Local Volleyball Teams Shine, Soccer Struggles in Recent Matches
On October 14, 2025, a series of volleyball and soccer matches took place across various schools, showcasing notable performances from local teams. While some volleyball squads celebrated victories, others faced challenges on the soccer field during the MHSAA Districts.
Volleyball Highlights
The Central Montcalm Hornets achieved a split in their matches, defeating Ithaca with set scores of 25-13, 10-25, and 25-20. However, they later fell to Belding, losing 22-25 and 15-25. With a current record of 5-17, the Hornets will face Vestaburg at 5:30 p.m. tonight.
In a thrilling match, Ionia triumphed over Lakewood with a final score of 3-2. The standout player was Logan Thomas, who set a new school record with 34 kills in the match. Grace Droste also made history, achieving a school record with 58 assists. The team’s defensive efforts were led by Paislie Patterson, who recorded 26 digs. Ionia’s record now stands at 30-4, with their next match scheduled for 6 p.m. against Eaton Rapids.
Belding also had a successful day, winning both of their matches against Ithaca and Central Montcalm. The Black Knights defeated Ithaca with set scores of 25-18 and 25-13, before overcoming Central Montcalm 25-22 and 25-15. Jocelyn Smith led the offensive charge with 15 kills, while Abigail Jakeway contributed five aces. Belding’s record currently stands at 12-11-2, and they will compete against Calvin Christian at 7 p.m. tonight.
Additional volleyball results include Lowell’s 3-0 victory over Greenville, with set scores of 17-25, 15-25, and 22-25, bringing their record to 15-10. Meanwhile, Morley Stanwood defeated Lakeview 3-0, and Tri County emerged victorious against Chippewa Hills, winning all sets convincingly.
Soccer Challenges
In soccer, the local teams faced significant challenges in the MHSAA Districts. Lakeview’s Wildcats suffered a heavy defeat, falling to North Muskegon 8-0, while Tri County experienced a similar fate against Fremont, losing by the same score. Belding also struggled, losing 5-0 to West Michigan Aviation Academy. Lakeview’s record now stands at 8-11-2, while Tri County’s record is 11-9; Belding’s record currently stands at 3-12-5.
Cross Country Performances
In cross country, the Central Montcalm boys team clinched back-to-back league titles at the CSAA White Championships held at Morley Stanwood, finishing first out of three teams with a total of 17 points. Gage Hoffman won the conference championship with a time of 16:21.07, a full minute ahead of the second-place runner. The girls team finished second with 40 points, led by Grace Coston, who placed fourth with a time of 20:40.47.
Lakeview’s boys team finished third overall in the same championships, while their girls team also placed third. Cooper Tiffany led the boys with a fourth-place finish, clocking in at 17:49.25, and Kamryn Salladay led the girls, finishing second with a time of 20:12.73.
Tri County’s boys team also secured a first-place finish in their league championship, finishing first out of five teams with 33 points, while the girls team came in third with 66 points. Alex Culver led the boys in second place, finishing in 17:22.16, while Anna Pake led the girls, placing seventh with a time of 21:40.76.
These recent competitions highlight the dynamic performances and challenges faced by local teams in their respective sports, setting the stage for upcoming matches and events in the weeks ahead.
