Big Hitter Now Chelsea Show-Stopper
By
Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
October 8, 2015
By Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
CHELSEA – Emma Hess has spent much of her young life chasing dreams and overcoming odds.
Too young to be involved with the volleyball team? She became a ball girl and manager for the Chelsea High School varsity as a fifth-grader.
Too inexperienced to get a part in a movie? She has been in three movies and moved to California for a year to pursue acting before she decided to return to Chelsea.
Too short to be an outside hitter on the varsity volleyball team? She played on a club volleyball team, took jump training to help elevate her leaping ability and made the Class B all-state team as a junior outside hitter.
Now a senior, the 5-foot-8 Hess is leading Chelsea to another fine season. The Bulldogs are 20-8 and ranked No. 7 in the latest Class B state poll.
Learning the game
Being the daughter of a former setter at Ohio University, Hess was introduced to volleyball at a young age and had the passion to play. Mary Jo Hess, Emma’s mother, was the seventh-grade coach, so Emma had a chance to be manager as a third-grader.
Two years later, she was doing the same thing for Chelsea coach Laura Cleveland’s varsity team.
Cleveland wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the little girl with a big smile when they first met.
“I saw a small little kid, but the biggest thing I saw in Emma – she had a great smile – was that she had a great attitude for learning,” Cleveland said. “When she came in when I was coaching, she would listen to what I was saying, and she would watch the girls and watch the demonstrations and then she would go over and practice it.
“She has a love for the game, and she has an attitude for learning. I think she always had a passion for it since she was little. She made the decision to pursue the passion, and it’s really turned out terrific for her in terms of being able to enjoy playing and playing at a high level because she has put in so much work.”
Hess began playing organized volleyball in the seventh grade, but at the same time she had another dream. After watching several movies on the Disney Channel, Hess told her mother that she wanted to become an actress.
In front of the camera
Sam and Mary Jo Hess listened to their daughter and decided to help her achieve her dream.
“I didn’t they took me seriously, but my mother found me an agent in Michigan, and I got a couple of jobs,” Hess said.
Mary Jo Hess conceded that there was some apprehension about letting Emma pursue acting at such a young age.
“I never would have pursued it for her if I hadn’t gone and seen about getting an agent and heard from some real professionals in the business that were saying, ‘This is really something you should do,’ ” Mary Jo Hess said. “I wanted her to play volleyball since she was a little girl, so when the acting thing came along, I wasn’t expecting that at all.
“We wanted to make sure if this was something she would pursue later, we wanted to know the right people and have her in the right place and make sure she would be taken care of. The worst thing that could have happened is, if we hadn’t done that, when she graduates high school she leaves and you hear about a lot of people who get manipulated.”
In a short amount of time, Hess was able to get three movie credits: “Smooch,” “James and Jenna” and “Home Run Showdown” were filmed in 2011 and 2012. She was credited as Emma-Lee Hess.
“She had a ton of success early,” Mary Jo Hess said. “I had heard a quote that said, ‘It’s typically 45 auditions before you book something,’ and by her fifth audition she had booked something that was a good gig for a commercial.”
Perhaps the largest hurdle of the three movies was landing the role in “Home Run Showdown,” which had more than 1,000 kids audition for parts – and Hess was the only girl on a story surrounding a Little League baseball team. It was filmed mostly in the Michigan towns of Milford and Taylor and also in Toledo, Ohio, and the cast was headlined by recognizable actors Dean Cain and Matthew Lillard.
“It wasn’t really big, but it paid money,” Hess said. “It was an experience, and it was really fun. I spent my whole summer with about 30 guys playing baseball and was the only girl.
“I also did a Hallmark movie called ‘Smooch,’ which plays on Valentine’s Day normally, and I also did a short film called ‘James and Jenna.’ I got to meet some really cool people on that.”
So, in the eighth grade, Hess moved to California to pursue acting, but she soon discovered that the business side of it was extremely tough, and she returned home after a year.
“I really wanted to pursue the TV aspect of it, but there was so much rejection out there, and I guess I wanted to do something where I would be rewarded,” Hess said. “I wanted people to know my name in acting, and because it wasn’t happening at the pace that I wanted, I decided to focus on something else, so volleyball became my motivation.
