1st & Goal: 2021 Week 5 in Review

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 27, 2021

The paths to league championships are getting clearer for many teams all over Michigan as we sprint past the midpoint of this regular season.

MI Student AidMultiple teams clinched at least shares of conference titles during the final weekend of September – while many others now have located paths (some straight forward, and others with plenty of twists and turns) to accomplishing the same.

Read on as we highlight 45 games from Week 5 that likely helped shape where we’re headed over the final four weeks before playoff selection.

Bay & Thumb

HEADLINER Frankenmuth 48, Freeland 21 The Eagles (5-0) set themselves up well in the Tri-Valley Conference East race by handing Freeland its first loss this season. Frankenmuth moved into first place alone, with Week 8 opponent Essexville Garber its only league opponent left with a record above .500 at this point in the season. Cole Lindow ran for 318 yards including a 93-yarder as the Eagles scored more points than Freeland (4-1) had given up total over its first four games. Click for more from the Saginaw News.

Watch list Montrose 35, New Lothrop 14 The Rams’ first win over three-time reigning champ New Lothrop since the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference was formed in 2018 also was the Hornets’ first defeat in any league play since 2009. Now both and Durand are one game behind solo league leader Ovid-Elsie.

Remember this one Flint Hamady 26, Flint Beecher 20 This rivalry matchup is always memorable and this season once again decided at least part of a league title, with Hamady (3-2) clinching a share of the Genesee Area Conference championship.

More shoutouts Millington 30, Carrollton 12 The Cardinals (5-0) clinched a share of the TVC-West I after finishing league runner-up a year ago. Mount Pleasant 26, Midland 19 This win combined with Midland Dow’s 45-44 edging of Bay City Western sent the Oilers (5-0) into first place alone in the Saginaw Valley League Blue.

Greater Detroit

HEADLINER Brownstown Woodhaven 33, Allen Park 28 On a night with its share of last-second go-ahead scores, Woodhaven benefited from one of the loudest as Cornell Perry pulled in an Ashton Mohlman pass with 10 seconds left to pull the Warriors (5-0) past Allen Park and into first place alone in the Downriver League. The Warriors have won the last three meetings with Allen Park (4-1) since a 2018 loss to the Jaguars cost Woodhaven an outright league title. Click for more from the Southgate News-Herald

Watch list Belleville 21 Dearborn Fordson 19 Belleville (4-1) potentially earned its way back into the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East race by pulling Fordson (4-1) out of a first-place tie with Livonia Churchill, and with Fordson and Churchill set to meet Week 7.

Remember this one Warren De La Salle Collegiate 49, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 25 The Pilots (4-0) clinched a share of the Detroit Catholic League Central title and can claim it outright this week against Detroit Catholic Central, while St. Mary’s (4-1) could still earn a Prep Bowl rematch.

More shoutouts Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 37, Romeo 34 This combined with Sterling Heights Stevenson’s 31-16 win over Macomb Dakota has Stevenson first and Chippewa Valley and Romeo tied for second in the Macomb Area Conference Red, with Stevenson seeing Chippewa Valley next and Romeo on Oct. 8. South Lyon 49, White Lake Lakeland 35 The Lakes Valley Conference will still be playing out for a few weeks, but this sent South Lyon (5-0) into first place alone with Waterford Mott in Week 8 the most major obstacle left. Lakeland (4-1) sits a half-game back with Week 9 against Milford potentially becoming a huge matchup.

Mid-Michigan

HEADLINER Beal City 55, Evart 20 The Aggies (4-1) suddenly have what appears a very defendable lead in the Highland Conference after sending Evart into second place. Beal City’s final three league opponents are a combined 4-11 and Evart (4-1) had defeated those same opponents to open league play 3-0. The Wildcats hadn’t scored fewer than 40 points in a game before Beal’s defense cut that in half. Click for more from the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun.

Watch list Ovid-Elsie 35, Chesaning 0 As noted above, Ovid-Elsie (4-1) moved into the lead in the MMAC, and reigning champ New Lothrop is up next. But the Marauders also are coming off two straight shutouts after sending Chesaning to 3-2.

