2026 Division 1 District Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's already time for the postseason to get started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next Monday begins three weeks of working toward the next state champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 1 is going to feature a lot of great district matchups. Here's a look at all 32 brackets and who I think will come away with the championships in each location.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 1 at Gaylord</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Marquette, Alpena, Petoskey, Gaylord</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This four-team district should be tightly contested, but I like Petoskey to come away with the hardware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 2 at Mt. Pleasant</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Mount Pleasant, Traverse City West, Traverse City Central, Cadillac, Midland Dow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> There's a lot of quality players in this district. I think <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='845232' first='Avery' last='Bailey']</strong> will be the one to propel Midland Dow to the district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 3 at Bay City Western</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Bay City Western, Saginaw United, Saginaw Heritage, Bay City Central, Midland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Midland has had success against the teams in this district and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='804803' first='Avery' last='Stewart']</strong> will be a handful for anyone to stop. I like the Chemics.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 4 at Flint Kearsley</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Grand Blanc, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Flint Kearsley, Swartz Creek, Flushing, Davison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Davison is going to have the best defender in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442994' first='Makayla' last='Naves']</strong>. That should be enough to push the Cardinals to the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 5 at Hartland</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Holly, Fenton, Hartland, Howell, Milford, Brighton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Brighton just finds ways to close out tough sets. Having <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442976' first='Cynthia' last='Ockerman']</strong> doesn't hurt there. I like the Bulldogs to grind their way to the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 6 at Lakeland</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Walled Lake Western, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Northern, Lakeland, South Lyon, South Lyon East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> South Lyon is a scrappy team that won't go down easy, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587564' first='Lexi' last='Coleman']</strong> is just too potent and will guide South Lyon East to a district crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 7 at Bloomfield Hills</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Waterford Mott, West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, North Farmington, Bloomfield Hills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> I expect a thrilling final between Bloomfield Hills and OLSM that could go either way. I'll take the Black Hawks off the experience of their run last year and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584598' first='Allison' last='Stakoe']</strong> finishing at a high rate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 8 at Lake Orion</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Oxford, Waterford Kettering, Lapeer, Lake Orion, Clarkston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Oxford had a Cinderella run a year ago, but Clarkston looks just too strong to be upset this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442995' first='Marlie' last='Smith']</strong> is locked in to lead the Wolves on a long playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 9 at Coopersville</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Muskegon, Reeths-Puffer, Coopersville, Mona Shores, Grand Haven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Grand Haven has a lot of veteran experience to lead it to the title next week, including dominant outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462086' first='Mallory' last='Woiteshek']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 10 at Jenison</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Jenison, Holland, Holland West Ottawa, Zeeland West, Zeeland East, Hudsonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> There will be some quality talent on display in this district. Among them will be dominant middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827359' first='Megan' last='Glass']</strong>, who should propel Hudsonville to the district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 11 at Forest Hills Central</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Grand Rapids Union, Forest Hills Central, Ottawa Hills, Wyoming, Grandville, East Grand Rapids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> East Grand Rapids has a balanced attack with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='664290' first='Heidi' last='White']</strong> running the offense. I like EGR to come away as the champion in this district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 12 at Greenville</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Greenville, Cedar Springs, GR Northview, Rockford, Lowell, Forest Hills Northern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Lowell has improved a lot with a young team, but FH Northern has too much explosiveness at the net to come up short. Look for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm']</strong> to lead the Huskies to the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 13 at Portage Northern</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Mattawan, Kalamazoo Central, Loy Norrix, Portage Northern, Portage Central, St. Joseph</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> There's some potential for upsets throughout the week in this bracket, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490373' first='Kate' last='Colosky']</strong> and Portage Central have the edge in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 14 at Caledonia</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> East Kentwood, Thornapple Kellogg, Gull Lake, Caledonia, Byron Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> The hosts won't go down easy, but Byron Center is just playing too well right now and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson']</strong> won't let this team slip up in districts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 15 at Battle Creek Lakeview</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Coldwater, Sturgis, BC Central, BC Harper Creek, BC Lakeview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> There's some really explosive talent in this district, highlighted by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775991' first='Sydney' last='Manning']</strong>, who I think will lead Lakeview to the district crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 16 at Grand Ledge</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Lansing