D3 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 3 might have the best overall collection of quarterfinalists remaining. Eight ranked teams remain, including six from our final top 10 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 2 Pewamo-Westphalia vs. No. 1 SMCC</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There may not be a more anticipated quarterfinal in any division. These two will meet up at Dansville High School. The Kestrels have been the lead dog in Division 3 all season since finishing runner-up with a squad of relatively young leaders in 2021. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] </strong>have proven to be difference makers offensively and defensively. Costlow is the top finisher for SMCC and also has a strong passing and serve game. Payne is one of the top defensive players in the Class of 2025 and her composure is key to SMCC's success. <strong>Molly Blanchett</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='226889' first='Madeline' last='Dettling'] </strong>have been great offensive contributors for SMCC as well and had strong showings in the regional final. <strong>Mackenzie Niedermeyer </strong>has really gotten the offense rolling as the setter and has a great feel for the hot hitter. P-W has had a great season and has proven itself to be a top contender for SMCC. The Pirates have the length up front to pose a real problem for the Kestrels. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172203' first='Taylor' last='Smith'] </strong>is 6'1” veteran setter that plays her role well and can be aggressive when the time calls for it. <strong>Dani Pohl </strong>is a senior outside that is very explosive and a determined player. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462056' first='Saige' last='Martin'] </strong>and <strong>Sierra Schneider </strong>are both near 6-foot middles as well, giving the Pirates plenty of size and arms to work with. The key will be if P-W can defend and serve receive as well as the Kestrels. P-W will have to win some long rallies and remain diligent in keeping the pressure on SMCC. Ultimately, the Kestrels are more battle-tested this season and have that championship pedigree to rely on that P-W is still trying to achieve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>SMCC over P-W in 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 22 Royal Oak Shrine vs. No. 11 Cass City</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two will face off at Bendle High School. Shrine has reached the quarterfinals the previous two seasons as well, so the Knights will be very eager to break through to Battle Creek this time around. <strong>Margaret Jones </strong>is an outstanding talent for Shrine that is going to pose a real challenge at the net for Cass City. But, she's getting some help form <strong>Alice Mikula </strong>as well to keep defenses honest. Shrine's defense has <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152531' first='Norah' last='Tisko']</strong> leading the way. She's a real effort player that has come through with difficult digs over her career and she's playing some of her best volleyball right now. Cass City won its first regional in 45 years last week. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] </strong>is Cass City's dynamic playmaker that has been able to swing momentum with her powerful attacks or athletic blocking ability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172195' first='Kacee' last='Gray'] </strong>had a big regional final with 16 kills to help Ignash, who had 15 kills and five blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595976' first='Lexi' last='Champagne'] </strong>added 12 kills in the win. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172194' first='Saylar' last='Cuthrell']</strong> has been locked in at setter, allowing Cass City to have its impressive offensive balance. Defensively, <strong>Josie Spencer</strong> has been a catalyst in the back row and is part of a group of strong servers for Cass City. The Red Hawks seem to have a little more depth and a little more speed on the court in this matchup. I like them to prevail in a competitive match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Cass City over Shrine in 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 7 Shelby vs. No. 4 Kalamazoo Christian</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This quarterfinal takes place from Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville. These two met back in August with Kalamazoo Christian winning a pair of sets. The Comets will have their hands full trying to slow down sophomore outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier'] </strong>for Shelby. She's been averaging eight kills a set while hitting over .300 on the season. In the regional final win over NorthPointe Christian, Gauthier put down 47 kills to put her over 900 on the season. <strong>Audrey Horton </strong>has a great connection with her as the setter, while <strong>Morgan Weirich </strong>has been the defensive leader with over 2,000 digs in her career. K'Zoo Christian has some impressive hitters. <strong>Makenna Ekkens</strong> is a talented outside that has great technique on her swings and is able to attack at sharp angles. She's also a smooth passer in the back row and can take effective swings from the back. Similarly, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176604' first='Holland' last='DeVries'] </strong>is an outside that finishes at a high rate and has shown a consistency to put a good swing on out-of-system balls. In the middle, <strong>Marisa Fetterley </strong>is a 6'2” dynamic athlete that will be a big asset to the Comets' defensive effort. Offensively, Fetterley is very light on her feet and she has a high court IQ. She's got the power shot that's tough to stop, but she's also good at reading when to go offspeed to finish a point. As impressive as Gauthier has been this season, the Comets have more variety to work with offensively, and are still a technically sound defensive team as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Kalamazoo Christian over Shelby in 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>No. 10 Calumet vs. No. 3 McBain</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two meet up at Gaylord High School. McBain was a semifinalist in 2021 and the Ramblers have looked even stronger since. Along its path to Battle Creek, McBain ran into Calumet in the quarterfinals and the two played a five-set thriller. <strong>Gabrielle VerBerkmoes </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595377' first='Gwyneth' last='VerBerkmoes']</strong> are a great sister duo that impact the match in many ways. Gabrielle has been the offensive leader all season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152532' first='Linde' last='VanderVlucht']</strong> is a senior middle that has been a real force with her blocking. In last week's regional final she had six blocks as part of a team effort that saw a dozen blocks. <strong>Analiese Fredin </strong>has the offense running like a well-oiled machine at setter as well. Calumet had a five-set battle in its regional final with Elk Rapids. <strong>Helen Beiring </strong>recorded a school-record 40 kills in the victory and went over 1,000 kills for her prep career to lead the Copper Kings. <strong>Allie Bjorn </strong>and <strong>Caitlyn Strom </strong>also had double-digit kills while setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473937' first='Laina' last='Kariniemi']</strong> recorded an impressive 65 assists. Thursday's match should definitely keep Calumet in Tuesday's quarterfinal when McBain has some success. Expect another tight match, but McBain's senior leadership will be the difference in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>McBain over Calumet in 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->