Highlight Reel: Class A Semifinals
November 22, 2014
The Novi volleyball team defeated Grand Haven 3-2 in a Class A Semifinal on Friday, and Romeo followed with a 3-0 victory over Temperance Bedford. Click the headings below for highlights:
BIG BUC - Grand Haven jumps out to a 2-0 lead against Novi, winning the second set on this kill by Emily Lachmann.
WILDCAT WINNER!!!!!!!! - Novi finishes the comeback in the fifth set against Grand Haven with the match-winning kill by Paulina Iacobelli.
BEDFORD HANGING TOUGH - Temperance Bedford takes the lead in a hard-fought second set against Romeo, with Nicole Rightnowar delivering the big Kill.
BULLDOGS WIN IT - Romeo dominated the third set, finishing things off with a kill by Gia Milana.
Watch the Grand Haven/Novi match in its entirety and order DVDs by Clicking Here and Bedford/Romeo by Clicking Here.
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.