Block Party: 2026 Girls Volleyball Week 8 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 14, 2026
Girls Volleyball District play begins in three weeks, and you won’t find any contenders slowing things down as we speed toward the beginning of the postseason.
Arguably this fall’s most prestigious tournament – the Beast of the East – will be played Saturday with all four state divisions sending ranked teams into the field, and the Upper Peninsula also is hosting one of its most competitive events this season, at Crystal Falls Forest Park. Several teams are attempting to put finishing touches on league championships, and many more have lined up other contenders as they prepare for the playoffs and the ultimatum of win to play again.
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. Bloomfield Hills Marian d. Farmington Hills Mercy (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17) After suffering two earlier losses to Mercy, Marian (28-3) took this match in four sets, clinched their Catholic High School League Tournament title and has taken over the No. 1 ranking in Division 1, sending the Marlins (20-4) to No. 2.
2. Parma Western d. Hanover-Horton (26-24, 25-17) Division 2 No. 3 Western’s 6-0 run through Hanover-Horton’s Karen Abbott Invitational pushed its record to 32-0 and also included wins over Division 3 No. 7 Grass Lake, No. 6 Traverse City St. Francis, Hudson, Brooklyn Columbia Central and Division 4 No. 1 Adrian Lenawee Christian, in addition to the Division 3 No. 10 Comets (21-7-5).
3. Midland Dow d. Saginaw Valley Lutheran (30-28, 20-25, 25-20) The Chargers (36-4-4) also handed Division 2 No. 4 Frankenmuth its first during this home quad, but the night’s most exciting set may have been the first one of this win over Division 3 top-ranked Saginaw Valley Lutheran (38-6-1).
4. Traverse City Central d. Grand Rapids South Christian (25-20, 25-18) The Trojans (22-2-1) finished 4-0 at the Hudsonville Unity Christian Invitational, with this sweep of the Division 2 No. 8 Sailors (22-7) the highlight but a three-set win over honorable mention Vicksburg also of note.
5. Roscommon d. Traverse City St. Francis (25-20, 25-15) These two top-10 teams in Division 3 locked up as part of a quad, with the No. 3-ranked and host Bucks (29-6-5) avenging last year’s loss to the No. 6 Gladiators (24-13-2).
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Clarkston (20-2) The Wolves have held down the No. 3 ranking in Division 1 since Sept. 8, trailing only Mercy and Marian after falling to both in August. Those are Clarkston’s only losses this season as it looks to bounce back from last year’s District exit against Oxford – which the Wolves defeated to start this season and again last week. A pair of wins over No. 8 Lowell and singles over No. 10 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and No. 5 South Lyon East also pop off the page.
South Lyon East (25-5) The No. 5 Cougars’ most recent win also was the best of several memorable ones this fall, as they downed No. 2 Mercy in three sets last week after losing the first 25-12. They also have defeated No. 10 Forest Hills Northern twice, honorable mention Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and No. 9 Grand Haven once, and honorable mention South Lyon twice after the Lions ended East’s 2025 season in their District. Those two rivals are headed to the same District again next month.
DIVISION 2
Detroit Country Day (12-6-1) The Yellowjackets haven’t played as many matches as most contenders, but they’ve tested themselves against some of the state’s elite with losses to Division 1 No. 2 Mercy, top-ranked Marian and honorable mention St. Mary’s among others. The two-time reigning Division 2 champion is ranked No. 2 currently and tonight has an opportunity to avenge its Sept. 30 defeat against the Eaglets. Country Day also will see Division 1 No. 5 South Lyon East a second time Oct. 22 after winning their first matchup Sept. 3.
Marshall (23-9-1) The unranked Redhawks have navigated tough competition all season, going five sets before falling to No. 3 Parma Western in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference play, but defeating honorable mention Vicksburg, Division 3 No. 2 Plymouth Christian Academy, No. 4 Clinton and honorable mention Morley Stanwood and going 1-2 against Division 1 honorable mention Battle Creek Lakeview. Total, five defeats have come against teams ranked or honorable mention in Divisions 1 and 2.
