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. 

Title IX at 50: Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 7, 2021

Labeling just one athlete the “greatest” of millions who have competed over a half century of MHSAA girls sports history – comparing the all-time best from multiple sports over multiple eras – is both bound to be unfair and ultimately impossible.

But Leland two-sport star Alisha Glass should be part of any related conversations.

The 2006 grad finished her Comets career with national high school career records of 3,584 kills and 937 aces, and her then-national record of 680 career blocks now ranks second. Total she continues to hold four MHSAA records, including for 48 kills during a five-set win over Battle Creek St. Philip in the 2006 Class D Final. She also earned all-state on the basketball court.

After finishing at Leland, Glass started all four of her seasons at Penn State and set the Nittany Lions to three straight NCAA championships. She was named USA Volleyball Indoor Female Athlete of the Year for both 2013 and 2014 and also was honored as the Best Setter of the 2016 Olympics after helping the U.S. to the bronze medal.

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard

Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read