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. 

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.