Highlight Reel: N. Branch/Frankenmuth
November 5, 2014
The North Branch volleyball team defeated Frankenmuth 3-0 in a Class B District game Wednesday. Click the headings below for MHSAA.tv highlights and the final link to watch the match in full.
FIKE SPIKE! - Early in Game 1 of this Class B District Semifinal, Olivia Fike knocks down the point for North Branch.
WILLSON SET WINNER! - Laura Willson ended the first set with a thunderous hit to give North Branch a 25-16 win over Frankenmuth.
BRONNER BATTLES BACK FOR FRANKENMUTH - Here's a nice kill by Syndey Bronner of Frankenmuth in the second set of this Class B District Semifinal against North Branch.
BRONCOS WIN SECOND SET - Alexis Hernandez closed out the second set with a big hit for North Branch to give the Broncos the win 25-15.
KEYES POINT - Frankenmuth stayed with North Branch early in the third set. Here's a nice score by Kendra Keyes for the Eagles.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs 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.