'Corunna' on her Back, Norris Lifts Cavs
November 3, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
CORUNNA – Meredith Norris has traveled all over the United States thanks to her ability to crush a volleyball and stop opponents from doing the same.
The Corunna junior already knows her college destination, a Big Ten university a few exits down the highway. She’s had a taste of international competition, and is drawing closer to challenging for a spot on the U.S. youth national team.
But home is never far away from the 6-foot-3 outside hitter’s heart.
Her successes took root during afternoons as a ball girl dodging spikes during high school practices coached by her mom, while growing up in this town of 3,500 that her Detroit-area club teammates think is either in Alaska because it’s so far away or Nebraska because of the surrounding rural landscape.
Those who follow volleyball have figured out where Corunna is located. And those who know Norris understand why, despite all she’s accomplished on volleyball courts nearly coast to coast, this month’s opportunity to lead the Cavaliers to unprecedented heights carries so much importance.
“I like to represent my town doing all of these big things,” Norris said. “I like to put Corunna on my back.”
And she literally does – “Corunna” is spelled across the back of her and her teammates’ jerseys.
The Cavaliers will face host Flint Powers Catholic in a Class B District Semifinal on Thursday. Corunna is seeking its third straight District title against a field that also includes familiar league foes Goodrich and Lake Fenton. And if the Cavs succeed this week, they’ll have another shot at history – a first Regional championship.
There certainly are expectations.
Norris is considered by many to be the state’s top junior, an MHSAA record holder after drilling 53 kills in a five-set District Final win over Goodrich last fall who passed 2,000 career kills this season and should next fall become only the second player in MHSAA history to total 3,000. Norris has 757 kills this season and 2,208 over three – with five more kills she’ll move to eighth on the career kills list.
She’s also played plenty of high-pressure matches. Norris competed as one of 33 invitees at this summer’s USA Volleyball girls youth A1 national training team program, the final step before competing for one of 12 spots on the youth national team. As part of A1, she traveled to Iowa in July for five days of training followed by five more of competition at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships. She made the top U.S. team at the camp, and with teammates from all over the country faced a field that included teams from Canada, New Zealand and the Dominican Republic.
That was just the most recent of travels that have taken her all over the country for additional USA Volleyball training, club tournaments and college visits.
But in the end, she’s always come home to the court she’s made a second home most of her life.
Home on the hardwood
Meredith’s mother, Nikki Norris, is Corunna’s athletic director and also served as its volleyball coach from 1999-2002 and again from 2006-09. From ages 5 to nearly 12, Meredith spent in-season afternoons after school at her mom’s practices.
“It’s weird to think about, because if I didn’t grow up in the gym with her being the coach, I don’t know if this is what I’d still be doing,” Meredith Norris said. “If she was the basketball coach, would I be doing all of this stuff in basketball? Would I even be playing volleyball? So her being the one to introduce me to volleyball is the reason I’m in it. She introduced me to it, made me fall in love with it.”
Meredith was born with ingredients for athletic prowess. He dad, Dr. Robert Norris, is 6-foot-9 and played basketball at Alma College – and Meredith grew to 6-foot by eighth grade. Nikki competed in track and field at Alma – and Meredith’s athleticism crosses over to both of her parents’ college sports. She played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman (she since has given that sport up) and made the MHSAA Finals in high jump last spring while also throwing discus and running an occasional race.
Nikki, although she didn’t play volleyball at the college level, joined Alma College’s coaching staff for that sport as an assistant right after graduation, and later coached at Carson City-Crystal before taking over at Corunna. Meredith learned fundamentals attending her mom’s youth camps and training sessions for the high schoolers. She picked up an advanced understanding of the game watching all of those practices and then every Corunna home match from the bench, and MSU matches later on.
She talks about playing “efficiently,” which seems advanced as well as she explains, “I as a player think smarter, not harder.”
