Top Performers in the Sweet Sixteen - MHSAA Playoffs (D1/4)

<p><em><strong>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!</strong></em></p>   <p><em><strong>The Prep Dig Exposure Tour is coming to Michigan on December 21! This is for all 2026-2029 prospects. <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2032/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-michigan#register">Click here to register</a>, and use promo code “LSHOTPD25” to get $10 off your registration.<br></strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>The season may be winding down, but the stakes are only getting higher! We've made it past week 2 of the MHSAA Tournament and things are becoming real here in the Mitten state.</p>   <p>The Regional rounds were not ones for the weak. In the march to the regional title, we saw more upsets, more stars emerge and a lot of big time storylines take place. We have just one more game left until we're under the bright lights of Kellogg Arena and where we will crown Four champions across the MHSAA Divisions. </p>   <p>In this update, there was a lot of electric outings from some of Michigan's best. So much so, we have to split it between the four divisions. So, in the fashion of the Semifinals set up, we're going to look at D1 and D4 first as they will be first up in Battle Creek this Thursday. </p>   <p>In case you missed the highlights from earlier this week, make sure to take a look at the <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/top-performers-in-the-round-of-32-mhsaa-playoffs/"><em><strong>Top Performers from the Round of 32 in the MHSAA Playoffs</strong></em></a>. After you check out those elite performances, be sure to check out some of the best from the Regional Finals in Division 1 and Division 4 below!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='442994' first='Makayla' last='Naves'] - Davison </h2>   <p>Despite a losing effort from Davison's side of the net, one thing is for certain in their production out of the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='442994' first='Makayla' last='Naves'] was absolutely relentless in Davison's pursuit. In the fourt set brawl, Naves went down with 23 digs in the affair. To even further make Traverse City Central's job harder, Naves passed a 2.4 clip on a 3 point scale, truly making her opponents earn the victory.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='836131' first='Mia' last='Hyde'] - Trenton </h2>   <p>In the battle of the Downriver powers, Trenton relied upon their senior ace to bring home the win. Not only did she bring the title home, but she dominated in the four set victory. [player_tooltip player_id='836131' first='Mia' last='Hyde'] has become a revelation for Trenton this season, the 5'11 outside hitter is ending her career as one of the best. In the four sets, Hyde knocked down 22 kills at an electrifying clip. Allen Park could not find the answer to Hyde.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/DSC_4182.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-481660" style="width:236px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski']</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski'] - Mercy </h2>   <p>Mercy is on a big mission this post season. After the upset heard around the world a season ago, [player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski'] is wedging her and the Marlins way back to Kellogg Arena. In what better fashion than to thunder down 18 kills in the regional championship? In a 6 kill per set average, Kalczynski was unstoppable the entire match. From the left pin to the pipe attack, South Lyon was dumbfounded in defending the Ohio State commit. She also added some nice production defensively as well.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kenna Deters - Byron Center </h2>   <p>Byron Center is well on their way to a historic appearance at Kellogg Arena here. With the emergence of the play from their sophomore middle, Kenna Deters, they should have no problem surpassing their opponents on Tuesday. They really had no problem blanking Battle Creek Lakeview in the Sweet Sixteen. Deters was absolute money at the net knocking down 8 kills at a high percentage to go along with 5 crucial blocks.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='467901' first='Mallory' last='Wandel'] - Rockford </h2>   <p>There is no player that is more electrifying to see than [player_tooltip player_id='467901' first='Mallory' last='Wandel'] right now. While the numbers show it as well, watching her live, you really get the sense that Wandel is out for blood. There is not going to be anyone standing in her way from getting back to Battle Creek, and nobody could come close to it in the regional rounds. In the Finals against Forest Hills Northern, behind the overall play of Wandel, Rockford dominated. At a clip of .345, Wandel brought in 14 kills and lead all in digs with 17. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/DSC08273.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-890465" style="width:186px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490342' first='Sidney' last='Richmond']</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='454377' first='Erica' last='Heffner'] - Traverse City Central</h2>   <p>Traverse City Central really had the complete confection of offense and defense in Thursday's match against Davison. One of the biggest catalysts in their offensive dominance came from their outside attack with [player_tooltip player_id='454377' first='Erica' last='Heffner']. She was seemingly everywhere on the court. No zone was off limits when it came to attacking out of and in turn, scoring out of. Heffner was in full flow. In a match-leading 17 kills, Heffner was in peak form in the Regional Championship.