“Being in a town like this, people know me for the movies a little bit, but being known for volleyball is really important to me. Volleyball became my motivation.”
Above the net
In the ninth grade, Hess returned to Chelsea and returned to volleyball. She made the junior varsity team, but she was an outside hitter and not a setter as her mother had hoped.
“Mom wanted to raise a setter, but she has her daddy’s leaps, so I had to let that go,” said Mary Jo Hess, who is an assistant coach on the varsity. “When she was a freshman and setting on the JV, a short time afterward Coach Cleveland moved her, and that was OK, and of course I defer to her for everything.”
Cleveland saw something special in Hess despite being a few inches shorter than ideal for an outside hitter.
“As a freshman, we tried her as a setter, but then I thought, ‘No, that one’s a hitter,’” Cleveland said. “The thing about volleyball is that height would be great, but really it’s speed, and Emma has speed. If you’re fast and jump well and are faster than the block, those are things you really want.”
Although Hess is able to elevate above the net and delivers some powerful kills, her game is not all about speed and power. She has excellent vision and often will place the ball in a vacant spot on the court with a softer hit for a kill.
“I have a height disadvantage, especially being on the outside where most sets go to,” she said. “I really try to beat people at their own game, so if you’re not going to be on the line, I’m going to shoot it there.
“I try to read beforehand and pick out things that I know they’re not going to be able to pick up. That’s a big part. Being able to tip smart is really important. I have to go up and jump really high, and I use everything I’ve got to get up, and I swing hard. I don’t want them to be able to touch it because that’s the best feeling, getting a kill.”
Hess made varsity as a sophomore, and last year she made all-state as a junior.
“I love hitting a ball that no one touches, and even if there is a block, knowing that at my height and at that disadvantage, to take advantage of another team like that is great,” Hess said. “You get so excited, and the crowd pushes you so much.”
Never satisfied, Hess then set another goal for this season.
“This year, I want to run the defense and have the most kills,” she said.
Cleveland confirmed that the latest challenge is another win for Hess.
“She really is reading well and is in the right positions, and that is one of her biggest assets,” Cleveland said. “That’s both offensively and defensively.”
Hess wants to continue playing volleyball in college and has talked with Ferris State, Northwood and Eastern Michigan. She has a 3.977 grade point average, so academics won’t be a problem. Ambition won’t be a problem, either.
“I definitely want to do something in political and social studies and maybe major in political science,” Hess said. “And then I want to go to law school.”
It might not be wise to bet against her.
Chip Mundy served as sports editor at the Brooklyn Exponent and Albion Recorder from 1980-86, and then as a reporter and later copy editor at the Jackson Citizen-Patriot from 1986-2011. He also co-authored Michigan Sports Trivia. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Chelsea's Emma Hess hits during a match this season. (Middle) Hess played a prominent role in the 2012 film "Home Run Showdown." (Below) Hess goes high over the net on a kill attempt. (Photos courtesy of the Hess family.)
VIDEOS: Below are a video of Hess' highlights and also the trailer for "Home Run Showdown." Hess plays the role of Fassi.
Preview: Finals Weekend Loaded with Historic Possibilities
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 17, 2021
While all MHSAA Finals in every sport are filled with history-making opportunities, this weekend’s Volleyball Finals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek could require some significant updates to the record book.
Battle Creek St. Philip has defeated the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in Division 4 on the way to this weekend and can add to its record 21 Finals championships, or at least its state-best 30 appearances in championship matches.
Grand Rapids Christian in Division 2 can win a fourth-straight championship, becoming the seventh program to do so. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in Division 3 can become the 11th program to win a third-straight Finals title (and 12th on the list as Portage Northern did so twice.)
Six of the 11 Miss Volleyball Award finalists will be in Battle Creek, with winner Ava Brizard playing a lead role on a Bloomfield Hills Marian team looking to repeat in Division 1. Ann Arbor Skyline’s Harper Murray likely will be the favorite in 2022. Those seven stars certainly could make their way into the individual lists of the Finals record book.