DIVISION 3
Cass City (18-6-4) These Red Hawks have tested themselves substantially as they look next month to run their District title streak to six and potentially return to the season’s final weekend for what would be the fourth time this decade. Cass City went 2-2-1 at the opening Cadillac Invitational, 0-2-2 at the MI Elite Program Cup and 1-2-1 at the D3/D4 Showdown, facing elite and/or often much larger opponents at all three. The Red Hawks are otherwise 15-0 this fall.
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (26-6) WMC matched up with a tough crew of larger opponents at the Unity Christian Invitational over the weekend and finished only 1-3 there. But the No. 5-ranked Warriors are otherwise 25-3 this season with a 5-0 day over a field that included honorable mention Hart and Fruitport in winning Mona Shores’ Best of the West, plus an earlier victory over Division 2 previously-honorable mention Fremont.
DIVISION 4
Atlanta (25-0) The Huskies are an honorable mention in this week’s poll and one of three teams statewide still undefeated. They’ve won Regional titles the last two seasons and this fall have lost only six sets. Atlanta went 5-0 winning all 10 sets during the Onaway Tournament and finished 6-0 winning all 12 sets it played at the Oscoda Invitational last month. The Huskies will travel Oct. 20 to face Hale, which delivered their only regular-season defeat of 2025.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (23-6-3) The No. 2-ranked Irish have won nine of their last 10 matches, the lone loss during that time to Division 3 top-ranked Valley Lutheran, and they also defeated Division 4 No. 7 Ubly that day. Three losses total have come to Valley Lutheran, with the other three to Division 2 No. 8 North Branch, Division 3 No. 3 Roscommon and No. 9 Elk Rapids. Sacred Heart also can count a win over Division 4 No. 4 Traverse City Christian and a tie with No. 9 Crystal Falls Forest Park.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Thursday – Grand Haven (26-8-1) at Hudsonville (28-3) – The best from the always-strong Ottawa-Kent Conference Red are the No. 9 Buccaneers and No. 6 Eagles, and Hudsonville won the first match Sept. 17 in three sets.
Thursday – Detroit Country Day (12-6-1) at Macomb Lutheran North (23-1) – The Nos. 2 and 6 teams in Division 2, respectively, face off in what could be a Regional Final preview.
Thursday – Elk Rapids (14-7-3) at Traverse City Christian (27-6) – The Division 3 No. 9 Elks and Division 4 No. 4 Sabres meet in one of northern Michigan’s most anticipated matchups of the season.
Saturday – Beast of the East at Trinity Health Sports Center – The field of 32 includes 18 teams currently ranked or receiving honorable mentions in Divisions 1-4, and a few others formerly in that group. Division 1 top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian and Division 2 No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian are among those taking the court.
Tuesday – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (11-18), Forest Hills Northern (22-8) at Grand Rapids Christian (22-3) – As noted above, the Eagles are ranked No. 1 in Division 2, and Forest Hills Northern is No. 10 in Division 1.
PHOTO (Top) DeWitt returns a volley during a match this season against Okemos. (Photo by TCP Photography.)
Preview: Contenders Converging at Kellogg to Complete Storybook Seasons
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 15, 2023
This weekend’s Girls Volleyball Semifinals and Finals at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena have plenty of storylines for fans to follow – and almost assuredly won’t include a repeat of the snowstorm that blanketed last season’s championship rounds.
Six teams who braved the 2022 blizzard will be back this weekend, and among those six are four of the nine teams playing in pursuit of a first MHSAA Finals championship in this sport.
Reigning Division 2 champion North Branch will be back with almost the same lineup, joined by two more top-ranked teams – Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in Division 3 and Adrian Lenawee Christian in Division 4. Last season’s Division 1 runner-up Northville also is returning, along with 2022 Division 3 runner-up Kalamazoo Christian.
Four of this season’s 10 Miss Volleyball Award finalists will close the season at Kellogg, as will at least a few of the strongest contenders for the 2024 award.
Action begins Thursday with Division 2 and 3 Semifinals, with Divisions 1 and 4 on Friday and all four title matches Saturday.
All 12 matches will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv and (audio) MHSAANetwork.com. Find more information, including how to purchase tickets, on the Volleyball page.
This weekend’s schedule:
Division 1 – Friday
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern vs. Northville, 4:30 p.m.
