Volleyball

Grand Rapids Christian volleyball coach Tiffannie Gates said she knew Lake Odessa Lakewood wanted another crack at her team in this season’s Division 2 Final.  Lakewood earned that opportunity, but it was the Eagles who walked out of Kellogg...

One of the great moments at the end of any MHSAA Final is the winning coach hoisting the trophy aloft and joining their players in celebration.  On Saturday, Bloomfield Hills Marian volleyball coach Mayssa Cook passed on that moment, and in the process...

The Kestrel is the official nickname of Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.  But as sports were put on pause late this past fall, the volleyball team found another animal to represent it and get it through the break. 

For most programs, a five-year gap between MHSAA Finals appearances is a sign of incredible strength.  For Battle Creek St. Philip volleyball, it must have felt like an eternity. 

This season began with teams practicing outside, and included nearly two months off for COVID-19 precautions before this final week. But the scene over the next three days at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena will look quite familiar with a number of regulars back i...

Jocelynn Nicholls was first drawn to volleyball in grade school. Over the years, the Camden-Frontier senior has made the transition from being a wild swinging middle-schooler to an apprehensive freshman on the varsity to an all-state volleyball player headed to Trine...

Flip the Switch.  Every year, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central head coach Karen O’Brien comes up with a catchphrase that she can use in conversations with her team for motivation. 

Mackinaw City’s Marlie Postula provided nearly perfect serving this fall. The rest of her Comets volleyball team was indeed perfect in Northern Lakes Conference play. And, you might say they are “set” for the next couple of years. She&r...

First it was the tennis courts, then the softball field. Finally the Schoolcraft volleyball team got back to its familiar digs in the gym to start this unusual season.

Over nearly two decades, Calumet has developed a tradition of excellence in high school volleyball. First-year coach Kate Bonacorsi remembers what it was like during the early years.

Last season the Onsted volleyball team had about as impressive a season as it could. The Wildcats started by not losing until early October – a 28-match win streak – and finished with a school-record 50 victories.  What are they doing for an encore?

Sydney Krause said she and her teammates on the Saginaw Valley Lutheran volleyball team don’t talk much about getting back to Battle Creek for MHSAA Finals weekend. Even though it’s clearly the goal, the senior setter said when everyone is tog...

It has often been said practice makes perfect. So far that has applied to the Carney-Nadeau Wolves, who have won all 10 of their volleyball meets this season. 

The Byron Center volleyball team switched leagues this season, from the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green to the O-K White. It’s been a change for the better.

Farmington Hills Mercy senior Jess Mruzik has been awarded as Gatorade’s national “Player of the Year” after earlier earning the state award for the second-straight season. Mruzik – who missed the start of the high school season while leading th...

The Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central volleyball team didn’t mean to be prophetic when it made “I’ve got your six” its season motto.  But on Saturday, the saying’s original intent – that each team member had the other’s bac...

Jess Mruzik spent most of Saturday afternoon putting dents in the court at Kellogg Arena.   But with the opportunity to seal Farmington Hills Mercy’s first MHSAA Division 1 volleyball title at her fingertips, Miss Volleyball showed some touch....

Tiffannie Gates couldn’t hold back the tears Saturday.  The Grand Rapids Christian volleyball coach had just watched her team win a second-straight Division 2 title, sweeping Lake Odessa Lakewood 25-21, 25-15, 25-16, which is emotional enough. She also had j...

All Heather Bowers does is win MHSAA titles.  The second-year Mendon volleyball coach is now 2-for-2 at Kellogg Arena, as her Hornets defeated Leland for the second straight year – this time 25-17, 25-19, 27-29, 25-14 – on Saturday in the Div...

Senior outside hitter Emily Van Dyke helped Southfield Christian to its third straight Division 4 Regional title last week with 15 kills and 10 digs against Allen Park Inter-City Baptist in the Semifinal and 20 kills in the championship match against Marine City Cardina...