But there was a point during middle school when Meredith would analyze situations too much, which led her to be timid instead of attacking with her natural abilities – and led to her mom stepping in to light a fire.
“I remember we were in the car, and I told her, ‘When the game is on the line, the winner wants the ball. What’s it going to be?” Nikki Norris recalled. “She’d heard me tell teams that I wanted them to go down swinging.
“She figured out that to be successful at this, (she's) got to be the one who steps up and takes the big swing.”
'You’ve got to have a good teacher from the start.'
Norris could have been saying that to explain her mom’s influence, or those of middle school club coaches who helped hone her skills early on. Or what she’s tried to be to her teammates, sharing her various experiences with girls she’s known since first grade.
“She has so much volleyball knowledge that she brings to this team,” Corunna coach Kari Carnell said. "She has experienced high-level volleyball, and she knows the ins and out of the game. It’s easy for her to give a teammate a tip or some advice in the moment.”
Most of the time, Norris passes on little things she’s picked up during her variety of experiences – maybe a tip on a shot or an opponent's tendency she's spotted. Carnell said Norris reads things so well on the court that she can make adjustments for herself and her teammates, who are receptive and appreciative of the advice.
Norris isn’t the only player with experience, of course – senior setter Skylar Napier owns the school record for career assists – and together they’ve led the Cavs to a Class B honorable mention and 34-11-5 record heading into this week.
Norris also carries a 3.9 grade-point average and is interested in studying kinesiology, and might follow her dad into medicine (he’s the team physician for MSU’s volleyball, hockey and baseball teams.).
But seeing the impact she’s had on her high school teammates, it wouldn’t be tough to imagine Meredith following her mom into some coaching as well.
“It means a lot because I know that I’m making my teammates better,” Norris said. “They’re choosing to play high school volleyball, and if they enjoy it and if they’re learning throughout the season, and if I’m doing that, that makes me really proud that I’m teaching them and they’re liking it and they’re understanding what they’re doing.
“And if they make a mistake, they understand what they made and how to fix it. I think it’s really cool.”
Geoff Kimmerly joined the MHSAA as its Media & Content Coordinator in Sept. 2011 after 12 years as Prep Sports Editor of the Lansing State Journal. He has served as Editor of Second Half since its creation in Jan. 2012. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare and Montcalm counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Corunna's Meredith Norris attempts a kill earlier this season. (Middle) Norris, left, and a teammate go for a block, their jerseys showing "Corunna" across their backs. (Below) Norris (3) poses with her teammates after the Fowlerville Invitational. (Photos courtesy of Corunna High School.)
Preview: Set for Memorable Finishes
November 18, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend's Volleyball Finals at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena will be filled with history-making opportunities, in addition to the usual significance that comes with winning an MHSAA championship.
In Class B, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard is seeking to finish a perfect season with its first MHSAA title since 1991. In Class D, Battle Creek St. Philip will try to continue its record nine-season championship streak, starting with a Semifinal against top-ranked Plymouth Christian.
And make sure to watch these seniors before they move on: Miss Volleyball Gia Milana of Romeo is back for the reigning Class A champion, while Novi's Victoria Iacobelli, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central's Skylar Iott, Grand Rapids Christian's Dylynn Otte and Gabriel Richard's Emily Tanski also were finalists for the award.
Click for the schedule in full plus information on live broadcasts of all 12 matches on MHSAA.tv and MHSAANetwork.com. Below is a glance at all 16 contenders, with statistics through last week's Regional Finals.
Class A
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 50-4, No. 3
Coach: Tiffannie Gates, fifth season (197-53)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over No. 8 Rockford, 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Semifinal) over No. 5 Grand Haven, 2-1 and 3-1 (Quarterfinal) over No. 2 Mattawan, 3-0 over No. 9 Hudsonville in the Regional Final, 3-1 over Class B No. 4 Battle Creek Harper Creek, 2-1 over Class B No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood, 2-0 over Class B No. 5 Cadillac, 2-1 over Class C Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Dylynn Otte, 5-11 sr. OH (619 kills, 42.5 blocks, 390 digs); Maddy Gates, 5-8 soph. S (1,148 assists, 357 digs); Samantha McLean, 5-8 sr. L (269 kills, 464 digs); Ellen Long, 5-8 sr. OH (294 kills, 19.5 blocks, 189 digs).