Remember this one DeWitt 57, Grand Ledge 15 With heavies East Lansing, Holt and now Grand Ledge behind them, the Panthers (4-1) have paved a nice path toward continuing a league title streak that began in 2006.

More shoutouts Pewamo-Westphalia 42, Fowler 6 This rivalry win put P-W (5-0) in position to clinch a share of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title in two weeks, although first the Pirates take on another league leader this Friday in Olivet. Portland 49, Charlotte 7 Portland (5-0) and Lansing Catholic will decide the Capital Area Activities Conference White title again this week after the Raiders got past a Charlotte contender that at 3-2 is off to its best start in eight years.

Northern Lower Peninsula

HEADLINER Kingsley 24, Grayling 20 Gage Hessem’s touchdown pass to True Beeman with 5:38 to play helped the Stags (5-0) pull away from their biggest scare so far this fall as they play for a third-straight league title. Circle Week 9 against Traverse City St. Francis as a likely decider in the Northern Michigan Football League Legends division. Click for more from the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Watch list East Jordan 38, Oscoda 0 This is the second time East Jordan has been listed here this season, and we’ll keep watching. The Red Devils (4-1) are lining up potentially their best season in two decades, with this second-straight shutout putting them in position to play for the NMFL Legacy title over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Remember this one Traverse City St. Francis 48, Boyne City 14 This was arguably the most impressive offensive performance of plenty this fall for the Gladiators (5-0), and no doubt will be recalled as we move closer to playoff time as Boyne City (4-1) was unbeaten and otherwise hasn’t budged much defensively.

More shoutouts Mancelona 14, Kalkaska 8 The Ironmen’s score on the game’s final play put them at 5-0 for the first time since 2012. Traverse City Central 56, Petoskey 0 After downing Traverse City West last week, Central (4-1) kept charging ahead as it awaits this week’s potential Big North Conference title-decider against Cadillac.

Southeast & Border

HEADLINER Jackson Lumen Christi 33, Hastings 22 The Titans (5-0) moved into first place alone in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference while also avenging last season’s one-point loss to the Saxons. Hastings (4-1) fell into a second-place tie with Battle Creek Harper Creek and Coldwater; Lumen sees Harper Creek this week and defeated Coldwater in Week 2. Click for more from FOX 17.

Watch list Ann Arbor Huron 38, Monroe 14 The River Rats (4-1) continued to build on a fall full of highlights, with this win giving them their most victories for a season since 2009 and pulling them up to No. 17 in Division 1 playoff points.

Remember this one Hudson 22, Ida 14 The Tigers (5-0) moved into first alone in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, and Week 9 opponent Dundee is the only one of three second-place teams Hudson has yet to face.

More shoutouts Ottawa Lake Whiteford 58, Sand Creek 30 The Bobcats (4-1) remain with Erie Mason the only teams undefeated in Tri-County Conference play after handing Sand Creek (3-2) its first league loss. Homer 28, Union City 22 A week after Union City (2-3) downed another contender in Reading, Big 8 Conference second-place Homer (3-2) edged the Chargers to remain in the title hunt. Homer will be hoping for help this week as Reading takes on league leader Jonesville.

Southwest Corridor

HEADLINER Centreville 32, White Pigeon 16 The reigning Division 8 champ Bulldogs have bounced back well after an opening-night loss to Niles Brandywine, and with this win kept themselves in position to earn a share of the Southwest 10 Conference championship this week against co-leader Cassopolis. White Pigeon (4-1) also entered this game tied for first before Centreville’s defense slowed a Chiefs offense that was averaging 46 points per game. The Bulldogs (4-1) have given up a total of 23 points over their last four. Click for more from the Sturgis Journal.

Watch list Berrien Springs 34, Watervliet 6 The Shamrocks (5-0) begin league play this week in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference, and will do so after shutting down formerly-undefeated Watervliet (4-1).

Remember this one Portage Central 23, Battle Creek Lakeview 22 A late touchdown and two-point conversion pushed Portage Central (3-2) past the Spartans (3-2) and kept them in the hunt in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference with league leader St. Joseph coming to Portage this week.