And then there are the eight teams that have never won a Finals championship – and both Divisions 2 and 3 are guaranteed to have a team playing the last match for the first time.
Action begins Thursday with Division 1 and 4 Semifinals, with Divisions 2 and 3 on Friday and all four title matches Saturday.
All 12 matches will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv and (audio) MHSAANetwork.com. Click for more information from the 2021 Volleyball Finals Home on the MHSAA Website.
This weekend’s schedule:
Division 4 Semifinals – Thursday
Indian River Inland Lakes vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, Noon
Battle Creek St. Philip vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist, 2 p.m.
Division 1 Semifinals - Thursday
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Hudsonville, 4:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor Skyline vs. Macomb Dakota, 6:30 p.m.
Division 3 Semifinals – Friday
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian vs. Reese, Noon
McBain vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 2 p.m.
Division 2 Semifinals - Friday
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 4:30 p.m.
North Branch vs. vs. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 6:30 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1, Noon
Division 2, 4 p.m.
Division 3, 2 p.m.
Division 4, 10 a.m.
Below is a glance at contenders in each division. (Statistics are through Quarterfinals for Skyline and Notre Dame Prep and Regional Finals for the rest.)
Division 1
ANN ARBOR SKYLINE
Record/rank: 54-3-2, No. 3
Coach: Chris Cristian, fifth season (190-41-8)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 (Quarterfinal) and 2-1 over No. 7 Northville, 3-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Saline, 2-1 over No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over honorable mention Davison, 2-0 over No. 9 Novi.
Players to watch: Harper Murray, 6-2 jr. OH (604 kills, .439 hitting %, 81 aces); Lauren Lee, 5-8 sr. S (1,250 assists, 82 aces, 108 kills); Cari Bohm, 6-4 sr. MH/RS (295 kills, .380 hitting %, 72 blocks).
Finals forecast: Skyline has advanced to the Semifinals for the second time in three seasons after claiming a third-straight Regional title last week, and the Eagles have won 29 straight matches. They avenged an earlier loss to Northville and a tie to Saline, and would get a chance to avenge another defeat if they meet Hudsonville in the Final. Murray is considered one of the nation’s top juniors and made the all-state first team last season; she’s committed to continue her career at Nebraska and also played for the U-18 national team during its bronze medal run at the world championship tournament in Mexico this fall.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 51-1, No. 1
Coach: Mayssa Cook, fourth season (172-25-3)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 9 Novi in Regional Semifinal, 3-0 (District Final), 3-0, 3-0 and 3-0 over No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 2-0 and 2-1 over No. 4 Rockford, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 10 Macomb Dakota, 2-0 over Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Christian.
Players to watch: Ava Brizard, 6-1 sr. OH (537 kills, .440 hitting %, 51 aces); Sarah Sylvester, 6-2 sr. MB (236 kills, .442 hitting %, 87 blocks); Ava Sarafa, 6-0 jr. S (1,326 assists, 60 aces, 62 blocks).
Finals forecast: Marian has been nearly unstoppable during this repeat campaign, losing four sets all season and only one match, 2-1 to Division 2 top-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. Marian also has defeated seven of nine teams that earned honorable mention in the final regular-season coaches poll, and two more of the top five in Division 2. Brizard was named Miss Volleyball earlier this week, and Sylvester also was a finalist; they will continue their careers at North Carolina State and Texas Christian University, respectively. Brizard also made the all-state first team last season, while Sylvester and Sarafa made the second team and now-senior 6-0 hitter Sophie Treder (177 kills, 73 aces) earned an honorable mention. Total, five hitters had at least 175 kills this season entering the week.
HUDSONVILLE
Record/rank: 52-2-1, No. 2
Coach: Stephanie Chenlo, second season (74-12-1)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 (Quarterfinal), 3-1, 3-1, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 4 Rockford, 3-0 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Portage Northern, 2-0 and 3-0 over honorable mention Grandville, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Byron Center, 2-0 over No. 3 Ann arbor Skyline, 2-0 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 2-0 over No. 9 Novi, 2-0 over honorable mention Lowell, 3-0 and 2-0 over Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Christian, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood.
