Top Five Teams to Watch in Division 2
In this article:
Yesterday we took a look at some of the top teams to watch in Division 1, now let’s make our way down the ladder to Division 2! This division is in no shortage of high level volleyball. Between the likes…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingYesterday we took a look at some of the top teams to watch in Division 1, now let’s make our way down the ladder to Division 2! This division is in no shortage of high level volleyball. Between the likes of perennial powers North Branch, Notre Dame Prep and Grand Rapids Christian, this division has been one of the more exciting ones to watch and follow throughout the season.
Just like I said, the perennial powers that be return as a few of the top teams to watch. Alongside them are some potential sleeper picks like Frankenmuth and Essexville-Garber. The only downfall with these teams is that the possibility of them playing each other before the quarter final rounds are VERY likely, taking away from some amazing volleyball in Kellogg Arena.
Rest assured, let’s break down the top teams to watch this year in Division 2!
North Branch
Would it be a postseason conversation without talking about the perennial power that is North Branch Volleyball?! Last season saw the grand return of the Broncos to Battle Creek after a long four years. The last time they were in Battle Creek was when they won in 2016. With immense talent, physicality, and youth, the Broncos steamrolled into the final game in 2021 before losing to long time rival Notre Dame Prep. But like i said, this squad is young, the entirety of their lineup returns as only juniors and with talent and tradition on their side, it’s a no brainer.
North Branch returns one of the top liberos in the state in Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI , Green was instrumental in topping a tough Lakewood squad in the semis last year. Some of the more exciting names returning alongside Green is setter Adrienne Greschaw Adrienne Greschaw 5'9" | S North Branch | 2024 State MI , middle blocker Kaela Chingwa Kaela Chingwa 6'3" | MB North Branch | 2024 State MI , and opposite Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI . Greschaw has some of the most deceptive hands in the 2024 class and has so many options a her disposal to play with. At the net, Chingwa and Gyomory can combine for one of the toughest blocks in all of the divisions, while bringing the heat when their number is called.
A big question looms over their returning All-State attacker Alana Deshetsky Alana Deshetsky 5'8" | OH North Branch | 2024 State MI . Last season saw the star attacker play the last half of the season with injuries in both knees and still managed to deliver until the end. If Deshetsky returns healthy and can return to full strength, this squad is virtually unstoppable.
Key Returners: L Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI , MB Kaela Chingwa Kaela Chingwa 6'3" | MB North Branch | 2024 State MI , S Adrienne Greschaw Adrienne Greschaw 5'9" | S North Branch | 2024 State MI , OPP Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI , OH Alana Deshetsky Alana Deshetsky 5'8" | OH North Branch | 2024 State MI , MB Natasha Bickel
Newbie to Watch: OH/S Aubree Deshetsky
Essexville Garber
Essexville-Garber is another team that returns a deep bench in 2022. In 2021, the Garber Dukes were on a high from August 10th all the way into the post season. With a record of 50-4, Garber could’ve easily been a team we were watching in Kellogg last season. They made it all the way to the Regional Semifinal before falling to the eventual Runner-Ups, North Branch. With the linger of last year’s loss and some valuable club experience for the starting roster, this could be the year we will see Garber breakthrough.
Like I said the Dukes return a lot, including their third team All-State outside, Emma Dufresne Emma Dufresne 5'8" | OH Essexville-Garber | 2023 State MI ; All-State honoree libero Laney Kokaly Laney Kokaly 5'6" | DS/L Essexville-Garber | 2023 MI ; and the current record holder for most assists in a single season, Ella Wagner. Dufresne and Kokaly combine for a tough back court and offer constant ball control with Dufresne being a tough six rotation outside. Wagner has an abundance of hitters to her disposal and has the best feel for who to feed at the right time. Garber also returns middle blocker Ashlee Lenhard Ashlee Lenhard 5'10" | MB Essexville-Garber | 2023 State MI who was one of the leading blockers in the Saginaw Bay Area.
Key Returners: OH Emma Dufresne Emma Dufresne 5'8" | OH Essexville-Garber | 2023 State MI , L Laney Kokaly Laney Kokaly 5'6" | DS/L Essexville-Garber | 2023 MI , MB Ashlee Lenhard Ashlee Lenhard 5'10" | MB Essexville-Garber | 2023 State MI , S Ella Wagner (Northwood Softball)
Key Losses: OH/DS Jacqueline Brinkman (North Central Michigan)
Notre Dame Prep
Unlike the previous two teams mentioned, this powerhouse program loses a lot of firepower from last season. Between Miss Volleyball nominees Alyssa Borellis Alyssa Borellis 5'11" | S Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State #33 Nation MI and Josie Bloom Josie Bloom 5'6" | DS/L Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State #150 Nation MI , they also lose OH Sophia Sudzina Sophia Sudzina 5'10" | OH Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State MI , OH Bianca Giglio Bianca Giglio 5'10" | RS Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State MI , and MB Abby Nellis. Between the five, the Irish are losing about 70% of their offense and 50% of their defense. Ya, this is going to be a challenge for legendary coach Betty Wroubel. But if anyone can restock and reload, it’s her.
