YALE – Detroit Country Day knew if it wanted to defend its Division 2 volleyball state championship this season, it was ultimately going to have to go through perennial power North Branch.

That moment came on Thursday when the top-ranked Yellowjackets took on the second-ranked Broncos in a D2 regional championship at Yale High School.

A very determined North Branch squad took the first two sets of the match, seeking revenge from losing to DCD in last year’s playoffs. But, when their repeat title hopes started to look lost, the Yellowjackets found another level of play.

They rallied to take home the final three sets of the match to emerge with a 23-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-13 victory.

“I just told them that from the beginning that when things get messy, try to ground yourself and ask

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