Clarkston vs. Farmington Hills Mercy, 6:30 p.m.
Division 2 - Thursday
Milan vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
North Branch vs. Grand Rapids Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Thursday
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central vs. Kalamazoo Christian, Noon
Cass City vs. Traverse City St. Francis, 2 p.m.
Division 4 – Friday
Adrian Lenawee Christian vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Noon
Leland vs. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 2 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1, Noon
Division 2, 2:30 p.m.
Division 3, 4:30 p.m.
Division 4, 10 a.m.
Below is a glance at contenders in each division. (Statistics are through Regional Finals unless noted.)
Division 1
CLARKSTON
Record/rank: 34-3, No. 3
Coach: Ali Smith, third season (106-23-3)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cayla Cogan, 5-10 sr. OH (314 kills, .305 hitting %); Marlie Smith, 5-10 fr. OPP/S (310 kills, 255 assists, 69 aces, 268 digs); Emery Kuebler, 5-6 sr. S (756 assists).
Finals forecast: Clarkston is headed back to the Semifinals for the second time in four seasons after most recently making the trip in 2020, and the Wolves’ only losses this fall were to No. 2 Northville, No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian, and honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy – their Semifinal opponent. Clarkston defeated Mercy twice as well, and lost only 15 games all season. Kuebler made the Division 1 all-state second team last season and sets to five hitters with at least 100 kills this fall. Cogan was a Miss Volleyball Award finalist and has committed to George Washington University, and senior libero Kiley Gallagher (400 digs, 128 assists, 52 aces) has signed with Oakland.
FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY
Record/rank: 30-15-3, honorable mention
Coach: Loretta Vogel, 15th season (record N/A)
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2019, Class A runner-up 2010.
Players to watch: Kate Kalczynski, 5-11 fr. OH (427 kills, 63 aces, 243 digs); Cree Hollier, 5-9 soph. MH (204 kills, .301 hitting %, 54 blocks); Campbell Flynn, 6-3 jr. S (466 assists, 107 kills, .432 hitting %).
Finals forecast: After splitting four regular-season matches with rival Marian, Mercy swept their Quarterfinal matchup to return to the Semifinals for the first time since the championship season of 2019. And the Marlins may just be getting started again, with only two seniors on the roster but three sophomores in the starting lineup. Flynn made the all-state first team last season and already has committed to national power Nebraska. Sophomore Maya Zarow entered the week with the second-most kills on the team at 212, with lone senior starter Angie Butler (163 kills, 200 digs) also in that mix. Vogel is in her 44th season total of coaching high school volleyball and has more than 1,100 victories.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 44-7-1, No. 5
Coach: Valerie Lurye, first season (20-2)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2002), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Elana Erickson, 5-10 sr. OH (626 kills, 67 aces, 463 digs); Kendall Hopewell, 6-1 sr. MB (356 kills, .340 hitting %, 66 blocks); Lexie Stotenbur, 5-10 soph. S (1,351 assists, 51 aces, 299 digs).
Finals forecast: Forest Hills Northern is making a repeat trip to Kellogg Arena after falling to eventual champion Marian in last year’s Semifinal. The Huskies graduated a Miss Volleyball finalist but return four starters from that lineup, including all-state second-teamers Erickson and Hopewell – Erickson was a Miss Volleyball finalist this fall and will continue at Western Michigan. FHN is 15-1 over its last 16 matches, the lone loss to Marian, and the Huskies avenged their two regular-season defeats to top-ranked Hudsonville with a 3-1 Regional Semifinal victory. They followed that with wins over No. 8 Byron Center and honorable mention Grand Haven to advance to this weekend.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 49-2, No. 2
Coach: Sarah Lindstom, third season (145-11)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West and overall
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Ella Craggs, 5-9 jr. S (1,116 assists, 61 blocks); Molly Reck, 5-10 jr. OH (453 kills); Avry Nelson, 6-3 sr. MB (314 kills, .352 hitting %, 93 blocks).
