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.)
Bronson Resets After 1st, Reigns Again
November 18, 2017
By Perry A. Farrell
Special for Second Half
BATTLE CREEK – Laingsburg passed the eye test, but Bronson proved to be the real thing.
The Wolfpack stood out athletic and tall, and playing in the Class C volleyball championship match against two-time reigning champion Bronson didn’t seem to intimidate them Saturday afternoon at Kellogg Arena.
Once they hit the floor, Laingsburg started out great, winning the first game.
But after that it was the Vikings prevailing in four, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-19 to win a third straight title.
It was a dramatic change from the first game to the second for the champs, who finished the year 59-9-2.
“We didn’t really make any adjustments,’’ Bronson coach Jean LaClair said. “We just tried to focus on what we needed to do on our side of the net. I thought it was a pretty gutsy performance because Adyson (Lasky) tweaked her ankle and Keona (Salesman) hurt her thumb. I said, ‘You guys want to play or do you want me to put a sub in?’ They both wanted to stay on the court and play through that.’’
Salesman led the comeback with 19 kills, with Jolie Smoker adding 12 and Ashton Wronikowski 11.
“We got our mental game together,’’ said Salesman. “We reset our minds. We knew that we had to come out stronger than we did the first game. We came out thinking we got this.’’
The Vikings scored five of the first six points of the first set. Laingsburg responded by getting to within a point twice before tying the match on an ace by Maya Ferland.
Bronson scored the next five points with Salesman recording back-to-back aces to give her team a 13-8 lead. But the Wolfpack went on a run of their own to tie the game at 15-15, and took the lead on a kill by Ferland.
Imposing their will at the net with the 5-foot-10 Sophie Strieff (14 kills), 6-foot Ferland (14 kills) and 6-foot Alex Randall (16 kills), the Wolfpack looked the part. And they stunned the back-to-back champs, never trailing after tying the first game as the trio up front fired at the Vikings from all different angles.
“We never talk about the other titles. Each year is different,’’ LaClair said. But in the second game the Vikings played like they were champions, again scoring five of the first six points to set the tone. Lacking execution, the Wolfpack fell behind 15-9 with sloppy play at the net, and Bronson went on to tie the match.
The all-important third game saw the Vikings jump out to an 11-7 lead only to have the Wolfpack get to within 12-10. But from there, Bronson’s experience and poise took over as the defending champs kept Laingsburg off balance and got help from the Wolfpack’s unforced errors. Bronson led 20-14 before Laingsburg rallied to within 20-17 on a spike by Tanner Butler. But despite an anxious moment or two, Bronson prevailed to go up 2-1.
Laingsburg led just once in that second game, but took a 9-8 lead in the third when Bronson hit the ball into the net.
But after tying the score again 9-9, the Vikings charged ahead with nine of the next 11 points to take a commanding 18-11 lead with their third straight title now within reach.
Bronson senior Kiana Mayer, a Miss Volleyball candidate this fall, capped her career with 37 assists.
Laingsburg senior Grace Gregg had 40 assists as the Wolfpack (41-18-3) capped their first championship match with the best finish in program history. Laingsburg entered the postseason as only an honorable mention in the final Class C rankings.
“This was an incredible experience,’’ said Strieff. “It (was disappointing) that we lost, but it was great to get here.’’
PHOTOS: (Top) Bronson raises the Class C championship trophy for the third straight season Saturday at Kellogg Arena. (Middle) Laingsburg’s Maya Ferland puts down a kill past a pair of Bronson defenders.