Finals forecast: Half of Grand Rapids Christian’s wins this season have come against teams ranked or receiving honorable mentions in the final statewide coaches polls. Five of those wins came over the last three weeks in tournament play as the Eagles eliminated three top-10 teams. Christian earned its second Regional title in five seasons under Gates, a former setter at Arizona State University, but this will be the Eagles’ first Semifinal appearance ever. Otte was an all-state first-teamer last season, and McLean made the second team as an outside hitter.
LIVONIA CHURCHILL
Record/rank: 35-19, unranked
Coach: Mark Grenier, 20th season, first of second tenure (759-211-43)
League finish: Tied for first in Kensington Lakes Activities Association South.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2007-winter), one runner-up finish.
Best wins: 2-0 over honorable mention Northville, 3-0 over Canton, 3-0 over Monroe in the Quarterfinal.
Players to watch: Rayna Yetts, 5-8 sr. OH/S (484 kills, .401 hitting %, 239 assists, 354 digs); Annabelle Dunn, 5-10 soph. M (104 kills, .360 hitting %); Alyssa Facione, 5-6 jr. L (551 digs); Brianna Fulton, 5-5 jr. S (769 assists, 51 aces, 216 digs).
Finals forecast: Churchill built on last season’s District title with its first Regional championship since 2010. Grenier entered this season 22nd in MHSAA history for volleyball coaching wins, and after two seasons off before re-taking over the program. The Chargers are on a 21-6 run after opening against a tough slate that included some of the best teams from all over the Lower Peninsula. Juniors Annie Yost and Samantha Zonca add big hitting off the bench – both had more than 220 kills heading into this week, and Zonca had 13 in the Quarterfinal win.
NOVI
Record/rank: 53-2, No. 1
Coach: Jennifer Cottrill, fourth season (176-20-2)
League finish: First in KLAA Central, Kensington and overall.
Championship history: Class A runner-up 2014.
Best wins: 2-0 over No. 9 Hudsonville, 2-0 over No. 5 Grand Haven, 2-0 over honorable mention Temperance Bedford, 3-0, 3-1, 2-1 and 3-0 (District Final) over honorable mention Northville; 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy.
Players to watch: Victoria Iacobelli, 5-10 sr. OH (513 kills, .407 hitting %, 31 blocks, 79 aces, 487 digs); Paulina Iacobelli, 5-10 sr. OH (324 kills, .329 hitting %, 90 aces, 27 blocks, 503 digs); Ally Cummings, 5-11 jr. RS (385 kills, .405 hitting %, 62 blocks, 293 digs); Erin O’Leary, 5-10 soph. S (1,136 assists, 252 kills, 42 blocks, 307 digs).
Finals forecast: Novi returned its top three hitters and setter from last season’s first trip to the MHSAA Finals, including Miss Volleyball candidate Victoria Iacobelli. She, Paulina Iacobelli and O’Leary all earned some level of all-state recognition after last fall, and the Wildcats have lost this season only to Farmington Hills Mercy and Class B top-ranked Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. In addition to the big hitters and experienced setter, Novi has a wall in the middle with 6-0 sophomore Kathryn Ellison (101 blocks) and 5-10 junior Emmy Robinson (79).
ROMEO
Record/rank: 47-7-1, No. 6
Coach: Stacy Williams, 10th season (284-139-34)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red.
Championship history: Class A champion 2014, Lower Peninsula Class A runner-up 1997 (tournament unified in 2000).