Everett, Holt, Lansing Eastern, Lansing Waverly, DeWitt, Grand Ledge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> In the battle of the Capital Area, DeWitt has had Grand Ledge's number this season. <strong>Avery Walthorn</strong> has been outstanding defensively to give the Panthers the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 17 at East Lansing</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Jackson, Jackson Northwest, Okemos, East Lansing, Mason</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This is an interesting bracket that could come down to a few points. I will roll the dice on East Lansing at home behind the play of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888953' first='Kennedy' last='Thomas']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 18 at Saline</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Ann Arbor Pioneer, Dexter, Saline, Ann Arbor Huron, Ann Arbor Skyline</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This feels like a toss-up district, as many of these teams have traded wins and losses. I'm going to pick Saline, as the Hornets have a lot of players that can beat you, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885464' first='Charlotte' last='Keyes']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 19 at Ypsilanti Lincoln</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Belleville, Wayne Memorial, Ypsilanti Lincoln, Ypsilanti Community</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> It feels like this one comes down to Ypsilanti Lincoln and Belleville, who split the season series. I will give the edge to the home team, Lincoln.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 20 at Canton</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Plymouth, Canton, Livonia Churchill, Westland John Glenn, Salem, Northville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> It's been a tough year for Northville at times, but the Mustangs still have what it takes built within the program. Watch out for freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1009768' first='Addalyn' last='Moore']</strong>. I like Northville to come away with this district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 21 at Temperance Bedford</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Gibraltar Carlson, Monroe, Trenton, Brownstown Woodhaven, Temperance Bedford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This district is going to come down to who can make the key digs in tight sets and I like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454376' first='Blair' last='Russow']</strong> to be the one to lead Bedford to winning those close sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 22 at Allen Park</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Southgate Anderson, Melvindale, Riverview, Wyandotte Roosevelt, Lincoln Park, Allen Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> The host school has had good success against these opponents, so I will stick with Allen Park to get the district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 23 at Dearborn Edsel Ford</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Livonia Franklin, Dearborn Edsel Ford, Dearborn Heights Crestwood, Taylor, Garden City, Dearborn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> I think this district is going to have some nail-biters, but I like Dearborn to ultimately come away with the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 24 at River Rouge</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Detroit Western, River Rouge, Detroit Martin Luther King, Dearborn Fordson, Detroit Cass Tech</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Cass Tech has some explosive players at the net, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584595' first='Jamie' last='Smith']</strong>. That should be enough to get them the district title in this bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 25 at Mercy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Redford Thurston, Farmington, Livonia Stevenson, Southfield A&amp;T, Novi, Mercy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> The Marlins are healthy and ready to make another run. Give me Mercy behind the setting play of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='709559' first='Kaelyn' last='Easton']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 26 at Berkley</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Oak Park, Berkley, Groves, Royal Oak, Seaholm, Marian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Marian is just too tough for the rest of this field. Look for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569767' first='Quinn' last='Nelson']</strong> to keep playing at a high level to lead the Mustangs to the district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 27 at Warren Fitzgerald</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Warren Cousino, Detroit Mumford, Hamtramck, Warren Mott, Detroit Renaissance, Warren Fitzgerald</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> I like the steady wins that Detroit Renaissance has picked up this season. That's my pick in this district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 28 at Grosse Pointe South</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Roseville, Grosse Pointe South, Harper Woods, Warren Woods Tower, St. Clair Shores Lakeview, Grosse Pointe North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This should be a really competitive district, but I'll take GP North behind the play of sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='774460' first='Harper' last='Dallaire']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 29 at Troy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Rochester, Avondale, Cranbrook Kingswood, Troy, Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> These teams are quite familiar with each other, but Stoney Creek just has too much firepower. Look for the Cougars to prevail thanks to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569772' first='Lauren' last='Sheldon']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 30 at Troy Athens</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Sterling Heights Stevenson, Utica Ford, Utica, Sterling Heights, Troy Athens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This district should have some tightly-contested matches. In the end, I like the host Troy Athens to prevail thanks to the play of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990130' first='Haley' last='Fellin']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 31 at Dakota</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> L'Anse Creuse North, Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, Fraser, Dakota</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Dakota has a lot of talent, just has struggled with consistency. But, with the district at home, I expect big performances from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='895702' first='Iceiss' last='Morrison']</strong> to lead the team to the hardware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District 32 at Romeo</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Port Huron, Romeo, Port Huron Northern, Anchor Bay, Utica Eisenhower</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Romeo has to win three times on its home floor, but it has been the hot team. Still, I am going to go with Eisenhower and its experienced roster led by setter <strong>Lilly Tripi</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->