More shoutouts Edwardsburg 49, Plainwell 0 The Eddies’ wild numbers grew again in handing Plainwell its first loss; Edwardsburg is 5-0 with four shutouts and only seven points allowed this season, against an average of 50 points scored per game. Constantine 64, Parchment 14 Four of five teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore are 3-2 or better, including both of these – and Constantine (5-0) is tied for the early league lead.

Negaunee/Ishpeming football

Upper Peninsula

HEADLINER Hancock 20, Houghton 17 Rain soaked this season’s Copper Bowl and surely made it all the more memorable as Hancock (3-2) scored the final points to secure its fourth win in the last five games played against the rival Gremlins (3-2). This victory also muddied up the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Copper standings a bit more – all seven teams in the league are either 3-2 or 4-1 overall, and all seven could still win the league title. Click for more from the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette.

Watch list Iron Mountain 28, Bark River-Harris 22 Don’t count the Mountaineers out of anything yet, including that West-PAC Copper race. Despite a pair of losses in Weeks 2 and 3, Iron Mountain (3-2) has bounced back with two wins including this one over the West-PAC Iron-leading Broncos (3-2).  

Remember this one Kingsford 44, Escanaba 7 The last time Kingsford (4-1) defeated Escanaba, the Flivvers won the Great Northern Conference championship. They have only Menominee left on the league schedule, in Week 9, but also will need the Maroons’ help with Marquette after losing to the latter in Week 4.

More shoutouts Sault Ste. Marie 14, Ogemaw Heights 6 The Blue Devils moved to 4-1 and still have a chance to play spoiler – or more – in the NMFL Legends with St Francis coming up in Week 7. Marquette 43, Gladstone 12 Marquette (4-1) is in position to win the GNC outright with an offense that has gone over 40 points in four of five games this fall. Marquette faces Menominee in Week 7.

West Michigan

HEADLINER Rockford 21, Hudsonville 16 The Rams (5-0) navigated their second-straight one-score win to keep pace with Caledonia atop the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red. Hudsonville went ahead 16-14 early in the second half, but Zak Ahern’s five-yard run put Rockford back on top to stay with 2:58 to go in the third quarter. Ahern averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, tallying 153 on 16 rushes. For Hudsonville (2-3), it was another heartbreaker; all three of the Eagles’ defeats have come by five points or fewer. Click for more from the Grand Rapids Press.

Watch list Coopersville 24, Allendale 6 The Broncos (5-0) have guaranteed their first winning regular season since 2017 and are off to their best start since 2003. They also are one of four teams at 3-0 in O-K Blue play.

Remember this one Sparta 21, Belding 14 (OT) The Spartans (3-2) may have worked their way back into the O-K Silver title conversation. A seven-point loss to leader Comstock Park in Week 3 put them a game back, but Belding (4-1) takes on Comstock Park this week with an opportunity to open the league race up to at least four teams.

More shoutouts Muskegon Mona Shore 49, Zeeland East 30 As a Week 7 matchup with rival Muskegon High draws nearer, the Sailors (4-1) and Big Reds have done their parts to push East (3-2) and others farther out of the O-K Green title picture. Reed City 22, Big Rapids 7 The Coyotes (4-1) might be pulling away from the Central State Activities Association Gold pack, with this win over Big Rapids (3-2) their second against a team currently tied for second in the league – and the third team, Central Montcalm, is up this week.

8-Player

HEADLINER Adrian Lenawee Christian 47, Colon 21 One of the most anticipated matchups this regular season turned into another solid win for the Cougars, even as Colon (4-1) became the first opponent to score in double digits against Lenawee Christian since last season’s Division 1 Semifinals. The Cougars (5-0) scored 47 points on a defense that had given up only 28 total through the first four weeks, including with a 31-6 run over the final three quarters. Click for more from the Adrian Daily Telegram.

Watch list Crystal Falls Forest Park 30, Norway 28 The Trojans (5-0) have won two-point games over Great Lakes Eight Conference West contenders two of the last three weeks, keeping them tied for first atop the league standings with Week 9 opponent Powers North Central.

