggs, who had 10 kills in the frame.
“My whole thought was Wren really likes to spread the ball around, and it opens Paige up a lot of times,” Scavarda said. “I specifically told her though, I don’t care if Paige’s legs fall off tonight, I want to take this in three. She can rest tomorrow and the next day. We gotta get that second set. That’s a big momentum thing; even though they got that third set, we knew that we were still up 2-1. It’s still a nice little cushion to have.”
Rockford (47-12-1) didn’t relent in the third, leading for much of it before holding Lake Orion off late.
“We’ve been in that situation a couple times before, and they handled themselves very well,” Rockford coach Kelly Delacher said. “They continued to fight throughout that third set, and did a good job of squeaking out a win there.”
But Lake Orion grabbed control of the fourth set early, and kept Rockford at arm’s length throughout before closing the match, fittingly, with a kill by Briggs, assisted by Macaulay.
“I feel like our team is really good at being calm in those tough situations,” Lake Orion senior middle blocker Leigha Boes said. “Especially when it’s close, we really don’t hear the cheering and the crowd and the other team.”
Senior libero Ciara Livingway had 13 digs for the Dragons, while Boes had nine kills. Kendal Robertson added six kills and four blocks, while Sydney Smith had seven kills and 11 digs.
Senior Lindsay Taylor led Rockford with 20 kills and 14 digs. Emmy Webb added 12 kills, while Emilee Karelse had 36 assists.
“I’m super proud with how my team played,” Delacher said. “It’s not an easy thing coming out and playing under bright lights and cameras and a big, huge crowd from your school, and I thought they performed very well under the pressure throughout the whole tournament. Lake Orion is a very good team, and they’re a very deserving champion.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Lake Orion hoists its first MHSAA championship trophy Saturday at the Kellogg Arena. (Middle) Dragons Wren Macaulay (10), Leigha Boes (13) and Paige Briggs put up a block as Rockford’s Emmy Webb sends a kill attempt through.