4 Dark Horses in the 2023 MHSAA Division II Tournament
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With the conclusion of some last minute tune up tournaments this Saturday, it is officially post season!
October 30th marks the day we’ve been all waiting for since the start of the season in August. The Road to Kellogg Begins NOW!
Let’s take a look at the teams in Division II to keep an eye on as the journey unravels over the next few weeks.
Marysville
This may be one of the most scrappiest and best defensive teams in Michigan! Don’t count them out, they will figure out a way! While that may be Marysville’s mantra for their on-court play, it very well should be their mantra going into the post-season. This is not a team you want to catch on a good night.
Currently sitting pretty at No. 3 in the Division II rankings, this squad won’t have too much warm up time before they meet the gauntlet in the regional semifinals. If all pans out, Marysville will take on No. 1 North Branch in the opening round of the regionals. A match deserved for the lights of Kellogg in the final night of the season. Unfortunately, this will be a match played to just “survive-and-advance”. However, if Marysville does survive the stampede of the Broncos. They can very easily withstand the best that anyone in Division II can throw at them.
The Vikings are led by their senior S Avery Woodard Avery Woodard 5'7" | S Marysville | 2024 State MI . Woodard acts as not only the QB1 of the Viking’s offense but she acts as the emotional leader for this team. If there’s anyone willing to put it all out on the line for a ball, it is this player right here. While Woodard has amassed well over 1,000 assists on the season, she’s also logged over 400 digs. MB Janae Hudson is the go-to arm of this squad with over 300 kills and 80 blocks on the season.
Marysville wraps up an impressive regular season record of 32-8-1.
Three Rivers
It’ll be interesting to see who comes out of the this corner of the bracket. A lot of untouched and unknown gems here, including Three Rivers. A team that is capitalizing off of a strong senior presence and a respectable road to Kellogg, this could be the years of the Wildcats!
Of that heavy senior presence, none shine through brighter than that of MB Jenna Southland Jenna Southland 6'1" | MB Three Rivers | 2024 State MI (Hillsdale). A dominating presence at the net, Southland has been leading the charge. Not only does this player lead this team in offense, but she leads in blocking, service aces and hit efficiency. With over 600 kills and 100 blocks on the season, Southland takes this team upon her back and runs. Her alongside younger sister S Miley Southland Miley Southland 5'10" | S Three Rivers | 2026 State MI have created quite a lethal connection that could take them all the way to the big stage in downtown Cereal City.
Three Rivers has amassed quite the impressive schedule with wins over Harper Creek and Lowell in Division I.
The Wildcats come into the opening week of the MHSAA tournament with 39 wins to go with 9 losses and 2 ties.
Frankenmuth
I had this team slotted up for a deep post-season run last season. While a red-hot Mount Morris team had other plans, I will confidently put money on this post-season to be the one that Frankenmuth could break mold. With a competitive, yet manageable district and regional pool, it will be during the Elite 8 that the Eagles will have to be go all out. If rankings were to dictate anything and all falls into place, Frankenmuth will meet with No. 1 North Branch in the Elite 8 at the SC4 Fieldhouse.
Frankenmuth is led by the high-flying play of the Geer sisters – Audrey Geer Audrey Geer 5'10" | OH Frankenmuth | 2024 State MI (Marshall) and Madison Geer Madison Geer 5'9" | OH Frankenmuth | 2026 State MI . The two, six rotation players have become somewhat of the heartbeat to the Eagles’ flock. They can pass lights out alongside Rosemary Brenner and can be offensive weapons in both the front and back court. This creates havoc for many teams.
This is squad that have been putting in the work and battling against some of the best of the best. With the possibility of a North Branch rematch come the quarter finals, it would mark the third battle between the two programs this season. Could the third time be the charm for Frankenmuth? They’ll have to make it there first before we find out!
The Eagles soar into post-season play with a 28-9 record.
Lakewood
This may be the end of an era. At the conclusion of this post-season, long-time Head coach Cameron Rowland will be stepping away from the Vikings program. A program that has been headed by a Rowland for 20+ years. What better way to go out than with a state title run?
With this on the mind and the departure of one of the best defensive players to walk through the program, this is a lot of emotional ammo for Lakewood to make the move! L Carley Piercefield Carley Piercefield 5'4" | DS/L Lakewood | 2024 State #90 Nation MI has been the heart and soul to this Vikings program since her initial steps onto the court just a few years ago. In her senior season, she has been named to the Miss Volleyball shortlist and has amassed well over 500 digs on the season. A mark that has extend to over 2,000 career digs. She’s been to Kellogg before but always left empty handed.
While this could be the year for Lakewood, they will have to face one mighty challenge in early tournament play. No. 4 Lakewood will have to take on No. 2 Grand Rapids Christian as early as District Finals. Again, much like a Marysville/North Branch, a match worthy of a much better stage. If the Vikings can withstand the GRC tide, Lakwood could very easily cruise onto another championship run.
Lakewood enters their last post-season run under HC Cameron Rowland‘s leadership with a 25-13-3 record.