Finals forecast: Northville also graduated a Miss Volleyball finalist from last season’s team, but has five starters back after winning the first set before falling to Marian in four in the championship match. The only losses this season were to top-ranked Hudsonville and No. 7 Rockford, and Northville also defeated the Rams, and Marian, and downed No. 9 Temperance Bedford and honorable mentions Saline and South Lyon East on the way to Battle Creek. Craggs made the all-state second team and Nelson made the third last season, and several players have committed to play college volleyball including senior defensive specialist Ashlee Gnau, who has signed with Syracuse, and Craggs who has committed to Illinois State. Junior Mallory Reck is another major offensive contributor with 380 kills entering this week.
Division 2
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 35-12-1, No. 2
Coach: Amy Huisken, second season (record N/A)
League finish: Fourth in O-K White
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Players to watch: Grace Goodyke, 6-0 fr. OH (291 kills); Hanna Bredeweg, 5-8 sr. S/RH (149 kills, 394 assists, 53 blocks, 242 digs); Grace Spoelma, 5-7 sr. S/RH (148 kills, 402 assists). (Statistics include Quarterfinal.)
Finals forecast: The Eagles are headed back to the Semifinals after a season away, and Bredeweg and Spoelma also were top contributors as sophomores on the 2021 Semifinals team. Grand Rapids Christian defeated No. 4 Lake Odessa Lakewood and honorable mention Ada Forest Hills Eastern on the way to Kellogg this time. Six hitters have at least 100 kills, and junior libero Madison Peal has totaled 417 digs this fall.
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 37-9-6, unranked
Coach: Megan Eversman, ninth season (259-130-19)
League finish: Second in O-K Blue
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Emma Tuttle, 5-11 sr. OH (378 kills, 62 blocks, 501 digs); Brooke Tietz, 6-0 sr. MB (417 kills, 128 blocks, 189 digs); Emma Arsulowicz, 5-4 jr. S (475 assists, 218 digs).
Finals forecast: West Catholic has followed up its first Regional championship won last season with its first trip to the Semifinals and is riding a 20-match winning streak. The Falcons have lost only seven sets during the 20-match run, including two in defeating honorable mention Ludington 3-2 in the Quarterfinal. Tuttle and Tietz have been the lead hitters, but Arsulowicz is one of four juniors total in the starting lineup. Five hitters have at least 125 kills, with 6-1 junior middle Mia Henne another key contributor with 211 and a team-high 130 blocks entering the week.
MILAN
Record/rank: 29-6-2, unranked
Coach: Makenna Slack, first season
League finish: Second in Huron League
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Courtney Nye, 5-7 sr. OH (352 kills, 260 digs); Malea Wourman, 5-7 jr. OH (294 kills, 206 digs); Madison Slack, 6-0 soph. S (864 assists, 235 digs).
Finals forecast: Makenna Slack was a four-year starter for Milan only a few seasons ago, graduating in 2020, and her first season leading the program has included the longest tournament run in Milan volleyball history. The Big Reds did reach the Regional Final last season, losing the Dearborn Divine Child, and followed up their first Regional title last week by defeating Divine Child in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal. They’ve swept eight of their last nine opponents, and three of their six losses came to teams playing this weekend (Monroe St. Mary twice and Lenawee Christian). Nye and middle Maria Stines (113 kills) both start and with defensive specialist Hailey Knox are the team’s only seniors.
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 53-4-1, No. 1
Coach: Jim Fish, 24th season (1,325-223-52)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Adrienne Greschaw, 5-8 sr. S (1,216 assists); Hailey Green, 5-1 sr. L (481 digs, 60 aces); Clara Gyomory, 5-9 sr. RS (431 kills, .395 hitting %, 64 blocks).
Finals forecast: The reigning Division 2 champion, and 2021 runner-up, is absolutely loaded with five starters plus libero Green back from last season. Green and Greschaw were Miss Volleyball finalists this fall and joined by Gyomory on last year’s Division 2 all-state first team, while seniors Alana Deshetsky (445 kills, .301 hitting %, 89 aces) and Kaela Chingwa made the third team in 2022. Sophomore Aubree Deshetsky has been filling up the stat sheet too this season with 455 kills and 387 digs entering the week. The Broncos’ only losses were to Division 1 top-ranked Hudsonville, No. 4 Marian, Division 2 Division 5 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Chicago Marist, and they defeated No. 3 Marysville, No. 6 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and No. 7 Frankenmuth over their last three matches.
