Portage Central Tournament Preview (FREE)
Prep Dig Staff
Portage Central annually hosts a mid September tournament that brings some strong teams from both sides of the state together. This year is no exception. #1 in D2 Grand Rapids Christian will be one of the favorites as well as D1 contender Lake Orion. Rockford seems to be on a mission, especially Rockford outside hitter Lindsay Taylor. Lindsay Taylor has a little added motivation for being left off the Miss Volleyball list for Michigan. Coach Kelly Delacher thinks it is definitely some added motivation for her. Lake Orion has had its own "struggles" recently losing to Mercy and Northville last week. Schoolcraft is the smallest team in the field but has the talent to upset one of the top 3 listed.
Players to watch in the tournament - Paige Briggs (Lake Orion), Wren Macauley (Lake Orion), Jordy Gates (Grand Rapids Christian), Lindsay Taylor (Rockford), Andelyn Simkins (Schoolcraft), Ryann Jaqua (Portage Central), Desiree Becker (Dewitt), Olivia Vance (Saline), Lexi Beeke (Gull Lake)
Other Players to Watch - Sydney Smith (Lake Orion), Ayva Koostra (Grand Rapids Christian), Emmy Webb (Rockford), Emilee Karelse (Rockford), Megan Seeley (Portage Central),
Tournament Favorites:
Tournament favorites are the big 3. Lake Orion, Grand Rapids Christian, and Rockford. All 3 are capable of taking home the crown.
Other teams to watch - Schoolcraft can be a tough team to play. Simkins is the real deal!
Tournament Format - 4 pools of 3 teams. Top 4 teams of the first initial pool advance automatically. The 2nd and 3rd place teams will play it out to advance. 8 teams advance to Gold.
Predictions
Pool A - (Lake Orion, East Grand Rapids, and Gull Lake) - Lake Orion takes first in the pool. Gull Lake wins a battle over East Grand Rapids in 3.
Pool B - (Grand Rapids Christian, Saline, and Plainwell) - GRC easily takes 1st. Saline takes 2nd in the pool.
Pool C - (Rockford, Dewitt, and St. Joe) - Rockford and Dewitt go 1 and 2.
Pool D - (Schoolcraft, Portage Central, and Canton) - All 3 teams battle it out but Portage Central takes the 1 seed and Schoolcraft takes the 2 seed.
Challenge Matches
Match 1 - Lake Orion vs. Grand Rapids Christian - In a preview of the potential semi-final, Lake Orion wins in 3.
Match 2 - Rockford vs. Portage Central - Rockford continues to be on a mission and PC is in its way. Rockford in 2.
Match 3 - Schoolcraft vs. St. Joe - Schoolcraft rebounds to beat St. Joe easily in 2.
Match 4 - Dewitt vs. Canton - In an upset, Canton beats Dewitt in 3 to move on to the Gold.
Match 5 - Saline vs. East Grand Rapids - EGR picks up a solid win over Saline after a rough pool play round. EGR in 3.
Match 6 - Gull Lake vs. Plainwell - Gull Lake survives over Plainwell in 3 to advance.
Quarters
QF #1 - Lake Orion vs. Gull Lake. In a rematch of pool play, Lake Orion continues to dominate and beats Gull Lake in 2.
QF #2 - Grand Rapids Christian vs. East Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Christian is just too much for EGR. GRC in 3
QF #3 - Rockford vs. Canton - Canton is the surprise team to make the QF's but the magic runs out. Rockford in 2.
QF #4 - Schoolcraft vs. Portage Central - Another rematch of pool play, this time Schoolcraft gets the best of Portage Central. Schoolcraft in 3.
Semi's
SF #1 - Lake Orion vs. Grand Rapids Christian - Grand Rapids Christian, powered by dynamic sophomore Addie Vanderweide, takes down Lake Orion in 3 to move on to the final.
SF #2 - Rockford vs. Schoolcraft - Simkins puts on a show but it is not enough to get past Rockford. Rockford in two close sets.
Finals
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Rockford - Rockford is 0-2 on the year vs. Grand Rapids Christian. Lindsay Taylor continues to step up her game and gets Rockford over the hump to take down Grand Rapids Christian. Rockford in 3.
