MHSAA Division 4 Regional Breakdown & Predictions
The Division 4 tournament field seems completely up for grabs this year with the two-time defending Class D champs, Plymouth Christian, losing in district play. A lot of teams hungry for championships see their chance to rise to the top.…
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Continue ReadingThe Division 4 tournament field seems completely up for grabs this year with the two-time defending Class D champs, Plymouth Christian, losing in district play. A lot of teams hungry for championships see their chance to rise to the top. To do that, they must navigate regional week. Here’s my breakdown and predictions for all eight regional tournaments in Division 4.
RELATED: Our Division 1 Regional Predictions
RELATED: Our Division 2 Regional Predictions
RELATED: Our Division 3 Regional Predictions
Regional 25 at Ishpeming Westwood
Semifinal Matchups: Carney-Nadeau vs. Wakefield-Marenisco; Lake Linden-Hubbell vs. Munising
Breakdown: Carney-Nadeau is ranked No. 7 and the only ranked team in the region. The Wolves look to be locked in right now after a pair of sweeps last week. Tuesday they draw Wakefield-Marenisco, which had to win three times last week, including a five-set win over Painesdale-Jeffers. In the other semifinal, Lake Linden-Hubbell meets Munising. Linden-Hubbell went 9-for-9 in sets last week while Munising went four sets with Rapid River in its district final. Munising already did give Carney-Nadeau a five-set battle earlier in the year, but I still like the Wolves to come out of this region.
Finals Prediction: Carney-Nadeau over Munising
Regional 26 at Mackinaw City
Semifinal Matchups: Pellston vs. Rudyard; Pickford vs. Onaway
Breakdown: A very competitive region will be held at Mackinaw City with three ranked teams. The first semifinal has No. 24 Pellston playing No. 10 Rudyard. The Bulldogs of Rudyard made quick work of Newberry and No. 19 Brimley in last week’s district tournament at home. Pellston got a small challenge from St. Ignace in their district final, going to four sets. In the other semifinal, unranked Pickford meets up with No. 11 Onaway. The Cardinals of Onaway won three matches by sweep last week and look to be playing some of their best volleyball right now. Pickford earned two sweeps last week over Cedarville and Kinross Maplewood Baptist. Rudyard and Onaway seems like a likely regional final and it should be a very competitive championship match.
Finals Prediction: Rudyard over Onaway
Regional 27 at Bellaire
Semifinal Matchups: Hillman vs. Leland; Bellaire vs. Mio
Breakdown: Second-ranked Leland is hoping to continue its march toward Battle Creek this week. The Comets made short work of Buckley and Traverse City Christian at home last week. Hillman is the next text for Leland. The Tigers dropped a set in their district semifinal match with Gaylord St. Mary and in the district final against Posen. No. 13 Bellaire is in the other semifinal against Mio. Bellaire rolled past Alba and Central Lake last week while Mio played a tough five-set district final with Hale at home. Leland and Bellaire certainly look to be favored to reach the regional final. Bellaire will put up a fight, but the Comets could be the team to beat in all of Division 4 right now.
Finals Prediction: Leland over Bellaire
Regional 28 at Bear Lake
Semifinal Matchups: Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart vs. Onekama; Pentwater vs. Muskegon Catholic Central
Breakdown: Sacred Heart got to the quarterfinals last year and this is a region the Irish can win this year as well. The Irish weren’t pushed last week, sweeping Coleman, Vestaburg and Northern Michigan Christian. SHA draws an Onekema team that also swept three opponents last week in Frankfort, Brethren and Bear Lake. Pentwater earned sweeps of Mason County Eastern and Crossroads Charter Academy last week and it hopes for more of the same against Muskegon Catholic Central. The Crusaders had an impressive sweep of Fruitport Calvary Christian in last week’s district final. This region is very much up for grabs.
Finals Prediction: Sacred Heart over Muskegon Catholic Central
Regional 29 at Mendon
Semifinal Matchups: Mendon vs. Byron Center Zion Christian; St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran vs. Battle Creek St. Philip
Breakdown: It has been since 2014 that St. Philip won the state championship, but the top-ranked Fighting Tigers are looking to make a return to Kellogg Arena. They rolled through districts and will face Michigan Lutheran, which held off New Buffalo in four sets to reach the regional semifinal. No. 3 Mendon is hoping to get its shot at St. Philip. The Hornets also looked dominant last week and now get a match with Byron Center Zion Christian which won nine of the 10 sets it played last week. Mendon and St. Philip seem set to meet in the regional final and the Hornets own a win over the Tigers already. Can they do it again? The home court certainly doesn’t hurt their chances.
Finals Prediction: Mendon over St. Philip
Regional 30 at Lansing Christian
Semifinal Matchups: Camden-Frontier vs. Fowler; Bellevue vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian
Breakdown: Three top-15 teams make up this region. Bellevue is the lone unranked squad, but the Broncos didn’t drop a set in last week’s district run. It now get a chance to upset No. 8 Lenawee Christian. The Cougars already topped No. 20 Rudolf Steiner in last week’s district run. No. 5 Camden-Frontier won all nine sets it played last week, including a sweep of No. 16 North Adams-Jerome and HM Pittsford. No. 15 Fowler defeated HM Lansing Christian in three to reach the regional, but the 2017 Class D runner-up has its hands full with Frontier.
Finals Prediction: Camden-Frontier over Lenawee Christian
Regional 31 at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
Semifinal Matchups: Allen Park Inter-City Baptist vs. Waterford Our Lady; Southfield Christian vs. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian
Breakdown: No. 6 Southfield Christian has one of the best wins last week, sweeping the two-time defending Class D champs, Plymouth Christian, in last week’s district final. The Eagles look like a real championship contender this year, but can’t overlook Parkway Christian. Parkway defeated No. 25 Cardinal Mooney and HM Austin Catholic last week and would love another upset this week. Speaking of upsets, No. 22 Waterford Our Lady had a pair of five-set upsets last week when it beat No. 12 Everest Collegiate and No. 14 Oakland Christian. The Lakers hope to ride the momentum against Inter-City Baptist, which wasn’t challenged in its home district. WOLL won’t get rattled in a close match, which could help it this week, but Southfield Christian looks like the real deal.
Finals Prediction: Southfield Christian over Waterford Our Lady
Regional 32 at Mayville
Semifinal Matchups: Dryden vs. Merrill; Genesee Christian vs. Kingston
Breakdown: No. 9 Merrill is the lone ranked team in this field. The Vandals didn’t drop any of their nine sets last week, as it ran over the field at MLS. Merrill now faces a Dryden team that pulled out a five-set win over Deckerville at home to win its district championship. Genesee Christian also won its district at home, making short work of Genesee and Burton St. Thomas More Academy. The Soldiers will now face Kingston. The Cardinals went 9-for-9 in sets against the likes of Caseville, Kinde-North Huron and Akron-Fairgrove. Kingston can be dangerous this week, but I am not sure the Cardinals can get past Merrill.
Finals Prediction: Merrill over Kingston