Top Match Ups in the MHSAA Elite 8

<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>One more game! One more stop until we are under the big lights of Kellogg Arena!</p>   <p>The stage is set for the quarterfinal rounds of the MHSAA tournament. In Division 1, we see an almost lopsided field with all of the remaining ranked squads on one side of the bracket, excluding Rockford. This is a similar story in Division 2, as we will see two top five battles to fight their way into the Final Four of the tournament. </p>   <p>Tuesday will be another big night of volleyball across the state of Michigan. With a spot in the Final Four on the line for all of these teams, it is do or die time. Let's take a look at the top match ups coming to the Elite 8.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 4 Marian Vs. No. 7 Eisenhower @ SC4</h2>   <p>You know what they say, it is HARD to beat a team three times! But can Eisenhower defy the odds, we'll see about that tomorrow!</p>   <p>Marian is coming into the twilight of the season looking like their typical selves. Championship ready and all eyes are on the illusive Wooden Mitten that they have come accustomed to winning in the last 5 years. They're coming into this quarterfinal match with a big regional week. They had to take on a dangerous Clarkston team. After managing the Wolves' attempt at a reverse sweep, Marian seemingly has all the momentum and would sweep South Lyon in pretty definitive fashion. </p>   <p>The Mustangs are led by Miss Volleyball Finalist, [player_tooltip player_id='156287' first='Isabelle' last='Busignani'] (Cincinnati) who has been lighting up the postseason. She's leading the charge with nearly 5 kills per set and hitting an alarming .322 clip. All eyes will be on her defensively for Ike.</p>   <p>While Ike's road to this point has been a little different than Marian, they still are a dangerous foe to come across. As Marian knows all too well, this group has toppled over the heavyweights twice already in the regular season. They're coming off of a tight five set victory over a conference foe in Romeo. This match showed a very different side to Ike, one that looks a bit more unfocused and error prone. But hey, shake off the rust for the big one tomorrow night.</p>   <p>They've relied upon her all throughout the regular season and she proved to be the MVP of the Regional Final game too. [player_tooltip player_id='454359' first='Elise' last='Biermann'] is Eisenhower's go-to weapon. In the regional semifinal, Biermann would knock down 25 kills in the four set game. She's a sneakily terminal kind of player with her elite ability to place the ball with a lot of pace. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h4>   <p>Given each other's history, I would not at all be surprised to see this game be another match that goes the distance. They went to three at the Beast of the East Quarterfinals in October. Marian is hungry to make their return to Battle Creek, while Ike is looking for their first appearance. </p>   <p>Marian is coming into this with a really strong last weeks. Just before the end of the regular season, Marian took down Rockford and Jenison before taking down Clarkston in the round of 32. All ranked opponents. Ike hasn't seen that type of elite competition since BOE and there is also that struggle win over Romeo last Thursday. Could that be a game of shaking off the deep postseason jitters or a sign of Ike slowing up? We'll find out tomorrow.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 2 Northville Vs. HM Bedford @ Dearborn</h2>   <p>Northville may easily have the toughest route to the finals of anybody in recent memory. Starting off postseason play with a pair of HM teams in South Lyon East and Novi, they would then go on to take down the beast that was No. 1 Mercy. Now, they have the task of HM Bedford. Which, by the way, is not your typical honorable mention squad. This Bedford squad has taken a view different losses this season, but is ultimately accredited to an injury to a major player. With her return to the courts, this turns this match into something more of a No. 2 versus a No. 5 battle.</p>   <p>Like I said, up to this point Northville is extremely battle tested. Not just based off of their postseason ventures, but throughout the main goings of the season. They're only equipped with 2 losses on the season. Now, with the monkey off of the back of EVERYONE that was Mercy, you would expect Northville to take this all the way to their first ever championship. They can totally do it.</p>   <p>The Mustangs are extremely well-balanced and a well-oiled machine. This is to the credit of [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'] (Illinois State) at the setter position. Her ability to manipulate the game is so much fun to watch, but more importantly, so effective. In the Mercy match, Craggs had four of her players in double digit kills, with two of them bubbling around the 20 kill mark. Her ability to control the game may be the biggest issue for Bedford coming into this. </p>   <p>For Bedford, as i noted, has been dealing with the absence of one of the biggest players in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] (Indiana). Gray had been dealing with an injury all throughout the season that ultimately would have her sidelined indefinitely mid-Beast of the East tournament. Since then, they've taken a few losses to an unranked Saline team to ultimate lose out on their second straight conference title. This kind of explains their HM ranking.</p>   <p>Going into this game, Gray is off the bench and back in action. Returning to the courts in the regional final match against Skyline, Gray would go 12 for 18 in kills to go along with 6 blocks in the sweep over the Eagles. In Gray's absence, Bedford has saw the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='487356' first='Lucy' last='Monahan'] in the middle. Monahan is having an incredible postseason run with over 35 kills, hitting a blistering .596 hit percentage. