2024 D3 Semifinals: Key Players & Predictions

In a rare occurrence, the 2024 Division 3 playoffs will feature the same four teams that reached Kellogg Arena in 2023.   However, the semifinal matchups have been put in a bit of a blender.   The first semifinal will be the two teams that lost in last year's Final Four. While the second matchup is a rematch of the 2023 final.   Here's a breakdown of both contests heading into Friday's slate.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 1 SMCC vs. No. 5 Cass City – Noon</h2>   Friday's play kicks off with a great matchup that features three Miss Volleyball finalists. SMCC has been the top-ranked team in D3 throughout the season, while Cass City is making its third consecutive semifinal appearance and eager to make it to Saturday's championship match.   The Kestrels have felt the heartache of being one of the best in D3 over recent years, only to come up short of a championship. In 2024, the team seems more motivated than ever to get the job done. [player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] has raised her game to another level and proving she can hang with the great six-rotation outsides in any division. [player_tooltip player_id='226889' first='Madeline' last='Dettling'] and [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] have been solid compliments on offense, while Payne also is a big contributor as a setter and defender. In running the offense, she joins [player_tooltip player_id='456251' first='Alexa' last='Turner'] in the setting duties. Both have proven to get the job done and allow SMCC a lot of flexibility with the lineup. All of them combine for a real technically-sound defensive force. It's not easy to get the ball down on this team and their serve receive is one of the best.   Cass City doesn't have to take a back seat to many when it comes to talented hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] finished third in a very competitive Miss Volleyball race and has proven she can put the ball down with as much power as anyone. [player_tooltip player_id='172195' first='Kacee' last='Gray'] is a talented outside that can get on a roll quickly and take over when teams are putting all their defensive focus on Ignash. [player_tooltip player_id='250066' first='Isabelle' last='Phillips'] and Alysa Fritz have been able to get both the ball in high-percentage spots, while libero Kylie McKee is a great senior presence on the floor. She will get tested on Friday, but that is nothing new for her. That's likely to be the key, how well can Cass City dig up the ball. SMCC is pretty sound defensively, so the Red Hawks will have to be able to match that and give their hitters a chance to finish points with powerful swings.   Prediction: SMCC over Cass City in 4   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 6 TC St. Francis vs. No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian – 2 p.m.</h2>   A rematch of the 2023 final sees Kalamazoo Christian as the favorite on paper, but the Gladiators are coming into this year's finals weeks with a much different attitude. St. Francis may have caught people off guard last season, but this year it believes it can win it all.   St. Francis isn't a senior-heavy team, but comes in with a lot of experience. The seniors the team does rely on, they come at important positions. [player_tooltip player_id='223048' first='Avery' last='Nance'] is a senior libero that has been tested against a lot of big hitters. She won't bat an eye against the Comets' fire power. [player_tooltip player_id='354004' first='Tessah' last='Konas'] is another senior, she joins junior [player_tooltip player_id='226903' first='Reese' last='Jones'] as the setters. They compliment each other well at the position and also show a lot of composure in pressure situations. [player_tooltip player_id='220968' first='Quinn' last='Yenshaw'] is a potent junior outside hitter that mixes up her arsenal well and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. One of the new key pieces in 2024 is sophomore middle [player_tooltip player_id='516948' first='Lola' last='Brown']. At 6'2”, Brown brings an added dimension in the middle for St. Francis, both offensively and defensively.   Kalamazoo Christian graduated a lot from its 2023 championship team, yet the Comets are back to defend their title and make a third consecutive Kellogg Arena appearance. Seniors are leading the attack this year with Annelise de Jong and [player_tooltip player_id='732242' first='Hayden' last='Deming'] being the primary kill leaders in the sweep of Pewamo-Westphalia in the quarterfinal. In the middle, [player_tooltip player_id='487143' first='Emma' last='Underwood'] is another senior that can be a handful. The three present a long front that play well above the net and disrupt a lot of swings. Junior setter Reagan Zuiderveen has gotten more and more confident as the season has prolonged and she comes into Battle Creek playing her best. The same can be said for senior libero Carien Ybema. She is coming off a 23-dig performance against Bronson in the regional final, a five-set thriller. That match really showed her growth at the position.   I think this is going to be a well-played match from a defensive standpoint. I don't expect either team to get error-heavy and hand over a set to an opponent. Points will be earned and each set should come down to a few key moments.   Prediction: Kalamazoo Christian over St. Francis in 4

In a rare occurrence, the 2024 Division 3 playoffs will feature the same four teams that reached Kellogg Arena in 2023.