Division 3
CASS CITY
Record/rank: 34-6-5, No. 10
Coach: Amy Cuthrell, eighth season (166-46-12)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Shelby Ignash, 6-0 jr. M/DS (469 kills, 93 blocks, 334 digs); Kacee Gray, 5-7 jr. OH/DS (424 kills, 340 digs); Isabelle Phillips, 5-6 jr. S (968 assists, 58 aces).
Finals forecast: Four of six starters are back from the Cass City team that reached the Semifinals a year ago, with the three listed above joined by senior Josie Spencer – the only senior on the team. Ignash made the all-state first team last season, and Gray earned an honorable mention, and they’ve been the top hitters as the Red Hawks have put together a postseason run of four shutouts and a 3-1 win over No. 8 Saginaw Valley Lutheran in the Quarterfinal. Spencer (340 digs, 189 kills) remains a key part of the lineup. Cass City is 12-0-2 over its last 14 matches and had an early split this fall with Kalamazoo Christian.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 41-6-3, No. 4
Coach: Carlie Southland, second season (79-12-6)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2022, Lower Peninsula Class C-D runner-up 1976.
Players to watch: Holland DeVries, 5-9 sr. OH (343 kills, 82 aces, 390 digs); Makenna Ekkens, 5-6 sr. OH (352 kills, 93 aces, 509 digs); Lola Stecker, 5-6 sr. S (931 assists, 165 kills).
Finals forecast: Kalamazoo Christian is another repeat Semifinals qualifier and finished Division 3 runner-up last season, losing in four sets to Pewamo-Westphalia – which the Comets defeated Tuesday to advance this time. DeVries made the all-state second team and Ekkens made the third a year ago, and they are joined by three more returning starters from the 2022 championship match – Stecker, junior right-side hitter Annelise DeJong (247 kills) and senior middle Mackenzie Ash (161 kills). Kalamazoo Christian hasn’t lost a set over five postseason matches and has won 17 of its last 18 matches total.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 33-8-1, No. 1
Coach: Cassandra Haut, third season (109-25-1)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Madeline Dettling, 6-0 soph. OH (299 kills); Jessica Costlow, 5-11 jr. OH (408 kills, .353 hitting %, 496 digs); McKenna Payne, 5-7 jr. S (781 assists, 365 digs).
Finals forecast: SMCC has fallen to the eventual Division 3 champion the last two years, and after ending in the Quarterfinals a year ago is back at the Semifinals for the fourth time over the last five seasons. The Kestrels have swept all five of their playoff opponents, including No. 3 Plymouth Christian Academy on Tuesday, and seen most of the best in the state regardless of division with regular-season wins over Mercy, Milan, Marian, Lakewood and Bedford among others. Costlow and Payne made the all-state first team last season, and Dettling made the third team. They are joined in the starting lineup by three seniors who all had at least 120 kills entering the week. Payne has committed to sign with Utah, and Costlow has committed to Toledo.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 37-9-1, No. 5
Coach: Kathleen Nance, fifth season (140-67-7)
League finish: First in Lake Michigan Conference
Championship history: Class C runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Reese Jones, 5-4 soph. S (704 assists, 74 aces, 294 digs); Garnet Mullet, 5-9 sr. OH (333 kills, 91 aces, 357 digs); Avery Nance, 5-4 jr. L (98 aces, 539 digs).
Finals forecast: St. Francis is returning to the Semifinals for the first time since 2018 after defeating No. 7 Calumet and honorable mention Shelby along the way. The Gladiators have won 16 of their last 17 matches, with a loss to Division 1 Traverse City Central the only one during that run. Avery Nance made the all-state third team last season and Mullet earned an honorable mention, and the latter is the team’s only senior as the roster is filled out by four juniors and seven sophomores. Sophomores Quinn Yenshaw (346 kills) and Claire Hurley (277) are two more key hitters, and junior Tessa Konas (504 assists) has led the attack as well. Kathleen Nance formerly coached Central for four seasons and was a two-time state champion player growing up in Oklahoma.
