D2 Quarterfinals Breakdown And Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have officially reached finals week for the 2022 postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things get started on Tuesday with the quarterfinals, where four teams from each division will punch a ticket to Battle Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 2 features four intriguing matchups, some involving D2 perennial powers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 2 Grand Rapids South Christian vs. No. 5 Lakewood</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two will collide in Vicksburg. This looks to be the featured matchup in Division 2 on Tuesday. Lakewood has grown accustomed to making trips to Battle Creek, but it has a great challenge in South Christian. The Sailors have been playing the top tops in Division 1 and Division 2 all season in hopes to be ready this time of year. They own wins over Grand Rapids Christian, Holland Christian and Buchanan in this postseason run. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110296' first='Ellie' last='Fles'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='66293' first='Kennedy' last='Arp'] </strong>will provide the 1-2 punch offensively for South Christian. Defensively, sophomore libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487149' first='Olivia' last='Inthout'] </strong>will be looking to match what should be a great defensive effort from Lakewood. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110318' first='Carley' last='Piercefield'] </strong>is one of the top liberos in the state, but she has some help from the likes of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173622' first='Alli' last='Pickard']</strong>. While the Vikings don't have the size at the net they have had in past years, they are a deep team with a lot of contributors. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='66296' first='Skylar' last='Bump']</strong>, <strong>Ellie Possehn</strong>, <strong>Abby Pickard </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='500654' first='Alivia' last='Everitt'] </strong>are all hitters that have Battle Creek experience and will play a poised match. That experience and poise I think will be key, as the pressure really picks up on Tuesday and I expect the Vikings to handle it better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Lakewood over Grand Rapids South Christian in 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 1 North Branch vs. Mt. Morris</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup takes place from SC4 Fieldhouse at St. Clair County Community College. North Branch has been the team to beat in Division 2 all season. The Broncos got past a big hurdle last Thursday in Notre Dame Prep, now they want to finish the job. This team was already stacked with talent last year, but is even stronger this year with the growth of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222361' first='Clara' last='Gyomory'] </strong>on the outside and the addition of freshman hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky']</strong> to the lineup. The Broncos have five players with over 230 kills on the season, all managed by junior setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110302' first='Adrienne' last='Greschaw']</strong>, who does a great job of mixing up the attack and finding the holes in the defense. With a top-level offense, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110301' first='Hailey' last='Green']</strong> leads one of the best defenses in the state as well. Mt. Morris may not be ranked, but it won't come in lacking in confidence. The Panthers have over 50 wins this season and they have played against some high-ranked opponents. Coming off its first regional championship, Mt. Morris should come into Tuesday feeling like it has nothing to lose. <strong>Princess Savage </strong>provides length at the net that can help slow down some of the North Branch offense. If the senior middle can deflect a lot of swings, Mt. Morris has the tools to succeed. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152533' first='Blair' last='Wilson'] </strong>and sophomore <strong>Destany Clymer </strong>are finishers at the net and will test North Branch's big blocks. The Panthers are a great story, but North Branch has shown throughout the season that they can dial things up to a level not many can in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>North Branch over Mt. Morris in 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Dearborn Divine Child vs. Livonia Clarenceville</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hazel Park plays host to this quarterfinal. This is a big opportunity for both programs to get to Battle Creek. Divine Child competes in the very difficult CHSL conferences against top teams in Division 1 and those matchups have done enough to prepare them for a deep postseason run. Middle <strong>Chio Ibegbu</strong> has been a difference maker for Divine Child throughout the postseason. She's explosive with her attacks and block and has set the tone offensive. Senior setter <strong>Jillian Palmer </strong>has been steady as a rock for Divine Child all season as well, while senior DS <strong>Ciara Cameron </strong>has put in a lot of work defensively and faced outstanding hitters all season. The bracket has been friendly for Clarenceville, but the Trojans have still had to go out and perform. <strong>Sydney Shourd </strong>has been setting the ball well for the Trojans offense and also leading the team at the service line. <strong>Angelina Wilder </strong>has come through with some important kills throughout the postseason as well, proving to be a set-changer for Clarenceville. This match should be about Divine Child's strength of schedule throughout the season. It has it ready to find a way to a win on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Divine Child over Clarenceville in 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 15 Cadillac vs. No. 13 Grand Rapids West Catholic</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two will battle it out in Alma. The Vikings had a pair of four-set victories during regional week, while West Catholic swept both opponents to continue its impressive postseason. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110314' first='Carissa' last='Musta'] </strong>put up a dominant showing in Thursday's regional final for Cadillac with 27 kills and eight blocks. The junior middle has been such a force all season and really taken the lead role for this offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='108763' first='Joslyn' last='Seeley'] </strong>has provided the power on the outside to keep defenses honest against Cadillac while sophomore <strong>Cassie Jenema </strong>has done a great job of living up to the setter position for the program. Musta's blocking has been a big part of the defensive effort, but junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110294' first='Brooke' last='Ellens'] </strong>can hold her own at libero as well. West Catholic has been a strong defensive team as well. In the regional final the Falcons held Fruitport to -.019 hitting as a team. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446694' first='Amelia' last='Gagnon'] </strong>led the effort with 15 digs in the win. Offensively, West Catholic has a lot of options to turn to. The regional final saw <strong>Cadence Dykstra</strong>, <strong>Emma Tuttle</strong>, <strong>Grace Nyeholt</strong> and <strong>Brooke Tietz </strong>each tally seven kills or more. While Cadillac may have the most impactful player, West Catholic's depth around the court is what gives them the edge in my view. Anyone can be the star of the night for the Falcons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>West Catholic over Cadillac in 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->