Remember this one Newberry 34, Rudyard 28 With three games left in the GLEC East schedule, these two are joined by Pickford and Munising tied for first in the league after Rudyard (4-1) entered the weekend alone at the top. Newberry also is 4-1 overall.

More shoutouts Climax-Scotts 52, Athens 14 The Panthers (4-1) will be the next to try to dethrone Lenawee Christian in league play with this big win keeping them tied atop the Southern Central Athletic Association A standings. Suttons Bay 46, Munising 0 The undefeated Norsemen (5-0) continued to shine on both sides of the ball, with this shutout taking their defensive points allowed average down to 9.2.

Second Half’s weekly “1st & Goal” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

PHOTOS: A Milford ball carrier celebrates reaching the end zone during Friday's 18-15 win over Walled Lake Western. (2) An Ithaca defender wraps up a Midland Bullock Creek ball carrier during the Yellowjackets' 41-19 victory. (3) Negaunee's Nico Lukkarinen (24) runs the ball in for the first touchdown of Friday's win over Ishpeming. (4) Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern earned its first win over East Grand Rapids of a recent five-game series, 17-14. (Photos by Terry Lyons, High School Sports Scene, Cara Kamps and Michigan Sports Photo, respectively.)

Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Regional Preview

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 10, 2025

After just a week, our list of MHSAA Finals hopefuls has whittled down to 128 who hoisted District title trophies – and they will have an opportunity to raise another Mitten in just a few days as they continue their march to Battle Creek.  

Up next are Regional Semifinals on Tuesday, and all Regional Finals on Thursday. Links to interactive brackets for all four divisions plus information on purchasing tickets is 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 a look at District Finals that were among the biggest headliners, and glances at three Regionals in each division that should generate the most buzz. 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.

Week in Review

The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:

1. Bloomfield Hills d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (18-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21) There’s no understating the significance of this win for No. 2-ranked Bloomfield Hills (39-6-1), as Marian (44-6-0) had made at least the Semifinals four of the last five seasons and won three-straight Division 1 titles from 2020-22.

2. South Lyon d. South Lyon East (27-25, 17-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-6) The honorable mention Lions (35-10-0) hung on through the end of what could have been a match-clinching fourth set for No. 5 East (38-8-1), then dominated the fifth to avenge two regular-season losses with a Division 1 District title victory.

3. Romeo d. Utica Eisenhower (19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-9) Unranked Romeo (27-10-1) claimed a Division 1 District championship by avenging a pair of regular-season losses to the Macomb Area Conference Red rival Eagles (33-5-3), who entered the postseason ranked No. 7 and won the first two sets of this match.

4. Parma Western d. Marshall (25-18, 25-21, 30-28) These Interstate 8 Athletic Conference opponents met for the third time, unranked Western (40-9-3) getting the win in this Division 2 District Final after No. 9 Marshall (32-12-5) won the first meeting and they played to a draw at the league tournament.

5. Grand Rapids Christian d. Grand Rapids South Christian (15-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-22) The No. 3-ranked Eagles (24-8-0) locked up a Division 2 District championship, adding to a Sept. 2 win over the No. 8 Sailors (24-9-0).

Davison’s Darby Crystal (14) winds up for a hit during the Cardinals’ sweep of Lapeer on Wednesday.

Regionals 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

Hartland
South Lyon (35-10-0) vs. Brighton (32-7-2)
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (28-6-3) vs. Farmington Hills Mercy (21-4-2)

Mercy has been considered one of the statewide favorites all season and entered the playoffs ranked No. 3. The Marlins have regular-season wins over South Lyon and Brighton but will see honorable mention St. Mary’s for the first time this fall. The Eaglets have won 21 straight matches and like Mercy are Catholic High School League division champions. Like St. Mary’s and South Lyon – the latter coming off its big win over No. 5 South Lyon East noted above – Brighton entered the postseason an honorable mention in Division 1 as well and has won 12 of its last 14 matches.

