Division 4 Regional Breakdowns & Predictions

<p>The regional predictions cap off with Division 4.</p> <p>In D4, there are some really stacked regionals with some top-10 matchups on the horizon for the week.</p> <p>A lot of the powerful programs remain and will be tough to knock out this week, but we could see some new faces raise the hardware.</p> <p>Here’s our picks for the eight regions taking place.</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3bOAYiF"><strong><em>Related: Division 1 Regional Predictions</em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3mWFClg"><strong><em>Related: Division 2 Regional Predictions</em></strong></a></p> <p><strong><em><a href="https://bit.ly/3C9oX2h">Related: Division 3 Regional Predictions</a></em></strong></p> <h4><strong>Regional 25 at Crystal Falls Forest Park</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Ironwood vs. Baraga; Crystal Falls Forest Park vs. Eben Junction Superior Central</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>These semifinal opponents are familiar with each other this season and both had some really competitive matches against the other. The overall regional winner really could be any of the four, it will just come down to which team has found its stride this week. With Crystal Falls Forest Park playing at home, I feel that could be what helps push them over the top. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Crystal Falls Forest Park over Ironwood</p> <h4><strong>Regional 26 at Indian River Inland Lakes</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Rudyard vs. Pickford; Indian River Inland Lakes vs. Onaway</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>Another very up-for-grabs region, all four teams showed a lot of grit last week. Onaway is the lone team to crack our final rankings at No. 16, but it will have to deal with a home crowd at Inland Lakes in a semifinal. Pickford had to pull off a pair of five-set victories for its district title, that could go a long way to getting it past Rudyard in the other semifinal. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Onaway over Pickford</p> <h4><strong>Regional 27 at Buckley</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Midland Calvary Baptist vs. Gaylord St. Mary; Traverse City Christian vs. McBain Northern Michigan Christian</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>TC Christian has been near the top of the rankings list throughout the season and came into the playoffs ranked No. 5. The Sabres got over a big hurdle by dispatching Leland last week and enter this week needing to avoid looking ahead to finals week. As long as TC Christian can stay focused, I can’t see them being upset this week. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Traverse City Christian over Calvary Baptist</p> <h4><strong>Regional 28 at Brethren</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Wyoming Tri-unity Christian vs. Onekama; Muskegon Catholic Central vs. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>A really solid region here with four teams ranked 10-15 in our final rankings. All four didn’t drop a set last week either, so they are playing some great volleyball. The team that handles adversity will likely be able to come out the winner. I’m not too proud to say I flipped a coin for all the potential matchups, it’s just that close. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Muskegon Catholic Central over Onekama</p> <h4><strong>Regional 29 at New Buffalo</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Battle Creek St. Philip vs. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran; Gobles vs. Athens</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>This regional final has the potential to feature No. 2 St. Philip vs. No. 3 Athens, which in itself is a Battle Creek-worthy matchup. I still have to give the nod to the defending champs. They have the championship pedigree throughout the program and also have the top player in the Division, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="24854" first="Brooke" last="Dzwik"]</strong>, when the going gets tough. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>St. Philip over Athens</p> <h4><strong>Regional 30 at Adrian Lenawee Christian</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Adrian Lenawee Christian vs. Fowler; Hillsdale Academy vs. North Adams-Jerome</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>Top-ranked Lenawee Christian doesn’t have an easy foe on Tuesday, as No. 11 Fowler already dispatched No. 4 Lansing Christian last week. The Eagles have a lot of fight in them and the Cougars will need their best to advance. No disrespect to Hillsdale and North Adams-Jerome, two solid teams, but it feels strongly that the Fowler-Lenawee Christian will ultimately hold the hardware this week. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Lenawee Christian over Hillsdale Academy</p> <h4><strong>Regional 31 at Plymouth Christian</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Allen Park Inter-City Baptist vs. Oakland Christian; Plymouth Christian vs. Southfield Christian</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>A really nice regional here with three programs that are very familiar with Battle Creek in recent years. Three teams are ranked in the top 10, while Southfield Christian just keeps finding ways to win. Plymouth Christian gets the luxury to host and that will be a big asset. Inter-City Baptist and Oakland Christian could be a five-set classic, but the Lancers still have that run to the finals last year to keep them calm in close sets. Ultimately, I still like PCA at home this week, as today’s semifinal could take a lot out of whom the Eagles will face on Thursday. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Plymouth Christian over Oakland Christian</p> <h4><strong>Regional 32 at Peck</strong></h4> <p><strong>Semifinal Matchups: </strong>Ubly vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney; Genesee Christian vs. Saginaw Nouvel</p> <p><strong>Breakdown: </strong>This regional has belonged to Ubly in recent history and I like the seventh-ranked Bearcats this week as well. Cardinal Mooney will give Ubly a fight, but the Bearcats know what it takes to win this week and have a real game-changer in middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="152527" first="Lindsey" last="Guza"]</strong>. <strong>Finals Prediction: </strong>Ubly over Saginaw Nouvel</p>