Best wins: 3-2 over No. 4 Lake Orion in Regional Semifinal, 3-0 over honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay in District Final, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0 and 3-2 (Regional Final) over honorable mention Utica Eisenhower, 2-0 over honorable mention Saline, 2-1 over Class B No. 2 Mount Morris, 2-0 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Gia Milana, 6-2 sr. OH (852 kills, .528 hitting %, 39 blocks, 345 digs, 110 aces); Erica LaBaere, 5-11 sr. MB (256 kills, 42 aces, 54 blocks); Jodie Kelly, 5-10 jr. OH/L (286 kills, 45 aces, 148 digs); Breanna Olley, 5-8 sr. S (987 assists, 40 aces).
Finals forecast: Milana, this season’s Miss Volleyball and the center of most conversation during last season’s Class A title run, will finish her career as one of the top hitters in MHSAA history – her kills this season rank 10th-most since rally scoring was introduced in 2004-05. She will play after high school for the University of Maryland. Kelly was the second-leading hitter in last season’s Final, and together their championship experience should be valuable this weekend combined with that of four more who saw the floor during the deciding match against Novi.
Class B
ANN ARBOR GABRIEL RICHARD
Record/rank: 41-0, No. 1
Coach: Mayssa Bazzi, third season (94-21-1)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Championship history: Class D champion 1991, Class C runner-up 1986.
Best wins: 3-0, 2-1 and 3-1 over No. 6 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 2-0 and 3-0 (District opener) over No. 10 Chelsea, 3-1 over No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over Class A No. 1 Novi, 2-0 over Class A No. 3 Grand Rapids Christian, 2-0 and 2-1 over Class A No. 4 Lake Orion, 3-0 over Class A honorable mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-1 and 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Clarkston.
Players to watch: Emily Tanski, 5-9 sr. OH (501 kills, .365 hitting %, 354 digs); Jurnee Tipton, 5-8 jr. OH (426 kills, .346 hitting %, 201 digs); Emma Nowak, 5-10 jr. S (1,079 assists, 42 blocks, 294 digs).
Finals forecast: The Fighting Irish were a respectable 22-7-1 a year ago and won their Regional, but to go undefeated against a slate including most of the best in Class A as well is nearly unfathomable. Tanski, an all-state second-teamer last season, will play collegiately at the University of New Hampshire and gets plenty of help from Tipton and 5-11 senior middle Sydney Burton (221 kills, 65 blocks).
BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK
Record/rank: 53-5-2, No. 4
Coach: Terra King, 10th season (345-206-54)
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0, 2-0 and 3-0 (Regional Semifinal) over honorable mention Buchanan, 2-0 over honorable mention Plainwell, 2-0, 2-0, 3-1, 3-0 and 3-0 (District Final) over honorable mention Marshall; 3-0 over honorable mention Coopersville in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Temperance Bedford, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Portage Central, 2-0, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D No. 2 Battle Creek St. Philip. 2-0 over Class C No. 1 Bronson.
Players to watch: Charley Andrews, 5-10 jr. MB (755 kills, .492 hitting %, 73 aces, 122 blocks, 294 digs); Olivia Leson, 5-9 sr. OH (517 kills, 77 aces, 425 digs); Katie Wade, 5-8 sr. S (1,385 assists, 97 aces, 211 digs).
Finals forecast: Harper Creek will head just down the road for a Semifinal for the second straight season after never making it past the Regional before 2014. And this group is familiar with the level as well as the locale – four seniors start, with Jess Cadena and Kim Kusler joining Wade, Andrews and Leson among five who saw the court most during last season’s Semifinals loss. Leson made the all-state second team, and Andrews was honorable mention. All but one of the Beavers' losses this fall were to Class A teams, three ranked. The lone Class B defeat was to No. 5 Cadillac.