Players to watch: Eva Joldersma, 5-11 sr. OH (419 kills, 500 digs); Megan Beemer, 5-6 soph. S (697 assists, 308 digs, 55 aces); Emmalee Murphy, 5-11 sr. OH (317 kills).
Finals forecast: Hudsonville will be playing in its first Semifinal since 1981, continuing a surge under former Jenison and Aquinas College standout Chenlo. The Eagles have lost only 13 sets all season, utilizing a balanced attack with four hitters with at least 180 kills entering the week and two setters with at least 450 assists. Joldersma earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and senior libero Carlina Bender made the all-state second team and led the team with 741 digs and 78 aces heading into Tuesday’s Quarterfinal. Senior 6-1 middle blocker Leah Rogers is another solid defensive presence with 90 blocks entering the week.
MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 31-4-1, No. 10
Coach: Neil Rucinski, third season (56-26-2)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Class A champion 2012.
Best wins: 2-1 and 2-0 over No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over honorable mention Davison, 2-0 over Division 2 No. 5 North Branch, 2-0 over Division 2 No. 8 Cadillac.
Players to watch: Emma Thamarus, 5-11 jr. OH (279 kills); Erin Madigan, 6-2 jr. S (828 assists, 106 kills, 57 blocks); Olivia Gardner, 6-1 jr. MH (246 kills, .380 hitting %, 73 blocks).
Finals forecast: Dakota is on the rise, returning to Kellogg Arena for the first time since its championship season after winning a Regional title for the second-straight year. Four juniors and a sophomore fill the majority of the starting lineup with senior defensive specialist Skylar Myers. Dakota has lost only one set over five postseason matches, and half its match defeats this fall were to top-ranked Marian. Another loss was late in the regular season to New Baltimore Anchor Bay, and that one was avenged in the District Semifinal.
Division 2
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 33-9, No. 2
Coach: Betsy DeVries, first season (33-9)
League finish: Third in O-K White
Championship history: Division 2 champions 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Niles in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over honorable mention Whitehall in Regional Semifinal, 3-1 over Division 1 No. 6 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 3-0, 3-1 and 2-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Byron Center, 3-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Lowell, 2-0 over Division 1 No. 2 Hudsonville, 2-1 over Division 1 No. 4 Rockford, 2-0 over Division 1 No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy.
Players to watch: Evie Doezema, 6-3 sr. OH (701 kills, .345 hitting %, 82 blocks, 364 digs); Alyssa DeVries, 5-11 sr. S (1,074 assists, 57 aces); Kate Breems, 6-0 sr. MH (188 kills, .335 hitting %, 105 blocks).
Finals forecast: Not many teams could graduate two all-state first teamers and be a favorite again, but Grand Rapids Christian is back seeking a fourth-straight championship. The Eagles have lost only one set across six postseason matches after navigating a regular-season schedule loaded with top Division 1 teams. Alyssa DeVries and Doezema made the all-state second team last season, and Doezema was a Miss Volleyball finalist this fall and will continue at Michigan State. Betsy DeVries previously led Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian to the Class C Quarterfinals in 2015.
LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 40-12, No. 3
Coach: Cameron Rowland, fourth season (168-37-2)
League finish: First in Greater Lansing Activities Conference
Championship history: Class B champion 2012, six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 2-1 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 2-0 over honorable mention Grand Rapids West Catholic, 3-1 over Division 1 honorable mention Lowell, 2-1 over Division 1 honorable mention Byron Center.
Players to watch: Maradith O’Gorman, 6-2 sr. OH (642 kills, .398 hitting %, 128 blocks, 445 digs); Skylar Bump, 5-8 jr. S/OH (540 assists, 250 kills, 85 aces, 317 digs); Carley Piercefield, 5-6 jr. DS (731 digs, 113 assists, 66 aces).
Finals forecast: The Vikings have finished Division 2 runners-up the last two seasons and five of the last seven (including in the former Class B), and four starters plus the libero Piercefield are back from last season’s championship match lineup. O’Gorman was a Miss Volleyball finalist and will play next at Michigan State, and Bump set last season’s team and this fall has split time setting and hitting with freshman Abby Pickard (529 assists) also helping fill out the starting lineup. O’Gorman made the all-state first team last season, and Bump and Piercefield made the second. Eight of the team’s losses this fall came to teams ranked among the top 10 or earning honorable mention in Division 1.
