Southwest 10 Conference Welcoming Volleyball Athletes as Legacy Officials

By Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com

November 13, 2024

Instead of just hitting a volleyball, Gracie Smith now finds herself enjoying the larger picture.

The Decatur senior has spent the last six years playing volleyball at different levels. But thanks to an innovative new program undertaken by the Southwest 10 Conference, Smith now sees the sport through an entirely new light.

She's one of 13 varsity volleyball players at three schools who've added another paragraph to their resume: officiating.

The players have become MHSAA-registered officials cleared to work Southwest 10 Conference middle school and freshman matches as part of the MHSAA Legacy Program. Smith said the program has contributed much to her love of the game by helping her better understand the officials during her own varsity matches and providing her opportunities to give back to the community and help out a sport in dire need of new officials – in addition to adding a bit of spending money to her budget.

"I am excited about trying this," Smith said. "I can make some extra cash, be at the same level of officials who do our games and take what I've learned on the court and put that knowledge to use.

"I definitely think I'll do this again next year. I can earn a few extra bucks, and I can give something back to the game"

Eric Frohriep, president of the All-Star Officials Association and assigner of officials to Southwest 10 matches, said the project was borne out of a necessity to attract new officials to the sport.

He sent inquires to conference schools looking for high school-aged players willing to undergo officials training that included viewing a video and power point zoom presentation on YouTube. Twenty-three players wound up attending a clinic this past summer, and 13 from Centreville, Decatur and White Pigeon took the next step by registering as officials. They were eligible to work mostly middle school games this fall.

Frohriep hopes the numbers will grow but is more than content with the program's initial steps. He said volleyball is in critical need of attracting new officials to replace those retiring or moving on. He estimates the average age of volleyball officials to be about 60, and the existing cadre of officials is being spread too thin, including a dwindling number of Southwest 10 Conference officials willing to work several nights a week plus weekend tournaments.

"We absolutely have to," he said of attracting new officials. "For those who retire, we're not replacing them fast enough. We've got to lure new officials to maintain the amount of officials we need."

If the new recruits' reactions are any indication, the program is off to a solid start. Decatur senior setter Sienna Potter said it beats other teenage money-making endeavors from babysitting to working at the mall, plus keeps athletes around a sport they love.

"It was fun," said Potter, who worked a handful of both middle school and freshman matches this fall. "I definitely think officiating can be in my future. There's a big need for referees, and I think this was a good idea. I like the money, but I think it also builds my skill in talking to officials at our games. I liked it a lot. It's something interesting, and the money helps out."

Decatur senior Abby Baushke, who has played volleyball competitively for eight years, worked four middle school matches this fall. The experience left her with a more insightful view of the officials she sees at her own varsity matches.

"Plus it helps me give back to the community and helps players understand the sport better," said Baushke, a Wayne State volleyball commit. "I think (officiating) is easier for us because we've played the game. I've learned that it's hard to make quick calls because the game goes so fast. I've played club for four years, and this definitely can be useful to me besides making money."

White Pigeon athletic director Brooke McClure, a former volleyball official, said the program was successful enough that the Southwest 10 elected to start similar programs in basketball and wrestling this winter. Baseball, track, softball and soccer will follow in the spring.

"It's definitely win-win," she said. "There is a shortage of referees and I think, No. 1, these girls are thinking about the game they love and can see the value in that. They're going to learn what it's like to spend a day in officials' shoes. If we can get more girls involved, then this is our contribution to that."

White Pigeon junior Mercede McDaniel, who has played the sport since fourth grade, admits there was a bit of trepidation as she eased into the program, but that was quickly replaced with the confidence of being a registered official.

"It's a nice way to see volleyball," she said. "I was a little nervous at first in trying this, but I love the game. I definitely liked it."

PHOTO Centreville’s Mary Stears stands adjacent and above the net as she officiates a match this fall. (Photo courtesy of the Centreville athletic department.)

Flynn Continuing to Prove Unique Among State's Best, All-Time Mercy Greats

By Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com

October 3, 2024

FARMINGTON HILLS — It’s easy to roll one’s eyes when saying the Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball program has a unique talent in senior setter Campbell Flynn – because, well, Mercy is a traditional powerhouse that ALWAYS seems to have great players.

Greater DetroitBut even for an accomplished program like Mercy, it will be nearly impossible to see another player like Flynn come through its halls anytime soon, if ever. 

Yes, it’s not often that a player is a member of the under-19 and under-21 U.S. national teams, committed to national powerhouse Nebraska and was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior after helping lead her to the Division 1 championship.

But several tangible and intangible attributes make her truly exceptional.

For starters, she is a 6-foot-3 setter, which isn’t common. In high school – and maybe even for many college programs – that height would definitely qualify her as an outside hitter. 

“Setters are usually a little smaller,” Flynn said. “I always wanted to be a setter, even when I was little. I knew I was going to be pretty tall, but I didn’t know I’d be this tall. I thought I was going to be around 5-10. I just knew I always wanted to be a setter.”

Mercy head coach Loretta Vogel said that height is noticeable before Flynn even touches the ball. 

“She’s deceptively fast,” she said. “She’s 6-4 and she just moves. She just floats over the floor.”

In addition to her height, Flynn is a rarity among setters in that she’s also left-handed. 

“It helps (the team) with hitting over on two and dumping,” Flynn said. “That’s definitely an advantage.”

Flynn and her teammates enjoy a moment during their Semifinal win over Clarkston.Being tall and left-handed probably wouldn’t matter as much by themselves. But add the IQ and feel for the game that Campbell has developed since starting to play volleyball at age 5 — and subsequently at an elite national level — and it’s easy to see why she is so acclaimed.

“She has a great touch on the ball,” Vogel said. “Sort of like a quarterback and they know how to release it and do everything with the ball. Campbell is like that version for us in comparison. She understands the game very well. She’s very capable of reading the block and being able to give the ball to individuals who are open. Just that sense of the game helps tremendously.” 

In winning the Gatorade award as a junior, Flynn accumulated 533 assists, 137 digs and 124 kills even though she missed 15 matches. 

For those who were surprised that Mercy won the Division 1 title last year despite entering the playoffs unranked, consider the run coincided with Flynn becoming fully healthy.

She missed a good portion of last year’s regular season with a minor illness, but once she got healthy and was her dominant self, the Marlins never looked back. 

“We just got so much momentum and we played so much as a team at the end of the season,” Flynn said. “It was just carrying us through all the games. We weren’t afraid, and we were pretty confident even though we were underdogs.”

This fall, Flynn is still hungry for more despite already seemingly accomplishing it all in high school volleyball, and with that scholarship to Nebraska in tow. 

There might be a Miss Volleyball Award to win now that she’s a senior, and she’s still motivated to bring more team success to Mercy.

“I love my team this year,” she said. “Obviously, we are not the underdogs this season, but I feel we have a lot to prove. I’m really excited to prove to everyone that we can win another state title.”

Whether or not that happens in November, it won’t change the fact that when this season is over, even a powerhouse like Mercy will have a nearly impossible task to replace Flynn.

Keith DunlapKeith Dunlap has served in Detroit-area sports media for more than two decades, including as a sportswriter at the Oakland Press from 2001-16 primarily covering high school sports but also college and professional teams. His bylines also have appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Houston Chronicle and the Boston Globe. He served as the administrator for the Oakland Activities Association’s website from 2017-2020. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Campbell Flynn (28) sets Farmington Hills Mercy’s attack during last season’s Division 1 championship win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern. (Middle) Flynn and her teammates enjoy a moment during their Semifinal win over Clarkston.