Top Match Ups in the MHSAA Sweet Sixteen

<h5 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</em></h5>   <h5 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">The 2024 Expo Season is here</a>! Sign up for this year's Top 250 Expo using the code <strong>LSHOTExpo2024</strong> for $$ off!</em></h5>   <p>–</p>   <p>DOWN GOES NUMBER ONE!</p>   <p>The best thing about the postseason is of how unpredictable it can be. Last night saw the battle between <strong>SIX</strong> of the top ranked teams in Division 1. Northville, Marian and Rockford all advanced past the gauntlets that lied across the net. And it doesn't stop there!</p>   <p>In the Sweet Sixteen, the match ups get tougher from Division 1 and down. This is where we begin to see the separation between what teams have what it takes to go all the way and what teams have ran out of gas. </p>   <p>Thursday will be a HUGE night for the Division 3 race. With the likes of their No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams going head to head, Thursday night will also be very telling for who will take the leap to Battle Creek. </p>   <p>Let's take a look at some of the top matchups going down in the MHSAA Sweet Sixteen.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rockford Vs. Jenison @ Jenison</h2>   <p>This is another tough match up over on the west side. In this avenue of the bracket we had four top 15 teams enter in on Tuesday and tonight No. 6 and No. 8 remain. Another battle between Rockford and Jenison is not one that we are unfamiliar with this season. Tonight will be the third meeting between the two. The two initial meetings in the regular season all went the way of the home team, Jenison, by way of sweeps. </p>   <p>However, Rockford is rolling with a lot of steam right now heading into the game. Taking down Forest Hills Northern, a squad with much more depth on their side, could be what the Rams need to power through. Meanwhile, Jenison has always been a bit of an up and down squad. For whatever reason though, they have shown to bring their A++ game when it comes to Rockford across the net. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Predictions</h4>   <p>These two teams seem to be very evenly matched up. Both teams have a pair of pins that the rely upon heavily, Jenison is led by the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='226882' first='Karis' last='Chatfield'] (Eastern Tennessee) and [player_tooltip player_id='200397' first='Dylann' last='Kelly'] (Ferris State), and Rockford is led by [player_tooltip player_id='226900' first='Liv' last='Hosford'] (Oakland) and [player_tooltip player_id='467901' first='Mallory' last='Wandel']. While both teams have been extremely pin heavy throughout the season, there is one particular piece from Jenison's side that may have been giving them the edge in the previous two meetings.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='464378' first='Ava' last='Bush-Nelson'] in the middle is one of the top middle blockers in the sophomore class. She gives the Wildcats that added depth offensively that may have supercharged Jenison past. This being said, Rockford has recently found their own revelation in the middle with the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='156337' first='Layla' last='Visser']. </p>   <p>Given the history between the two, but also how both have been riding lately, this game will go awhile. Who manages to pull it out? I am going to have to give the edge to Jenison. They're a strong group that has a steadfast offense to go with some alarming defense. They've taken two already from the Rams this season too. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grand Rapids Christian Vs. Grand Rapids South Christian</h2>   <p>It is the battle of the Grand Rapids Christian schools. A match up that has become accustomed to the postseason year after year. The No. 1 team in Division 2 taking on the No. 6 team. These two have seen each other twice during the regular season. Once, in the very early goings of the season and another at the midway point. Each meeting between the two have been quite the fight. Going as far as a 30-28 decider in one set, Grand Rapid Christian has always seemed to run away with the matches. </p>   <p>Since that last meeting between the two in October, these two have gone on to play pretty clean volleyball. South Christian has gone on to win seven matches and take a singular loss in a tough 5 setter against Northview. GRC has gone on to win seven straight. No losses since that match, but also against weaker comp. This is another one between crosstown rivals that could create for one good show.