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 45-8, No. 5
Coach: Jim Fish, 22nd season (1,217-211-51)
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2016), four runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 8 Cadillac in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over No. 10 Essexville Garber in Regional Semifinal, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 9 Frankenmuth, 2-1 and 2-0 over Division 1 No. 9 Novi, 2-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Clarkston, 2-0 over Division 3 No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Alana Deshetsky, soph. OH (302 kills, 68 aces, 348 digs); Adrienne Greschaw, 5-8 soph. S (1,107 assists, 64 aces); Bailey Gormley, 5-8 jr. OH (280 kills, 329 digs).
Finals forecast: The Broncos are headed back to Battle Creek for the first time since their most recent championship season, and with a lineup that could keep them coming back over the next few years as well. All six starters plus libero Hailey Green (744 digs, 75 aces) are sophomores or juniors; Deshetsky and Green earned all-state honorable mentions last season as freshmen. Five hitters had at least 194 kills entering the week, and 6-2 sophomore Kaela Chingwa was among that group and also had a team-high 108 blocks.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Record/rank: 62-1, No. 1
Coach: Betty A. Wroubel, 27th season (1,203-241-96)
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2017), Division 2 runner-up 2018.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 4 Detroit Country Day in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over honorable mention Lansing Catholic, 2-1 over No. 5 North Branch, 2-0 over No. 9 Frankenmuth, 2-0 over No. 8 Cadillac, 2-1 over Division 1 No. 1 Bloomfield Hills Marian, 2-1 over Division 1 honorable mention Byron Center, 2-0 and 2-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Lake Orion, 2-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Portage Northern, 2-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Clarkston.
Players to watch: Aly Borellis, 5-11 sr. S/RS (386 kills, .498 hitting %, 625 assists), Bianca Giglio, 5-9 sr. M (420 kills, .369 hitting %), Josephine Bloom, 5-6 sr. DS (697 digs, 124 aces).
Finals forecast: Loaded with experienced players, and despite some recent injuries, Notre Dame Prep enters the weekend having lost only five sets and with its lone match defeat to Division 1 No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy. Borellis and Bloom were Miss Volleyball finalists; they will play next at Mississippi and Virginia Tech, respectively. Borellis made the all-state first team last season, Bloom made the second, Giglio and senior outside hitter Sophia Sudzina (389 kills, .330 hitting %) made the third team and junior setting Margo Sudzina (566 assists, 70 aces) earned honorable mention. Total, six hitters have at least 175 kills, three have at least 300 assists and four have at least 60 blocks. Juniors Allison Berent (124 aces, 350 digs) and Grace Wenaas (227 kills, 113 blocks) and seniors Abigail Nellis (191 kills, 88 blocks) and Sara Nouhan (175 kills) also are among possible starters.
Division 3
MCBAIN
Record/rank: 36-4-1, honorable mention
Coach: Shawn Murphy, 12th season (345-183-37)
League finish: First in Highland Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-2 over No. 6 Calumet in Quarterfinal, 3-0 (Regional Final) and 2-1 over Beaverton, 2-0 over Elk Rapids, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 9 Frankenmuth.
Players to watch: Analiese Fredin, 5-7 jr. S (1,061 assists, 170 kills, 65 aces); Linde VanderVlucht, 6-1 jr. MB (192 kills, .319 hitting %, 50 blocks); Gabrielle VerBerkmoes, 6-1 jr. MB (292 kills, .385 hitting %, 55 blocks)
Finals forecast: McBain is making its second trip to the Semifinals and first since 2009; Murphy also coached that team and is in the fourth season of his second tenure leading the program. VanderVlucht earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and the Ramblers have a number of options on offense. Seniors Emma Schierbeek (328) and Jersey Scott (309) were tops entering the week among six players with at least 150 kills, and Schierbeek also was a team leader with 237 digs. McBain has won 21 straight matches, and the Quarterfinal win over Calumet avenged their first defeat of the season. The other three losses were to Division 2 opponents, and the Ramblers have lost only 17 sets total.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 35-11, No. 2
Co-coaches: Karen O’Brien, seventh season (277-55-3); Cassandra Haut, first season (35-11)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 3 Pewamo-Westphalia in Quarterfinal, 3-2 over honorable mention Brooklyn Columbia Central in Regional Final, 3-1 over honorable mention Adrian Madison in District Final, 2-1 over Division 1 honorable mention Saline, 2-0 over Division 1 honorable mention Clarkston.