GOODRICH
Record/rank: 39-9-1, No. 7
Coach: Robyn Batterbee, ninth season (299-143-37)
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference Red.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-1 and 2-0 over No. 8 North Branch, 3-2 over No. 2 Mount Morris, 2-0 over honorable mention Frankenmuth, 3-0, 3-0 and 3-2 (District Final) over honorable mention Corunna; 3-0 over honorable mention Marysville in Regional Final.
Players to watch: Abby Francis, 5-10 jr. OH (407 kills, .354 hitting %, 61 blocks, 255 digs); Kamryn Wallace, 5-9 sr. S (630 assists, 152 kills, 220 digs); Kristi Doherty, 5-8 sr. S (500 assists, 260 kills, 64 aces, 260 digs).
Finals forecast: This is the first time Goodrich has advanced to the final week of the season; in fact, the Martians have made great strides since posting a sub-.500 record only two seasons ago. They also went 3-4-1 over their final eight matches of this regular season, but stormed through the playoffs sweeping four of six matches. And this could be just the start, as three seniors mix with three more starters who should gain valuable experience for another run in 2016.
NORTH BRANCH
Record/rank: 56-11-2, No. 8
Coach: James Fish, 16th season (917-151-46)
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference East.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), three runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 5 Cadillac in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over No. 2 Mount Morris in District Final, 2-0 and 3-0 (District Semifinal) over honorable mention Frankenmuth, 2-1 over No. 10 Chelsea, 2-1 over Class A No. 8 Rockford, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Saline, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Clarkston, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 2-1 over Class A honor able mention Farmington Hills Mercy, 2-0 over Class A honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay.
Players to watch: Olivia Fike, 6-1 jr. MH (476 kills, .427 hitting %, 103 blocks); Allyson Severance, 6-0 fr. OH (403 kills, 356 digs); Madee Miner, 5-7 jr. S (1,375 assists, 117 aces, 248 digs).
Finals forecast: This championship contender looks a lot different than last year’s title winner, with only two players back who saw major time in the 3-0 win over Lakewood – but that pair is an excellent one. Miner is back as the setter and Fike has taken over as the main hitter after finishing with the second-most kills in last year’s Final. And with North Branch playing its usual strong schedule, new contributors gained plenty of experience again top competition that has shown during a strong tournament run.
Class C
BRONSON
Record/rank: 56-10-3, No. 1
Coach: Jean LaClair, 16th season (724-283-67)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference East and overall.
Championship history: Class C champion 2009, LP Class C runner-up 1990.
Best wins: 2-0 and 3-0 (Quarterfinal) over No. 6 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, 3-1 over No. 9 Schoolcraft in Regional Final, 2-1 over honorable mention St. Louis, 2-0 and 3-0 over Class D No. 2 Battle Creek St. Philip, 3-0 over Class D No. 8 Mendon, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D No. 5 North Adams-Jerome, 2-0 over Class B honorable mention Marshall.
Players to watch: Alexa Ratkowski, 5-9 sr. S (1,553 assists, 270 kills, 324 digs, 87 aces, 82 blocks); Kirin Cekander, 5-8 sr. OH (335 kills, 73 aces, 480 digs); Jill Pyles, 5-10 jr. MH (485 kills, .391 hitting %, 180 aces, 87 blocks, 150 digs).
Finals forecast: Bronson took over the top spot in Class C in mid-September and never gave it back. Despite graduating an all-state hitter from a year ago, the Vikings improved their win total for the third straight season while helping coach LaClair get the 1,000th of her career. Ratkowski, an all-state second-teamer in 2014, will finish with the third-most assists for one season in MHSAA rally scoring history, while Pyles, an honorable mention last year, will be top five for aces in a season.
BROWN CITY
Record/rank: 40-8-5, No. 8
Coach: Jenna Welke, third season (101-33-13)
League finish: First in Greater Thumb Conference East.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 3-1 over New Lothrop in Quarterfinal, 2-0, 3-0 and 3-1 (District Semifinal) over Marlette; 3-0 and 3-0 (District Final) over Sandusky.