Hudsonville
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (39-8-1) vs. Grand Haven (36-10-0)
Hudsonville (31-8-1) vs. Rockford (43-1-1)

All four entered the postseason ranked – Rockford at No. 1, Forest Hills Northern No. 6, Hudsonville at No. 9 and Grand Haven No. 10. The Rams have defeated Hudsonville three times, although the Eagles forced a fourth set in both league matches, and Rockford swept Grand Haven in their two Ottawa-Kent Conference Red meetings. Rockford and Forest Hills Northern last met in a Regional Semifinal last season, when the Rams won in four sets. The Huskies may get the chance to avenge but can’t look past Grand Haven; they’ve defeated Grand Haven twice this season but also lost in three sets when the teams met in early September.

Portage Northern
Mattawan (22-18-0) vs. Byron Center (34-5-2)
Caledonia (24-18-0) vs. Battle Creek Lakeview (38-8-7)

Byron Center entered the postseason as an honorable mention in the final coaches poll and also won its District a year ago before falling to Lakeview in a Regional Semifinal. The Bulldogs have a win over Mattawan and a pair over Caledonia this season but have not faced Lakeview this fall. The Spartans have a five-set win over Mattawan but will be seeing Caledonia for the first time this season as well. Lakeview did go on last season to reach the Division 1 Quarterfinals and avenged its only loss over the last month by defeating Portage Central in their District Final last week.

DIVISION 2

Charlotte
Parma Western (40-9-3) vs. Niles (16-16-0)
Battle Creek Harper Creek (30-21-1) vs. Tecumseh (53-2-0)

Tecumseh is ranked No. 6 and the presumed favorite this week after also finishing Division 2 runner-up a year ago, although Harper Creek also reached the Semifinals last season and should provide a challenge. Tecumseh has defeated Western twice and Harper Creek once this fall and not seen Niles to this point. But Western and Niles both are coming off what would be considered upsets last week, Western defeating No. 9 Marshall (see above) and Niles clinching its District title against honorable mention Edwardsburg after falling to the Eddies just two weeks before.

Grand Rapids South Christian
Grand Rapids Christian (24-8-0) vs. Holland Christian (26-8-0)
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (34-12-1) vs. Lake Odessa Lakewood (22-22-0)

As noted above, Grand Rapids Christian is ranked No. 3 and is seeking its first Division 2 championship since winning three straight from 2018-20. The Eagles own one win this fall over all of the other three teams competing at South Christian this week, but this Regional is loaded with Grand Rapids Catholic Central ranked No. 4 and Holland Christian ranked No. 5. If Holland Christian were to get past Grand Rapids Christian and see the Cougars, it would be a first meeting this fall between those two. Lakewood and Grand Rapids Catholic Central also are meeting for the first time.

Yale
Marysville (31-13-1) vs. Detroit Country Day (19-8-0)
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (31-14-2) vs. North Branch (40-8-0)

This Regional is anchored by the reigning Division 2 champion Yellowjackets and top-ranked North Branch, which overtook now-No. 2 Country Day in the final coaches poll. They have not faced each other this season, but Country Day won their Quarterfinal match a year ago in five sets. There is plenty of intrigue in this bracket because of the two unranked teams as well. Marysville and Notre Dame Prep also are among the most successful programs in MHSAA history, and the Fighting Irish won the Division 2 title just four years ago. Both Regional Semifinals are first-time meetings this season. Marysville did win its lone matchup this fall with NDP, at the latter’s invitational in September.

DIVISION 3

Centreville
Kalamazoo Christian (26-12-3) vs. Bangor (28-5-2)
Constantine (27-10-3) vs. Bronson (28-17-6)

Kalamazoo Christian defeated Bangor and Bronson at last year’s Regional on the way to reaching the Division 3 Semifinals in Battle Creek. The No. 8-ranked Comets haven’t faced either this season but do have a win over Constantine. Bronson, an honorable mention heading into the postseason, hasn’t faced any of this week’s possible opponents but has taken all but one of its losses this season from Division 1 and 2 teams. Bangor is 15-2-2 since the start of October, and Constantine has won 11 of its last 13 matches – although Bangor dealt the most recent defeat.