Players to watch: Kate Collingsworth, 5-10 sr. S/DS (1,021 assists, 66 aces, 346 digs); McKenna Payne, 5-7 fr. OH/DS (465 kills, .370 hitting %, 86 aces, 360 digs); Jessica Costlow, 5-10 fr. OH/MH (414 kills, .380 hitting %, 274 digs).
Finals forecast: SMCC has won the last two Division 3 championships, and this is another contender that graduated a lot – in this case two all-state outside hitters and two more all-state middles – but has returned to the final weekend. Collingsworth made the all-state third team last season and is setting primarily a pair of freshmen, with senior MH/RS Audrey Cousino (290 kills, 79 blocks) also a significant contributor offensively and defensively. SMCC is another program that loads its schedule with much larger opponents, and 10 losses came against Division 1 teams with the 11th to Division 2 contender North Branch.
MUSKEGON WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 49-5, No. 1
Coach: Trent Smillie, seventh season (219-109-11)
League finish: First in Lakes 8 Activities Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over honorable mention Morley Stanwood in Regional Semifinal, 2-0 over honorable mention Kalamazoo Christian, 2-0 over No. 8 Cass City, 3-2 over Division 2 honorable mention Whitehall, 2-0 over Division 4 No. 3 Battle Creek St. Philip, 2-1 over Division 4 No. 1 Adrian Lenawee Christian.
Players to watch: Kyla Wiersema, 6-1 sr. MB (618 kills, .316 hitting %, 146 blocks, 340 digs); Kendal Young, 5-7 jr. S (1,372 assists, 321 digs); Madison Wiersema, 6-1 sr. OPP (261 kills, 149 blocks, 465 digs).
Finals forecast: Western Michigan Christian will be playing in its first Semifinal, and only one of its losses this season came to a Division 3 team (No. 4 Bronson). The Warriors have been building toward this under Smillie, with this run also including a fourth-straight league title and second District and Regional championships in three seasons. Kyla Wiersema made the all-state second team last season and leads a starting lineup that has three seniors but also two freshmen. Total six hitters had at least 130 kills entering the week, and senior Elizabeth Bast (214 kills, 124 blocks) plays a major role.
REESE
Record/rank: 33-5-1, No. 9
Coach: Angie Compton, third season (75-23-2)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference West
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-2 (Regional Final) and 3-2 over No. 8 Cass City, 3-1 (District Final) and 2-0 over No. 5 Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 2-1 over Birch Run, 2-0 over Division 4 No. 7 Ubly.
Players to watch: Maddi Osantowski, 5-9 sr. OH (545 kills, 384 digs, 49 aces); Aydan Dalak, 5-7 sr. S (281 kills, 836 assists, 258 digs); Josie Johnson, 5-5 sr. DS (474 digs, 43 aces).
Finals forecast: Reese is making its second trip to the Semifinals and first since 2010, after adding a second-straight league title under Compton – who previously coached at Houghton Lake and Roscommon. Osantowski and Dalak earned all-state honorable mentions last season, and they lead a starting lineup featuring five seniors. Only one loss this fall was to a Division 3 team – No. 8 Cass City – and the Rockets had won their first of two regular-season matchups with the Red Hawks and then avenged the defeat last week.
Division 4
ALLEN PARK INTER-CITY BAPTIST
Record/rank: 25-3-1, unranked
Coach: Amanda McLanahan, third season (record N/A)
League finish: Second in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 7 Ubly in Quarterfinal, 3-1 over No. 8 Plymouth Christian Academy in Regional Final, 3-1 (Regional Semifinal), 3-1 and 3-2 over No. 6 Auburn Hills Oakland Christian.