Players to watch: Becki Krause, 5-8 jr. OH (511 kills, 79 aces, 271 digs); Kendal Muxlow, 5-7 fr. OH (245 kills, 76 aces, 202 digs); Alexia Mason, 5-6 jr. S (1,059 assists, 118 aces, 102 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season saw Brown City’s win its first Regional title; the Green Devils have taken another step into their first Semifinal despite also graduating an all-state hitter in the spring. A glance at this fall’s opponents isn’t as much about who Brown City has beaten, perhaps, as who it saw in losses – reigning Class B champion North Branch, Class B No. 2 Mount Morris, Class B honorable mention Frankenmuth and Class A honorable mentions Stoney Creek and Anchor Bay. After those matches, no team this weekend should intimidate Brown City during its first trip to Kellogg.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 36-8-1, No. 2
Coach: Karen O’Brien, first season (36-8-1)
League finish: Tied for first in Huron League.
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), two runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over honorable mention Laingsburg in Quarterfinal, 2-1 over Class A honorable mention Northville, 3-2 and 3-0 over Class A honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay, 2-1 over Class B honorable mention Marshall, 2-1 over Class B honorable mention Corunna.
Players to watch: Skylar Iott, 6-0 sr. MH/OH (504 kills, 53 aces, 62 blocks, 314 digs); Regan Hodgson, 5-7 sr. OH (220 kills, 367 digs); Rose Kemmerling, 5-2 sr. S (499 assists, 127 digs); Lauren Kemmerling, 5-6 soph. S (639 assists, 192 digs).
Finals forecast: The Kestrels might have a new leader, but little has changed in terms of dominance. O’Brien was retired coach Diane Tuller’s assistant during last season’s title run and has been head volleyball coach at the University of Toledo and Siena Heights University in addition to multiple high schools over 30 years. She inherited Iott, an all-state first-teamer last year, and a group of new contributors who have stepped in for graduated standouts. Junior middles Merina Poupard and Leah Ritchie have combined for 287 blocks.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 51-6-3, No. 5
Co-coaches: Rita Jones and Heather Simpson, fourth seasons (182-35-10)
League finish: First in Lake Michigan Conference.
Championship history: Class C runner-up 2012.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Calumet in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over Class D No. 6 Waterford Our Lady, 2-0 and 2-0 over Class D No. 3 Leland, 2-0 over Class B honorable mention Corunna.
Players to watch: Juliana Phillips, 6-4 jr. MB/OH (441 kills, .424 hitting %, 95 aces, 135 blocks); Madeline Rysztak, 5-11 sr. OH (459 kills, 105 aces, 277 digs); Ally Bradfield, 5-9 sr. S (1,059 assists, 55 aces).
Finals forecast: St. Francis is making its second trip to Battle Creek under Jones and Simpson and has won league and District titles all four seasons with the co-coaches. Rysztak and Phillips made the all-state second and third teams, respectively, last season, as St. Francis finished 49-6-3 but fell short of the season’s final week. The Gladiators haven’t given up a set in their last 11 matches.
Class D
BATTLE CREEK ST. PHILIP
Record/rank: 45-16-2, No. 2
Coach: Vicky Groat, 18th season (1,007-205-82)
League finish: First in Southern Central Athletic Association.
Championship history: Twenty MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), eight runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 8 Mendon in Quarterfinal, 3-0, 3-0 and 3-0 (Regional Final) over No. 5 North Adams-Jerome; 3-0 and 3-1 (Regional Semifinal) over honorable mention Pittsford, 2-0 over No. 3 Leland, 2-0 and 2-0 over honorable mention Climax-Scotts, 3-0 over Class C No. 9 Schoolcraft.