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Predictions</h4>   <p>Much like the Rockford/Jenison match up, this one features two teams that boast similar tales. It'll be a all out brawl at the outside position. On paper, it says GR Christian Vs. GR South Christian, but in reality, this match is [player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'] Vs. [player_tooltip player_id='226876' first='Finley' last='Arp'] (Grand Valley State). These two outside hitters have been everything their team has needed and more this season. Taking on the bulk of swings and holding down the offensive production. Whichever team can limit the other's dynamo is going to be a good place tonight. </p>   <p>This will be a blow for blow type of match between these two teams. However, I think it is going to be hard to upend this top ranked squad in GRC. They're building a lot of momentum turning into the last week of the MHSAA season and they have been in this position before. This is an Eagle flock that was in Battle Creek a year ago and had to battle their way in similar fashion. That kind of experience will be tough.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Branch Vs. Frankenmuth</h2>   <p>An old conference rivalry has now become a warm-welcomed postseason rivalry as well. Its the Broncos taking on the Eagles, regional finals and all eyes are on making it to the Elite 8. These two have only seen each other once in the regular season, and it has been quite sometime since that one took place. While North Branch took care of business in the sweep then, a lot of time has passed for each team.</p>   <p>Both squads had to do some serious battling to get to this point in the season. North Branch had to take down a raucous Imlay City team in the District finals and Frankenmuth had to battle it out tooth and nail against Swan Valley in a five set thriller to secure their spot in the regional rounds. Battle tested, hungry and nothing to lose; this is another exciting one in Division 2.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Predictions</h4>   <p>While once again, this will be a nice battle between the pins of each team. [player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky'] (Wofford) for North Branch is playing some of the best volleyball in her career right now. In tournament play alone, Deshetsky is averaging 7.4 kills per set and hitting .312. Containing her will be critical. </p>   <p>For the Eagles, [player_tooltip player_id='226896' first='Madison' last='Geer'] has stepped up rather nicely as the productive leader in points. She doesn't have to carry quite as big of a load as Deshetsky does with her supporting cast of [player_tooltip player_id='523867' first='Miranda' last='Polley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='557862' first='Julia' last='Rodriguez'] alongside. </p>   <p>This is going to be a fun match up to watch play out tonight. I must say, this match will be the Bronco's to lose. With too much momentum on their side and powered on tradition; all eyes are on that wooden mitten tonight. I can see North Branch taking this one in a sweep.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SMCC vs. Plymouth Christian</h2>   <p>We've seen No. 1 take on No. 2 already this week in Division 1. Why not up the ante and have another top two battle in Division 3? </p>   <p>Much like the other key match ups highlighted for tonight, these two squads are very familiar with one another. Taking each other face to face twice already this season, both times would go the way of the Kestrels. First in a sweep at Beast of the East and the next in three sets at another tournament. While SMCC would make easy work of PCA in the first round, PCA would show a little more fight in the next, maybe third time is the charm?</p>   <p>These two teams facing off in the postseason have become a staple at this point in Division 3. The two boast an awful lot of rich history and with every showdown we get in November between the two, it is always a fun one. Tonight should be no different.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Predictions</h4>   <p>Tonight is going to be a battle of the titans. SMCC has a pair of Miss Volleyball nominees in [player_tooltip player_id='156292' first='Jessica' last='Costlow'] (Toledo) and [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'] (Utah) looking to go out with a bang this year. The two have been deep into the final weekend of the season in 2 of the last 3 seasons, almost winning it all in their freshman outing. However, neither have quite secured it for this D3 juggernaut and they will not be letting anybody stand in their way. </p>   <p>PCA though could find some inspiration from the D1 battle that took place between No. 1 Mercy and No. 2 Northville. While Mercy seemed to be the indisputable favorites to win it all, untouchable, Northville did the unthinkable. It is a very similar situation in this one tonight. The Eagles have a lot of fine weapons on their side of the net to combat the talent on SMCC's. [player_tooltip player_id='226911' first='Riley' last='Pilat'] and [player_tooltip player_id='523905' first='Madisyn' last='Bowman'] have both been playing superb volleyball as of late and could be crucial in a potential upset tonight. </p>   <p>It's not impossible for an upset, PCA has proven to be able to hang with SMCC for bouts at a time. Tonight's game is looking to be all green and gold. The Kestrels are on an absolute terror thus far in the postseason, putting up point differentials of over 14 points per set! It'll be a great night of volleyball surely, as both teams are extremely gifted, but I predict this game to go win three with SMCC coming out victorious.</p>