Top Storylines For Division 2 Entering 2026 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>**PrepDig Michigan is putting on three Showcase Events in August. We have the <strong>Freshman Showcase </strong>and <strong>Stock Up Showcase </strong>on Aug. 2, with our inaugural <strong>Up Next Showcase </strong>for 2031-33 prospects on Aug. 16. You can sign up for these events now on </em><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/"><em>our Events Page</em></a><em>.&nbsp;<strong>Use PROMO CODE “Drew26PD25OFF”&nbsp;</strong>to get 25% off your registration. Be sure to get locked in before you get left out.**</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's hard to believe we are just about one month away from the start of practices for the 2026 prep volleyball season and only about six weeks away from the start of competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be no shortage of exciting stories to follow this fall, including in <strong>Division 2</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's four storylines to pay attention to as we approach the new season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Can Country Day Stay on Top?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Detroit Country Day has took home the Division 2 state championship the last two years, but graduated their lead hitter each of the last two years as well. The 2026 season will see the Yellowjackets looking to establish new go-to hitters on the offense. What should help that is having star setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='574175' first='Payton' last='Woodruff']</strong> (LSU) back to lead the way. Woodruff worked a lot of magic these last two years and already has good chemistry with middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='450415' first='Leah' last='Green'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='947938' first='Aliyah' last='Potapenko']</strong>. If outsides like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442977' first='Demi' last='McCoy'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584627' first='Shalamar' last='Guerrant']</strong> can take a step forward, DCD should remain a top title contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Can Flat Rock Make Another Run?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a milestone season for Flat Rock in 2025, as the Rams accomplished some big firsts as a program, making the run to the state finals matchup with Country Day. Flat Rock managed to do this all with only one senior on the roster. That should leave this team motivated to try and finish the job in 2026. They return D2 Player of the Year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='839917' first='Sarah' last='Giroux']</strong> on the outside along with dynamic setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443001' first='Zoe' last='Ryan']</strong>. Hitters <strong>Reagan Higdon </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='916026' first='Lily' last='Klein']</strong> are also back, along with libero <strong>Maelie Fricke</strong> to make this team very formidable on paper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Who Gets Out of Grand Rapids?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Division 2, being able to say you're the best in the Grand Rapids area usually means you are going to be reaching Battle Creek at the worst. Grand Rapids Christian got that honor last year before falling to DCD in a very close semifinal. The Eagles will be right in the mix again behind <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'] </strong>(Dayton), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='881552' first='Mya' last='McKinnon']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490372' first='Piper' last='Cebulski']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523841' first='Taylor' last='Frost']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='807798' first='Sylvia' last='Setsma']</strong> being one of the top offenses in all of D2. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Grand Rapids South Christian, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Holland Christian, Lakewood, and more will all be looking to give the Eagles their best and claim the top spot in the area. Catholic Central should be really excited, as they add in setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='526553' first='Liv' last='Wender'] </strong>(West Virginia) who sat out last season after transferring. She's one of the top 2028 setters in the state and should get the best out of hitters like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490379' first='Sophia' last='Berger'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='582914' first='Ellie' last='Kileen']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Sophomore Dominance?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similar to Division 1, D2 also had some freshmen make big impacts in 2025 and you'd expect that to continue. Marshall's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='776808' first='Brynn' last='Johnson']</strong>, Tecumseh's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885461' first='Riley' last='Harrah']</strong>, Parma Western's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='741882' first='Georgia' last='Addleman']</strong>, and North Branch's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888384' first='Allysse' last='Deshetsky']</strong> all grabbed All-State honors and proved they are already among the impact players in the division. Johnson can lay claim to being one of the most impactful freshmen in all of the country in 2025, as she put up 729 kills with 511 digs and 66 aces. That's an incredible start for an outside hitter and will certainly have people watching to see how she can follow it up as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->