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490342' first='Sidney' last='Richmond'] - Traverse City Central</h2>   <p>From the offense to the defense, it was a battle between the bros on both sides of the net. [player_tooltip player_id='442994' first='Makayla' last='Naves'] was incredible for Davison and [player_tooltip player_id='490342' first='Sidney' last='Richmond'] was right there with her. It was an absolute feat to be able to score on Richmond. From her off speed coverage to her eating up the hardest of swings, Richmond's defense often times led to points for TCC due to her ability to wear out the opposing offense. With over 35 digs on the night, that surely adds up!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='442971' first='Brenna' last='Mirovsky'] - Oxford </h2>   <p>We haven't seen a Cinderella story like this since 2021 when unranked Reese went on to win the Division 3 State Championships. If their upset-minded ways wasn't dramatic enough, Oxford has yet to go a match in the postseason without going to five sets. They're the Five-Set Upset Queens! Leading the pack is [player_tooltip player_id='442971' first='Brenna' last='Mirovsky']. </p>   <p>Once again, this player proves that it bodes well to have a complete game. The setter turned libero turned outside hitter does not need to out-muscle the competition, its her IQ that allows her to score at such high volume. Once again, Mirovsky is coming up big with another 20+ kill performance to go along with a dozen or so digs in their upset victory over fellow upset minded foes, Romeo.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='584598' first='Allison' last='Stakoe'] - Bloomfield Hills </h2>   <p>I would go out on a limb and say that just about everyone predicted Bloomfield Hills to take this one home. And so they did, in fairly fast fashion. [player_tooltip player_id='584598' first='Allison' last='Stakoe'] acted as the key catalyst to such a dominant win in the championship match. While hitting over .450 on the match, Stakoe clocked 9 kills in the sweep to go with 6 digs. However, if there could be something more impressive, Stakoe nearly matched her total kill numbers in the serving department, serving 8 aces in the sweep. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen'] - Ubly</h2>   <p>You may not be able to find a player like this in Division 4. [player_tooltip player_id='611100' first='Waverly' last='Hagen'] has the size of that you'd see in Division 1 and 2 with the potential of such physicality as well. With this natural edge, Hagen has become monstrous in Ubly's trek to their first final four in nearly 20 years! The last time the Bearcats made it to such heights was in 2007, where the MHSAA switched from winter to fall seasons and the fall season marked the first time the Finals would be held in Kellogg Arena no less. </p>   <p>Ubly has been scratching at the seams to get back there ever since. Just one more game to go. In the march back, Hagen led the top ranked Bearcats with 15 kills and a slew of blocks in a sweeping effort on Thursday over Austin Catholic.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rachel Wirth - Fowler </h2>   <p>If all plays out accordingly, we will be having a match between Fowler and Ubly in the championships if each team prevails through the next two rounds. And what a treat that will be, to see an offensive juggernaut such as Hagen go toe to toe with a defensive dandy in <strong>Rachel Wirth</strong> for Fowler. Wirth has been upping her game went it matters most this season. With a ranked barn burner agaisnt Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, Wirth was dynamic in the back court. She managed to put up well above 25 digs in the affair and was a catalyst for such an impressive win over a team who has become a regular in the finals for the last few seasons.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Karyssa Holtz</strong> - Mendon</h2>   <p>There's Fowler, there's Ubly and then there is Mendon. These are the three favorites to win it all this year in Battle Creek. It shows too because not too many other teams are looking quite as dominant as the Hornets are right now. Leading the way for the nest is <strong>Karyssa Holtz </strong>at the setting position. Setters don't get nearly enough credit as they're due but Holtz put on a marvelous performance in the championship win over perennial power St. Phil.</p>   <p>In just four sets, Holtz put up nearly 35 assists, 17 digs to go along with 5 kills of her own and 4 aces. Talk about a player with full control of the game, Holtz was in all out pursuit in willing her team through to the Quarter finals.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='464695' first='Gracie' last='Schultz'] - Mendon</h2>   <p>Holtz very much acts as the glue to put everything together for Mendon, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464695' first='Gracie' last='Schultz']</strong> is very much right there with her every step of the way. Much like her teammate, Schultz was seemingly involved in just about every play throughout the match. If she wasn't terminating the play with a match high 14 kills, she was surely not allowing St. Phil to do so with an incredible 19 digs on the night. </p>   <p>Both Holtz and Schultz led what was truly a well-balanced effort from the Hornets, a balance that not very many have and could become key in their entry into and their exit from Battle Creek with a State Championship.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/top-performers-in-the-sweet-sixteen-mhsaa-playoffs-d2-3/">BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE TOP PERFORMANCES FROM DIVISIONS 2 AND 3</a></h2>   <p></p>

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