Volleyball

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep continues to boast one of the elite volleyball programs in Michigan, and is ranked No. 1 in Class B again after an impressive run through Saturday's Battle Creek Lakeview Invitational.  Returning all-stater Maddy Chinn is the Fighting Irish...

Last November, Kiarah Horn was part of the first Adrian Madison volleyball team to reach the MHSAA Semifinals in more than 25 years. She’d like nothing more than to do it again. “It was an awesome experience,” said the Madison senior. “We all wa...

Girls volleyball has seen its share of changes over more than four decades as an MHSAA sport. Along the way, it has become the most popular high school girls sport in the state in terms of participation, with more than 19,000 athletes taking part last season.   Th...

Before most high school students have blistered their fingertips on a hot Pop-Tart in a rush to get out the door and to school on time, White Pigeon sophomore Claycee West has already completed a rigorous cross country workout. It’s not for love of the sport that...

Kendal Muxlow offered nothing but praise when asked about the Brown City volleyball class of 2017, which left the school as the most successful in program history. She raved about her graduated teammates’ leadership, work ethic and ability to raise up every playe...

As the lone four-year varsity player on Class A champion Novi's roster, Ally Cummings has played a special role in helping the program rise to elite. Cummings – the Wildcats' right-side hitter and the state's Miss Volleyball Award runner-up this fall &n...

A championship rubber match between North Branch and Lake Odessa Lakewood closed the 2016 volleyball season Saturday night. Twice before, these perennial powers had met for the Class B title. Lakewood beat the Broncos for the 2012 championship in three games, whil...

At the start of the second set Saturday, just like many times this season, Novi senior Ally Cummings stood surrounded on the court by teammates who still have another season of high school volleyball ahead of them. During those rotations, Cummings was the only player ...

Last year, the Bronson volleyball team swept its way to the Class C championship. The Vikings found out early Saturday that this would be different, as Brown City offered an early wakeup call by winning the first game of their MHSAA Final match at Battle Creek's Kello...

“Better the ball” as a volleyball phrase means adding something to improve a volley with every touch. But it also was appropriate as Plymouth Christian’s adopted rallying cry this fall.

Despite entering the postseason with only five losses, Fenton was unranked in the final Class A volleyball poll – but the Tigers have made their presence felt over the last three weeks, and especially by defeating No. 10 Utica Eisenhower and then No. 2 Clarkston i...

Three reigning champions will return to MHSAA Volleyball Finals weekend beginning Thursday at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena. Also making the trip are eight teams that have never won an MHSAA title. And it's guaranteed at least one of those hopefuls will get the chance, ...

It’s championship week in the MHSAA volleyball tournament – and defending Class D champion Leland is hoping it’s another November to remember. Leland captured its sixth consecutive Regional on Thursday with a hard-fought 25-15, 25-23, 25-22 triumph ...

When the going gets tough for the Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central volleyball team, all the players have to do is look over to the bench to see a symbol of strength and courage and the will to fight and never give up. Second-year head coach Karen O'Brien is battling o...

Buchanan may never have another class of volleyball players like the one winding down its final high school season for the Class B third-ranked Bucks this fall. In her 13th year coaching the team, Lisa Holok isn’t taking it for granted.

Mikaela Kubiak is a fierce competitor on the volleyball court. But the Portage Central senior setter had an even harder fight off the court her first two seasons. Kubiak, who has been instrumental in the Mustangs’ run to a 23-3 start and No. 5 ranking in Class A...

Buchanan has risen to join the state's elite volleyball programs during Franki Strefling's four years as captain.  She earned the Michigan National Guard "Performance of the Week" for helping the No. 3-ranked Bucks past nemesis Battle Creek Harper Creek at the Bat...

Juliana Phillips is diversifying her game on the volleyball court this season. The 6-foot-4 Traverse City St. Francis senior, one of the top players in the state, is now setting for the Gladiators in addition to her featured roles as an outside hitter and middle blocke...

Lexi Nordmann had a hard time finding her place at first after joining DeWitt’s varsity volleyball team four seasons ago. A rare freshman playing for one of mid-Michigan’s top programs, Nordmann played the middle, just like then-junior Abby Nakfoor &ndash...

Michigan athletes enjoyed another banner showing at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro that wrapped up Sunday.  We cheered for them all – but paid special attention to a handful who previously competed in MHSAA sports before achieving more at the internat...