Performance of the Week: Ann Arbor Skyline’s Harper Murray
November 16, 2021
Harper Murray ♦ Junior
Ann Arbor Skyline ♦ Volleyball
The 6-foot-2 outside hitter has led her high school program to its best postseason finishes all-time over the last three seasons and helped her country to fame on the international court as well this fall. Murray’s first three seasons on Skyline’s varsity have coincided with the program’s first three Regional titles in volleyball, including the Eagles’ championship triumph Thursday as she had 26 kills and 20 digs in her team’s five-set win over Brighton. Skyline (53-3-2) advanced to play Northville in one of tonight’s Division 1 Quarterfinals. Murray also was among her team’s leading hitters as a freshman in 2019 as Skyline reached the Division 1 Semifinals – her older sister Kendall, now playing at Michigan, was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate that fall – and the Eagles just missed returning to the Semifinals last season with a five-set Quarterfinal loss.
An all-state first-team selection last season and third-teamer as a freshman, Murray is widely-regarded as one of the nation’s top juniors. Despite spending two weeks this season playing with USA Volleyball’s under-18 national team – she helped it to bronze at the FIVB World Championships in Mexico – Murray has totaled 583 kills over 108 games this fall with a .560 kill percentage and .451 hitting percentage, and she also has 77 aces. She has committed to sign with national power Nebraska, which is ranked No. 11 this week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and won the most recent of its five Division I championships in 2017.
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2021-22 Honorees
Nov. 11: Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian - Report
Nov. 4: Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28: Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21: Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14: Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7: Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30: Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23: Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16: Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report
PHOTOS courtesy of Terry Jacoby/We Love Ann Arbor (top) and the Skyline volleyball program.
Flashback 100: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom
November 15, 2024
Alisha Glass has accomplished nearly everything there is to achieve on the volleyball court.
A standout at Leland High School, she graduated in 2006 as a four-time first-team all-state selection and set MHSAA records for career kills (3,584) and aces (937). She also recorded 680 blocks, a national record at the time. Glass was the driving force behind Leland's 2006 Class D championship team, and her remarkable list of achievements continued to grow after high school.
At Penn State, Glass helped lead the Nittany Lions to three consecutive NCAA championships from 2007 to 2009. During her four years, Penn State posted an incredible 142-5 record, with an astonishing 102-match winning streak. Glass earned three All-America honors during her time with the team.
Her success didn’t stop at the collegiate level. Glass went on to win a gold medal at the 2014 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she was named the tournament's "Best Setter." She has been named USA Volleyball's Female Indoor Athlete of the Year twice (2013, 2014).
After coaching two seasons at Stanford, Glass now plays professionally for the Vegas Thrill in the Pro Volleyball Federation, continuing her legacy of excellence in the sport.
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
PHOTOS (Top) At left, Leland's Alisha Glass celebrates with her teammates during the 2006 MHSAA Finals; at right, Glass speaks during the MHSAA Women In Sports Leadership Conference in 2018. (MHSAA archives.)