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h4>   <p>This is such a wildcard match in my opinion. These two teams truly have such different strengths. Where Northville relies upon balance and solid ball control, Bedford is more of that smash-mouth physicality and scrappiness. </p>   <p>Northville has shown its ability to hang tough with some of the most elite of offenses and chip away at teams. Craggs especially proved to be a force with her ability to hold the opposing middle blockers. Against Mercy, Craggs was leaving her hitters with plenty of 1 on 1 opportunities at the net. She'll be seeing another pair of elite middle blockers in Gray and Monahan, if she can work this magic on them, things will go just swimmingly.</p>   <p>Bedford comes in with a significant height advantage, much to the like of Mercy. They also have the advantage of a fresh legged Gray in the middle. This will be a tough scouting report for Northville because all season long, Gray had been hitting on the pin. In her return, Gray was slotted back in the middle. </p>   <p>This game could easily go to the tie break, just like how it did when these two saw each other last year in the regional semifinal. I give this one to Northville though. With their resume and ability to weather the storms that be across the net, it is truly their time to take it all. Bedford will have to be lights out to upset the upset queens. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 2 Detroit Country Day Vs. No. 4 North Branch @ SC4</h2>   <p>This is going to be a huge match up going down in Division 2. A top five match up between a team looking to make their mark and a team that is powered on tradition. This could go either way.</p>   <p>Detroit Country Day has been sitting pretty atop the Division II standings all throughout the fall. They have a really talented duo in the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'] (Colorado) and [player_tooltip player_id='446702' first='Elise' last='Hiemstra'] (Columbia). The two have combined for nearly eight kills per set on the season thus far. Miss Volleyball Finalist, Grenadier, has never made it to this stage in the postseason before and would look to end her career in Battle Creek.</p>   <p>North Branch is a team that has been in this position, time and time again. In fact, the last time North Branch hasn't appeared in the Elite 8 was back in 2020. Since then, they've rattled on three straight championship match appearances, with two wins in 2022 and 2023. The Broncos are looking to make it a three peat here. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='226888' first='Aubree' last='Deshetsky'] has been well-spotlighted as the Bronco's magnum opus this year. She's particularly turned up the heat in the post season where she's notched nearly 100 kills so far. Limiting her effectiveness should be DCD's number one priority if they're looking to an first ever appearance in Kellogg.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h4>   <p>Not for the lack of talent on DCD's side of the net though. In fact, if DCD plays at full strength and can remain in a rhythm, they could easily sweep the Broncos. However, one thing in particular sticks out to me with these two teams. North Branch is much more battle-tested than DCD. Sure, they own a singular loss on the season to a top ranked Mercy squad, but since that match in early September, DCD has gone 30 straight with not a single top ten ranked opponent.</p>   <p>For the Broncos, they haven't gone a week throughout the entire season without seeing a ranked opponent in any one of the four divisions. They also come in riding high after taking down No. 5 Imlay City. </p>   <p>This will be a tough match for sure that could be very lopsided on either side or neck and neck throughout it all. I have to give the edge to North Branch. They have the tradition on their side to edge their way past the toughest of opponents.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">No. 3 Harper Creek Vs. No. 6 Grand Rapids South Christian @ Loy Norrix</h2>   <p>This side of the bracket is Division 2 is no joke! This is another top rated match ups between two of the top teams in the division. South Christian is coming is at full steam after upsetting the No. 1 team in Grand Rapids Christian. Harper Creek is a team that has spent a bulk of the season as the top rated team as well, so this will be a battle for sure.</p>   <p>Harper Creek comes into this as a favorite. They're spearheaded by two of the biggest hitters in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='493481' first='Camille' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='472798' first='Cassidy' last='Pratley'] (Western Michigan). The two have been an undeniable combination every step of the way. They combine for nearly 10 kills per set and can go for an alarming hit percentage. </p>   <p>On the other side, South Christian is riding nice and high off of the play of [player_tooltip player_id='226876' first='Finley' last='Arp'] (Grand Valley State). She is very much the reason that South Christian has even made it this far in the tournament. They had the staunch task to take down GR Christian, a team I predicted to take it all the way to a championship appearance, if not a win. Arp will have to some of her big work that she put up in the match against Harper Creek to charge the Sailers through.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h4>   <p>This is one of those matchups, much to the similarity of the other highlighted Division 2 match. Things could be very lopsided from either side or it may be a long night out in Kalamazoo! </p>   <p>While, Harper Creek comes in with a ton more fire power than that of South Christian, SC has the benefit of being so challenged. Not only in the regular season, but they're coming off of that huge upset over Grand Rapids Christian. Is that wave one that can take the Sailers all the way to Kellogg? </p>   <p>Despite this, I think this may be the year that Harper Creek takes it all the way. They're looking to win a championship on practically their home court. The fire power on their side of net is also just too hot to contain for long periods of time. </p>