Division 2 Regional Breakdowns & Predictions

The Division 2 regional tournaments have a lot of top-heavy draws, as last year’s semifinalists are all still in the hunt for a return trip to Battle Creek. With the remaining top-10 teams largely spread out, it should make for interesting quarterfinal pairings unless we see some bracket-busters this week. Here’s our breakdown and predictions for all eight of the Division 2 regionals. <a href="https://bit.ly/3bOAYiF">Related: Division 1 Regional Predictions</a> <a href="https://bit.ly/3C9oX2h">Related: Division 3 Regional Predictions</a> <a href="https://bit.ly/306Wpti">Related: Division 4 Regional Predictions</a> <h4>Regional 9 at Alma</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Sault Ste. Marie vs. Cadillac; Alma vs. Bullock Creek Breakdown: Cadillac comes into this region with the experience of last year’s run to the semifinals. [player_tooltip player_id="24845" first="Renee" last="Brines"] is also the top player in this field, as she’s able to impact the game in so many ways. She will have the Vikings ready to go. Bullock Creek and Alma are TVC foes and Bullock Creek definitely had the better season of the two. Finals Prediction: Cadillac over Bullock Creek <h4>Regional 10 at Mt. Morris</h4> Semifinal Matchups: North Branch vs. Essexville Garber; Birch Run vs. Flint Powers Catholic Breakdown: This is a really solid region top-to-bottom. North Branch has to be the team to beat, though, and the Broncos have to be happy to be in a region without Notre Dame Prep for a change. No. 9 North Branch won’t have an easy path. No. 15 Garber is very formidable and can challenge North Branch in the semifinal. Birch Run had a big win over Frankenmuth in the district final and Flint Powers outlasted Clio. Both will be ready for another five-set battle on Tuesday. Finals Prediction: North Branch over Birch Run <h4>Regional 11 at Muskegon Orchard View</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Grand Rapids Christian vs. Whitehall; Newaygo vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian Breakdown: A stacked region with three teams in our top-11 rankings. Newaygo is unfortunately the odd team out there, so it’s an uphill climb for them. GRC is the three-time defending D2 state champs but has to get past No. 11 Whitehall, and likely No. 5 Unity Christian to get another regional crown. Despite the tough road, the Eagles still are my pick. Evie Doezema is a dominant player and GRC has a lot of motivation for a fourth title. Finals Prediction: Grand Rapids Christian over Unity Christian <h4>Regional 12 at Vicksburg</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Three Rivers vs. Grand Rapids South Christian; Otsego vs. Niles Breakdown: South Christian is a team that seems like it can be a real bracket buster in Division 2. The Sailors have shown potential to compete with the best if they can find consistency. Niles comes in as the highest-ranked team in this region at No. 6. Otsego sits in its way first at No. 23. The Vikings had to grind out a five-set win in the district final over ranked Edwardsburg, and that win should give this high-energy Niles team confidence to find a way to win this week. Finals Prediction: Niles over South Christian <h4>Regional 13 at Ionia</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Williamston vs. Lakewood; Marshall vs. Lansing Catholic Breakdown: This region has two top-10 teams in No. 3 Lakewood and No. 8 Lansing Catholic, on other sides of the bracket. Both should make their way to Thursday’s final. There, the difference should be the Vikings’ championship experience. Lakewood, and Miss Volleyball finalist [player_tooltip player_id="24871" first="Maradith" last="O’Gorman"], know what it takes to advance this week. This is new territory for Lansing Catholic. Finals Prediction: Lakewood over Lansing Catholic <h4>Regional 14 at Tecumseh</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Wixom St. Catherine vs. Onsted; Dundee vs. Flat Rock Breakdown: It’s an interesting region here in Tecumseh, with four teams that seem capable of winning this week to make their season really special. No. 25 SCA is a program that’s been to this point and will be able to challenge No. 18 Onsted. The Wildcats are the top-ranked team in the region, but can’t overlook anyone in this one. Dundee and Flat Rock feels like a toss-up. The team that is able to make fewer unforced errors is likely the winner. Finals Prediction: Onsted over Flat Rock <h4>Regional 15 at Detroit Country Day</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Detroit Edison vs. Detroit Country Day; Detroit Communication Media Arts vs. Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy Breakdown: This region has usually been pretty up for grabs, but No. 7 Country Day shifting into it this year makes this decision pretty easy. DCD is head and shoulders the team to beat here and could be a contender to win it all. The injury to [player_tooltip player_id="24862" first="Morgan" last="Lockhart"] is a blow, but shouldn’t keep [player_tooltip player_id="24870" first="Serena" last="Nyambio"] and company from winning a regional title this week. Finals Prediction: Country Day over Detroit Communication <h4>Regional 16 at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep</h4> Semifinal Matchups: Marysville vs. Harper Woods Chandler Park; Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Regina Breakdown: Notre Dame Prep has been one of the best teams in the state all season and it comes into this region looking like the clear favorite. The Irish are dealing with an injury to Miss Volleyball finalist Aly Borellis, a do-everything talent. Her loss is big, but NDP still has the depth to get through this week smoothly. Finals Prediction: Notre Dame Prep over Marysville