Players to watch: Bethany Estell, sr. OH (241 kills, .379 hitting %); Evelyn Karamon, sr. S (684 assists); Ali Bettinger, sr. M (216 kills, .346 hitting %, 54 blocks). (Heights not provided.)
Finals forecast: Inter-City Baptist won its first Regional title since 2011 and is making its first trip to the Semifinals, and made some loud statements along the way with three wins over top-10 opponents over the last two weeks. The Plymouth Christian Academy victory avenged two regular-season losses; the third defeat came against Division 1 Dearborn Divine Child. The Chargers played and defeated a number of other larger schools during the regular season, and haven’t given up more than a set during a current 14-match winning streak.
BATTLE CREEK ST. PHILIP
Record/rank: 38-11-1, No. 3
Coach: Vicky Groat, 24th season (1,217-305-80)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association West
Championship history: 21 MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), nine runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-2 over No. 1 Adrian Lenawee Christian in Quarterfinal, 3-2 (Regional Final) and 3-0 over No. 2 Athens, 2-0 and 2-1 over No. 10 Mendon.
Players to watch: Brooke Dzwik, 5-9 sr. OH (651 kills, .332 hitting %, 80 aces, 385 digs); Rachel Myers, 5-7 sr. S (1,160 assists, 246 digs); Baily Fancher, 5-5 sr. L (514 digs).
Finals forecast: St. Philip won its first Finals title since 2014 last season, and five starters are back seeking to finish a repeat run. Dzwik went over 2,000 career kills this fall after making the all-state first team last season, while Fancher made the third team. Junior middle Maddie Hoelscher, another returning starter, had 216 kills entering the week, and three more Tigers had at least 100 kills. The Quarterfinal win over Lenawee Christian avenged a regular-season loss, and the other defeats were either to Division 3 top-ranked Western Michigan Christian and Division 1 or 2 teams.
INDIAN RIVER INLAND LAKES
Record/rank: 26-10-11, unranked
Coach: Nicole Moore, second season (42-28-14)
League finish: Second in Ski Valley Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-2 (Regional Semifinal) and 3-0 over Onaway, 3-1 over Pellston, 2-0 over Mackinaw City.
Players to watch: Natalie Wandrie, 5-10 jr. OH (44 kills, 354 digs); Olivia Monthei, 5-4 sr. OH (260 kills, 70 aces, 329 digs); Alyssa Byrne, 5-4 sr. S (962 assists, 62 aces).
Finals forecast: Inland Lakes is traveling to the Semifinals for the first time after last week winning its first Regional title since 1995. The Bulldogs entered the postseason on a 3-2-5 run but didn’t give up a set over three District matches and avenged one of those two late losses with the Regional Semifinal win over Onaway. They’ve won District titles both seasons under Moore, who previously coached the subvarsity levels at Petoskey. Libero Ryann Clancy (597 digs, 78 aces) is another key junior.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 35-5-4, No. 9
Coach: Krista Davis, eighth season (243-109-32)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 5 Traverse City Christian in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over honorable mention Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 2-0 over Fowler, 2-1 over Beal City.
Players to watch: Maddie Munley, 6-1 sr. MH (357 kills, .445 hitting %, 64 blocks); Angel Brown, 5-9 jr. OH (233 kills, 188 digs); Delaney Scully, 5-7 sr. S (517 assists, 61 aces).
Finals forecast: Sacred Heart also is a first-time Semifinals qualifier, taking the next step after falling just short in seven Quarterfinals over the last decade. The Irish have only one loss to a Division 4 team this fall, having split a pair of regular-season matches with Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Munley made the all-state second team last season and leads a contender that’s given up only two sets during a nine-match winning streak. Davis was a three-time volleyball state champion growing up in Illinois, an All-America third-team selection at Southeast Missouri State and served as an assistant coach helping Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., to a Division III national title and two runner-up finishes.
PHOTO Grand Rapids Christian's Rowan Cebulski (5) gets both hands on a block during her team's Division 2 Regional Final win over Hudsonville Unity Christian. (Photo by Jamie McNinch Photography.)