Rest assure though, this team has some big time returners that could help fill the holes from last year’s class. Taking over the libero jersey will be the Alabama bound Allison Berent Allison Berent 5'7" | DS/L Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State #187 Nation MI who is coming off of an explosive club season. At the net will be MB Grace Wenaas Grace Wenaas 6'0" | MB Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State MI alongside her club teammate running the offense, Margo Sudzina Margo Sudzina 5'6" | S Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State MI . This trio is not one to scoff over as Berent has great ball control and defense and Sudzina can run a well oiled machine. Wenaas will be looked upon to take a heavy load, but will take it in stride.
Key Returners: L Allison Berent Allison Berent 5'7" | DS/L Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State #187 Nation MI (Alabama), MB Grace Wenaas Grace Wenaas 6'0" | MB Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State MI , S Margo Sudzina Margo Sudzina 5'6" | S Notre Dame Prep | 2023 State MI
Key Losses: OH/S Alyssa Borellis Alyssa Borellis 5'11" | S Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State #33 Nation MI (Ole Miss), L Josie Bloom Josie Bloom 5'6" | DS/L Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State #150 Nation MI (Virginia Tech), OH Bianca Giglio Bianca Giglio 5'10" | RS Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State MI (Marshall), OH Sophia Sudzina Sophia Sudzina 5'10" | OH Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State MI , MB Abby Nellis
Frankenmuth
This team is very much a wildcard I am pulling out but I have a great feeling that his team will make some big noise with what they have in 2022. In 2021, I would’ve put money on Frankenmuth being the team to meet North Branch in the Regional Final, but in came the conference rivals, Birch Run, with the upset in the District Final. It was a tough loss for the Eagles as it seemed momentum in the season was all on their side. Luckily for them they return the player that made it all happen, Audrey Geer Audrey Geer 5'10" | OH Frankenmuth | 2024 State MI .
Geer exploded onto the scene last year and thus, so did Frankenmuth volleyball. She quickly entered the conversation of being one of the top outsides in the state with her wicked attacking prowess and her ball control that can rival most liberos. Alongside her returns quite a bit from last season looking to capitalize on the potential they saw, this includes OPP Lexi Boyke and S Sarah Hauck. Muth does lose a lot of production in the middle with graduation of Emma Kerkau, but with the amount of returners, this hole could be filled quite nicely.
Key Returners: OH Audrey Geer Audrey Geer 5'10" | OH Frankenmuth | 2024 State MI , OPP Lexi Boyke (Central Michigan – Basketball), S Sarah Hauck
Key Losses: MB Emma Kerkau (Michigan – Rowing)
Grand Rapids Christian
Grand Rapids Christian is coming off of an unprecedented run in Battle Creek that very few have seen before. After amassing three consecutive state titles, Christian bowed out to eventual champions in the Semifinals last year, giving them four straight years in the Division 2 Final Four. This year is going to be a real test for the Eagles of GRC. They lose Miss Volleyball Evelyn Doezema Evelyn Doezema 6'2" | OH Grand Rapids Christian | 2022 State #34 Nation MI and the last remaining members from that illusive three-straight run.
Of last year’s squad, only 14% of their offensive production returns. This includes returning middle blocker Makenzie Ritsema Makenzie Ritsema 6'0" | MB Grand Rapids Christian | 2023 State MI . Ritsema played more of a blocking role last season, averaging a block per set, but will have to take on a huge role offensively this season. They also return libero Grace Spoelma Grace Spoelma 5'8" | S Grand Rapids Christian | 2024 State MI who led the team with 470 digs in 2021. Defensively, Christian seems to be pretty sound but a huge question lies in their offense and who will be the next big hitter following Evelyn Doezema Evelyn Doezema 6'2" | OH Grand Rapids Christian | 2022 State #34 Nation MI .
Key Returners: MB Makenzie Ritsema Makenzie Ritsema 6'0" | MB Grand Rapids Christian | 2023 State MI & L Grace Spoelma Grace Spoelma 5'8" | S Grand Rapids Christian | 2024 State MI
Key Losses: OH Evelyn Doezema Evelyn Doezema 6'2" | OH Grand Rapids Christian | 2022 State #34 Nation MI (Michigan State), S Alyssa DeVries Alyssa DeVries 5'10" | S Grand Rapids Christian | 2022 State MI (Calvin), MB Kate Breems (Calvin), OH Calista Bremer Calista Bremer 5'9" | OH Grand Rapids Christian | 2022 MI