Clinton
Hanover-Horton (41-1-1) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (16-16-1)
Grass Lake (25-13-4) vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (23-4-1)

Reigning champion Monroe St. Mary prepped for this run with another schedule of nearly all Division 1 and Division 2 opponents. In addition to facing tough competition, the added significance of that for this week is the Kestrels and Hanover-Horton haven’t met since SMCC won their Quarterfinal a year ago. The Comets opened this season going 2-1-1 at the Chelsea Invitational – falling to Parma Western and tying Milford – and have won every match thereafter. They entered the playoffs ranked No. 4, with St. Mary at No. 5. Grass Lake has won 11 of its last 12 matches, the lone defeat to Hanover-Horton in the Cascades Conference Tournament. Lumen Christi has won seven of its last eight, the defeat coming against Grass Lake.

Houghton Lake
Roscommon (45-2-0) vs. Kingsley (52-4-1)
Beal City (34-9-1) vs. Breckenridge (36-6-3)

This Regional arguably packs as much punch as any in any division. Top-ranked Roscommon has lost only to No. 7 Traverse City St. Francis and Division 1 Caledonia, and has two wins over No. 3 Kingsley and defeated No. 10 Beal City in their lone meeting two weeks ago. The Bucks have lost only eight sets all season. Kingsley’s defeats were only to Roscommon and Division 2 Flat Rock and Tecumseh, and the Stags are on a two-month winning streak with only one tie mixed in. Kingsley has defeated Beal City three times, but all of the Aggies’ losses were to either ranked teams or Division 2 opponents. Breckenridge is unranked but 12-2 since the start of October and avenged its most recent loss by defeating St. Louis in their District Final.

DIVISION 4

Carson City-Crystal
Fowler (31-8-2) vs. Mason County Eastern (19-12-1)
Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (29-2-0) vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (25-8-6)

Fowler and Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart have bounced around the top 10 in Division 4 all season, settling in at Nos. 2 and 5, respectively, heading into District play. Sacred Heart actually won their lone meeting, in four sets Sept. 11. Fowler hasn’t faced Mason County Eastern this season, and the Cardinals are on a nice 8-2-1 run over the last month after a couple of rough patches earlier this fall. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart defeated Grand Rapids Sacred Heart in four sets on Sept. 25, but Grand Rapids Sacred Heart’s only other loss was to Division 3 Fennville.

L’Anse
Crystal Falls Forest Park (39-1-0) vs. Hancock (26-4-2)
Norway (18-8-2) vs. Ishpeming (22-5-2)

This Forest Park/Hancock matchup has been one of the Upper Peninsula’s most anticipated all season after Hancock won last year’s Regional Final meeting and ended a two-year string of Trojans trips to the Semifinals. Hancock advanced instead, ending last fall at Kellogg Arena, but Forest Park avenged in their only match this season Sept. 13. The Trojans’ only loss this fall came during the first tournament of the season to Division 3 No. 6 Saginaw Valley Lutheran, and Hancock’s only other defeats came to Division 2 Kingsford and Negaunee and Division 3 Calumet. Norway is on a 15-3-1 run since mid-September and will take on an Ishpeming team that hasn’t lost in nearly a month – most recently falling to Hancock on Oct. 16.

Mendon
Mendon (34-6-1) vs. Martin (16-11-0)
St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran (28-7-3) vs. Battle Creek St. Philip (24-14-5)

Mendon is seeking its first Regional title since its most recent Division 4 championship season of 2019, and the top-ranked Hornets started a 14-3 run on Sept. 30 with a four-set win over No. 8 St. Philip. If they meet again, it will mean the Tigers ended Michigan Lutheran’s 10-match winning streak, during which the Titans have lost only one set. St. Phil last week won its District for the 26th-straight season and is seeking its first Regional title since its Division 4 title-winning season of 2021. Martin has won four straight District titles and nine of its last 11 matches this fall, with both losses during that run to teams still alive.

PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern’s Isabel Ayars (12) gets to a ball during her team’s Division 1 District Final win over East Grand Rapids on Thursday. (Middle) Davison’s Darby Crystal (14) winds up for a hit during the Cardinals’ sweep of Lapeer on Wednesday. (FHN/EGR photo by Michigan Sports Photo. Davison/Lapeer photo by Terry Lyons.)