Highlight Reel: Class C Semifinals

November 21, 2014

The Schoolcraft volleyball team defeated Roscommon 3-2 in a Class C Semifinal on Thursday, and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central followed with a 3-2 defeat of Unionville-Sebewaing. Click the headings below for highlights: 

BUCKS WORKING OVERTIME - Katie Tozer keeps the game alive in the third set for Roscommon with a nice spike. Schoolcraft won the set, 27-25, and continued the rally to come from two down to win, 3-2, in this Class C Semifinal.

SUSELAND GETS THE POINT - After a long rally, Schoolcraft's Jayci Suseland ends it with a kill. Roscommon jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Eagles rallied to advance.

BACK-TO-BACK FOR GREMEL - Early in the first set, Unionville-Sebewaing's Kayla Gremel came up with two big kills. Here's the second point.

ACES FOR HAUT - The second set went to extra time between Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Unionville-Sebewaing. After scoring to put her team up, SMCC's Cassandra Haut ends the set with a service ace.

Watch the matches in full and order DVDs by Clicking Here for Roscommon/Schoolcraft and Clicking Here for St. Mary/USA. 

Pair of Michigan School Sports' Best Receive National Accolades

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 4, 2021

A pair of longtime and significant contributors to school athletics in Michigan have been recognized nationally as the best in their respective fields by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

Battle Creek St. Philip volleyball coach Vicky Groat was named national Coach of the Year in her sport, while recently-retired administrator Fred Smith was named national Athletic Director of the Year by the NHSACA.

Both were nominated for the national recognition by the Michigan High School Coaches Association. They received their awards at last week’s NHSACA Annual Conference in Lincoln, Neb.

Groat last season led St. Philip to the Division 4 championship, the program’s 11th Finals title with her as head coach. She ranks sixth in MHSAA history with 1,177 coaching wins (1,177-275-93) over 22 seasons. She also serves as principal and athletic director at her school.

Smith served 38 years total as a teacher, coach and administrator with stops at St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic, Comstock, Buchanan and Benton Harbor before retiring in 2017. He received a Citation from the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2019 for his various contributions not only in Michigan but nationally, especially in athletic director education and development.

Both Groat and Smith, coincidentally, are graduates of Battle Creek St. Philip. Both also have served on the MHSAA Representative Council, including Smith four years as vice president.

Additionally, Temperance Bedford volleyball coach Jodi Manore and longtime Warren De La Salle Collegiate lacrosse coach and athletic director Mike Jolly were inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame. Manore is the winningest coach in MHSAA volleyball history and all-time nationally as well with a record of 2,128-369-59 at Bedford from 1980-83 and again from 1990-2020. Jolly led the Pilots lacrosse program to a 215-105 record and also coached football, basketball and baseball.