Finalists Named for Miss Volleyball

September 20, 2012

The Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association has announced its finalists for this season's Miss Volleyball award, which will be given to a senior during the week of the MHSAA Finals, beginning Nov. 12.

This is the 11th year of the award. Farmington Hills Mercy's Maddy Doyle was the 2011 recipient. 

The following finalist bios are courtesy of the association's web site, MIVCA.net

Tori Blake, 6-3, middle blocker, Midland: Setting school records in solo blocks, assist blocks and totals blocks she was the focal point of Midland's Class A state championship last season. Also a standout in track and high jump, she has a 3.7 grade-point average. She has verbally committed to play at Wisconsin.

Abby Cole, 6-5, middle hitter, Grand Haven: A second-team all-stater as a junior and a third-team as a sophomore, she earned a spot on this year Under Armor All-American Watch List. She also played varsity basketball and has a 3.7 grade-point average. She is committed to play at Michigan.

Allie Havers, 6-5, middle blocker, Mattawan: A first-team all-stater as a junior and a second-team as a sophomore, she is equally good - if not better - at basketball. A first-team all stater two years straight in basketball, she is committed to play basketball for Nebraska.

Ellen Hays, 5-7, Libero, Temperance Bedford:
A second-team all-stater as a junior and a third-team as a sophomore, while leading Bedford in digs for two years. She is committed to play at Toledo.

Mackie House, 5-5, Libero, East Grand Rapids: Playing varsity for three years, she has been captain for two straight years. Miami (Ohio) and Michigan State are possible landing spots for her talents, she has a 3.5 grade-point average.

Amanda McKinzie, 6-0, outside hitter, Battle Creek St. Philip: She is a two-time first team all-stater and all-city player. A league MVP and a three-time all league, she has been on varsity all four years. She maintains a 3.87 grade-point average, and plans to attend Virginia Tech.

Leah Perri, 5-11, Middle blocker, Gull Lake:
A first-team all-stater, she helped Gull Lake to a 2011 SMAC Conference Championship and 2011 Class A quarterfinals (MHSAA Regional & District Champions). She has recorded 192 aces, 1,223 digs and 321 blocks to date. She holds a 4.0 grade-point average and plans to attend Clemson.

Chloe Reinig, 6-4, outside hitter, South Lyon: A first team all-state, all-area (Player of the Year), all-county dream team, all-conference, all-tournament team and team MVP. As a freshman, she led Marian to a State Championship. She holds a 3.7 grade-point average and has committed to Michigan State.

Hope Rillema, 5-9, outside hitter, Whitehall: A first team all-stater last season, she helped Whitehall to a conference championship. She is team captain, a member of the national honor society, while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. She has committed to Morehead State.

Katie Schau, 5-9, setter, Gull Lake: A first team all-stater last season, as a junior she helped Gull Lake to two conference championships. She was first team all conference three years in a row. She is a member of the National Honor Society, maintaining a 4.1 grade-point average. She has committed to Minnesota.

PHOTO: Battle Creek St. Philip's Amanda McKinzie powers the ball past two Crystal Falls Forest Park blockers during last season's Class D Semifinals at Western Michigan University. (Click to see more at Terry McNamara Photography.)

D2/3 Recap: Bronson edges St. Mary in 5

November 15, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

It would make sense that Bronson’s most important win to date this season would come in Thursday’s Division 3 Semifinal at Kellogg Arena.

It’s also fair to assume that the No. 2-ranked Vikings’ comeback 3-2 win over No. 1 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central will remain one of the program’s most memorable wins for years to come – regardless of whether Bronson adds to its streak of three straight MHSAA championships Saturday.

The Vikings will face No. 6 Unionville-Sebewaing in a noon championship match after twice coming back from one-set deficits against the Kestrels (45-4).

Bronson (57-6) won the fourth set Thursday 25-18 to even the match, and continued the breakaway 15-4 in the deciding set. Bronson had lost its only other match with St. Mary this season.

Junior Keona Salesman had a team-high 23 kills and team-best 26 digs for the Vikings, while sophomore Meagan Lasky had 47 assists.

Senior Abby Jackson had 28 digs to pace St. Mary, while sophomore Mikayla Haut had 18 kills and 18 digs and senior Jessica Long had 24 assists.

Click for the full box score

Division 3: Unionville-Sebewaing 3, Traverse City St. Francis 1

USA (44-4-4) earned its first Finals berth by holding off a Gladiators comeback attempt after the No. 6 Patriots won the first two sets.

St. Francis (34-14) bounced back from a 26-24 loss in the second set with a 25-18 win in the third as it made only four errors in 35 attacks that game.

But USA came back with just two errors in 38 attacks in the deciding fourth in downing the Gladiators 25-21.

Senior Rylee Zimmer had 27 kills and 14 digs, and senior Nichole Schember had 38 assists for the Patriots.

Senior Molly Mirabelli led No. 8 St. Francis with 22 kills and 28 digs, and sophomore Hannah Sidorowicz had 38 assists.

Click for the full box score

Division 2: Grand Rapids Christian 3, Lake Odessa Lakewood 0

Top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian (45-5) also will play in its first Final and for its first championship after sweeping the No. 3 Vikings, last season’s runner-up in the former Class B.

Sophomore Addie VanderWeide had 15 kills to lead the Eagles, and junior Jordyn Gates had 35 assists and three aces. Christian had a .349 kill percentage as a team.

Freshman Maradith O’Gorman had a team-high 10 kills for Lakewood, and sophomore Sophie Duits had 13 assists for the Vikings (46-8-2).

Click for the full box score

Division 2: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 3, Corunna 0

The reigning Class B champion Irish will play for the first Division 2 championship after ending the longest tournament run in Corunna’s history.

Recently-named Miss Volleyball Award winner Maddy Chinn had 17 kills and three blocks to lead the No. 2-ranked Fighting Irish (64-5). Senior Maria Famularo had 22 assists.

Junior Elizabeth Norris led honorable mention Corunna (50-7-5) with 14 kills, and senior Alexa Mort had 22 assists.

Click for the full box score

PHOTO: Bronson celebrates during its comeback win over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central on Thursday.