MIVCA Miss Volleyball Finalists Selected

October 1, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

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. 18.

This is the 12th year of the award. Battle Creek St. Philip’s Amanda McKinzie won the honor in 2012.

Find bios of each candidate and more at MIVCA.net

  • Krysteena Davis, 6-foot-0, middle hitter, Grand Haven
  • Alyssa Garvelink, 6-3, middle hitter, Holland Christian
  • Jami Hogeboom, 5-11, setter, Grand Haven
  • Sierra Hubbard-Neil, 5-9, outside hitter, Battle Creek St. Philip
  • Jessie Kopmeyer, 5-10, outside hitter, Birmingham Marian
  • Maeve McDonald, 5-6, setter, East Grand Rapids
  • Paige O’Connor, 5-11, outside hitter, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
  • Christina Porada, 5-6, libero, Dearborn Divine Child
  • Carli Snyder, 6-1, outside hitter, Macomb Dakota
  • Holly Toliver, 6-2, outside hitter, Berrien Springs


PHOTO: Macomb Dakota’s Carli Snyder (right) prepares to receive a volley during last season’s Class A Final at Kellogg Arena. She led her team to its first MHSAA championship. 

Volleyball Mentors Achieve Milestones

September 26, 2012

Over the last three weeks, two of Michigan's most successful volleyball coaches ever moved further up the all-time list with milestone victories.

On Sept. 8, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley coach Bill Rice became the fifth volleyball coach in MHSAA history to win 1,000 matches when his team defeated Lutheran Westland at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Invitational. And Battle Creek St. Philip's Vicki Groat became the 12th coach to win 800 matches, earning her monumental win against Jackson Christian on Thursday.

Groat has coached the Tigers since 1998, when she took over for her mother Sheila Guerra. At St. Philip's current pace -- it is again considered the favorite to win the MHSAA Class D championship this fall and has claimed six straight -- she could match her mom's 862 career wins during the 2012 season. St. Philip is 35-1-1 this season.

Rice began at Chippewa Valley in 1980 and has led his team to four league and 11 Class A District championships, plus back-to-back 50-plus win seasons from 2002-04. His team is 10-13-2 this fall.