Players to watch: Abby McKinzie, 5-9 sr. OH (630 kills, 58 aces, 518 digs); Taylor Pessetti, 5-0 jr. S (1,043 assists, 278 digs); Morgan Luoma, 5-7 sr. OH (316 kills, 416 digs); Kameron Haley, 5-7 jr. L (92 aces, 737 kills).
Finals forecast: St. Philip has twice as many MHSAA championships as the next most accomplished program, more than twice as many MHSAA championship match appearances, and last season set the MHSAA record with a ninth-straight title – despite also entering that postseason not ranked No. 1. McKinzie made the all-state first team last season and Haley was an honorable mention – and they’ve been joined by a number of new contributors on a team with only four seniors.
CRYSTAL FALLS FOREST PARK
Record/rank: 39-1-3, honorable mention
Coach: Kim Bjork, 10th season (322-31-38)
League finish: First in Skyline Central Conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Best wins: 2-0 and 3-1 (Regional Final) over No. 10 Stephenson, 3-1 over Rogers City in Quarterfinal, 2-0, 2-0 and 3-1 (Regional Semifinal) over Munising.
Players to watch: Maria Stankewicz, 5-4 sr. S (844 assists, 78 aces, 277 digs); Michaela Steiro, 5-10 sr. OH (340 kills, .347 hitting %, 55 aces); Libby Shamion, 5-7 sr. OH (227 kills, 130 aces, 291 digs).
Finals forecast: Forest Park will be playing in its third Semifinal in five seasons and with its only loss this time – and one of the three ties as well – to Class C honorable mention Calumet. In fact, the Trojans have given up only nine sets this entire fall with a team featuring nine seniors. Stankewicz earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
LELAND
Record/rank: 47-7-4, No. 3
Coach: Laurie Glass, 21st season (827-248-83)
League finish: First in Northwest Conference.
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2006), six runner-up finishes.
Best wins: 3-0 over honorable mention Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart in Quarterfinal, 2-0 over Class C honorable mention Calumet, 2-0 over Class C No. 5 Traverse City St. Francis, 2-0 over Class C No. 3 Montague.
Players to watch: Maddie Trumbull, 5-10 sr. OH (546 kills, .331 hitting %, 73 aces, 376 digs); Eva Grobbel, 5-11 sr. MB (277 kills, 55 aces, 139 digs); Ella Siddall, 5-4 fr. S (1,084 assists, 83 aces, 146 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season’s runner-up is making its third straight appearance at Battle Creek with a pair of experienced leaders to go with a freshman setter. Trumbull made the all-state first team in 2014 and Grobbel made the second team, and senior middle ViAnna Hennig (202 kills) saw time in the Final a year ago. Freshman outside hitter Allie Martin also is part of the program's next chapter; she had 309 kills, 87 aces and 347 digs heading into this week.
PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 35-5-1, No. 1
Coach: DJ Kellogg, first season (35-5-1)
League finish: First in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference.
Championship history: Class D runner-up 2010.
Best wins: 3-0 over No. 9 Marine City Cardinal Mooney in Quarterfinal, 3-0 over No. 4 Lansing Christian in Regional Final, 3-0 over No. 6 Waterford Our Lady in Regional Semifinal, 2-0 over Class C No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Olivia Mady, 5-8 jr. OH (321 kills, 61 aces, 190 digs); Grace Kellogg, 5-9 soph. OH (387 kills, 217 digs, 69 aces); Jessica Paulson, 5-11 jr. S (682 assists, 118 digs).
Finals forecast: Plymouth Christian took over the top spot in the rankings just less than a month ago and hasn’t disappointed. The Eagles haven’t given up a set during the MHSAA Tournament despite the hardest path in this class. Mady and Grace Kellogg earned all-state honorable mentions a year ago and could make this a multiple-season run; Plymouth Christian has only one senior.
PHOTO: Jenna Grabowski (9) and a Crystal Falls Forest Park teammate block a kill attempt by Munising during last week's Regional Semifinal win. (Click for more from Jarvinen Photos.)