Division 4
ADRIAN LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 46-5-1, No. 1
Coach: Tenille Marowelli, first season (46-5-1)
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2004), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Gabby Bryja, 5-4 sr. S (1,326 assists, 69 aces, 435 digs); Sophia Samonek, 5-11 sr. MH (483 kills, .313 hitting %, 386 digs, 85 blocks); Hannah Baker, 5-11 sr. MH/OH (471 kills, .480 hitting %, 377 digs).
Finals forecast: After reaching the Quarterfinals the last two years, Lenawee Christian has advanced to the Semifinals for the first time since the 2005-06 winter season, a run that has included wins over No. 3 Hillsdale Academy and No. 7 Battle Creek St. Philip. The Cougars also defeated No. 2 Mendon during the regular season. Baker made the all-state first team last season, and Bryja made the second, and they join with Samonek and outside hitter Whitney Lilly (277 kills, 74 aces) to give Lenawee Christian four senior starters. Marowelli played at Lenawee Christian, graduating in 2010, and Spring Arbor before coaching in Indiana and then returning to eventually take over the program.
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 30-4-2, No. 10
Coach: Danielle Walker, first season (30-4-2)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League Intersectional
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Sarah Bradley, 6-0 jr. OH (349 kills, .450 hitting %, 210 digs); Erica Walker, 5-6 jr. S/RS (541 assists, 155 digs); Madelyn Krappmann, 5-10 jr. OH (260 kills, .320 hitting %, 53 aces).
Finals forecast: Danielle Walker’s first season has turned into the best in program history as Everest has reached the Semifinals for the first time after also claiming its first Regional title. Krappmann and Bradley earned all-state honorable mentions a year ago and help pace a roster that has only one senior. The Mountaineers defeated No. 6 Marlette on Tuesday to advance and are 15-1-1 over their last 17 matches.
CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK
Record/rank: 34-2, No. 9
Coach: Bobbie Jo Anderson, fourth season (86-36-9)
League finish: First in Skyline Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Ema Stepien, 5-8 OH sr. (288 kills, .400 hitting %, 98 aces); Elsie Williams, 5-5 soph. S/OH (410 assists); Ava Fischer, 5-6 soph. OH (237 kills, .350 hitting %, 67 aces, 222 digs).
Finals forecast: Forest Park is making a return trip to Battle Creek as well and has taken another big step with 12 more wins than a year ago. The entire starting lineup except for last season’s libero is back, and four seniors are among eight in the main playing group. Senior middle Leah Feldhausen (212 kills, .350 hitting %) is another key hitter, and senior Charlie Larson (373 assists, 52 aces) also directs the attack while junior Audrey Franz paced the defense with 400 digs entering the week. The Trojans’ only two losses were to Kingsford, a Division 2 District winner.
LELAND
Record/rank: 40-16-2, No. 4
Coach: Laurie Glass, 29th season (1,123-362-102)
League finish: First in Northwest Conference
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), eight runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Fiona Moord, 6-2 sr. OH (509 kills, 117 aces, 247 digs); Olive Ryder, 5-8 sr. OH (249 kills, 103 aces, 426 digs); Kelsey Allen, 6-0 sr. MB (318 kills, 56 blocks).
Finals forecast: Leland may be few in number, with just seven players, but is high in experience with five seniors and strong at the net with senior Shelby Plamondon (250 kills) another 6-footer in the middle. Leland fell to eventual Division 4 champion Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in last season’s Quarterfinal, but avenged with a win over the No. 5 Irish on Tuesday – and seven of the team’s losses were to opponents ranked or earning honorable mentions in Divisions 1, 2 or 3. Moord made the all-state first team last season, and Allen and Ryder made the second team. Junior Abby Hicks directs the attack and had 1,172 assists entering the week, while senior libero Mallory Lowe had a team-high 444 digs and junior Kally Sluiter also is among four players with at least 240.
PHOTOS (Top) Adrienne Greschaw (1) sets the North Branch attack during its Quarterfinal win over Frankenmuth. (Middle) Clarkston's Rylee Hunt (11) prepares to put up a block as Macomb L'Anse Creuse North's Kate Schneider connects during their Division 1 Quarterfinal. (Photos by Terry Lyons.)