#TBT: Marysville Domination Unmatched
August 20, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Marysville volleyball program built a pair of incredible streaks at the turn of this century, one that was equaled last season – and a second that likely won’t be approached.
Battle Creek St. Philip enters this fall with a chance to break Marysville’s record of eight straight MHSAA championships won from 1997-2004 – the Tigers tied that streak by again winning Class D a year ago. But no team in MHSAA history has come within 90 wins of Marysville’s incredible 192-match winning streak from 1996 into 2000.
The 192-match winning streak also remains fourth nationally – Amherst’s Sweet Home Central won a ridiculous 292 straight matches from 1978-87.
The photos above and below are from the 2000-01 Class B Final, a sweep of Fruitport 15-2, 15-9, that left the Vikings a mere 60-1 on the season after suffering that streak-breaking loss. Four players – Karen Conger with 19, Megan Harrison 15 and Kelly Thomas and Brittny Godlewski with 14 apiece – had double-digit kills in the match, and Thomas also had 22 assists. Marysville faced and defeated Fruitport in three straight Class B Finals from 2001-2003.
This summer, longtime Marysville coach John Knuth was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He led the program from the 1983-84 season through 2007, then came back as co-coach for 2011, and finished with a record of 1,135-84-38 to rank fourth on the MHSAA coaching wins list in his sport.
PHOTOS: (Top) Marysville players celebrate match point against Fruitport in the 2001 MHSAA Class B Final at Western Michigan University. (Middle) Longtime Marysville coach John Knuth remains fourth in MHSAA history for volleyball wins with 1,135.
Story in Photos: 2022 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 18, 2022
The 2022 Volleyball Finals field is full, with Division 2 and 3 title contenders earning their way Friday to the final day of this season.
Saturday’s championship match schedule, including the Division 4 and 1 finales determined Thursday, will conclude the fall at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena:
10 a.m. – Division 4 – Athens (34-12-3) vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (43-7-6)
Noon – Division 1 – Bloomfield Hills Marian (48-1) vs. Northville (47-3)
2:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Pewamo-Westphalia (45-2-2) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (39-5-3)
4:30 p.m. – Division 2 – North Branch (52-7) vs. Cadillac (34-10-4)
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Friday’s Semifinals:
Cadillac’s Makenzie Johns (13) blasts a ball over the net as Dearborn Divine Child’s Reese Ringwelski (1) puts up a block. Johns had eight kills as Cadillac prevailed 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-13.
The Vikings’ Cassie Jenema (4) sets for her teammates as Divine Child awaits on the other side of the net. The Falcons finished this fall 16-19-1.
North Branch libero Hailey Green (4) passes the ball from the back row during her team’s 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 win over Grand Rapids South Christian. She had 19 digs.
The Sailors’ Kennedy Arp (6) looks for an opening in the Broncos’ defense. She finished with four kills as her team concluded the season 36-7-3.
Lola Stecker (3) blocks a Calumet kill attempt during Kalamazoo Christian’s 16-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11 comeback win over the Copper Kings, who finished 30-7.
Kalamazoo Christian teammates converge on libero Hope Krichke (4) to celebrate their Semifinal win.
Pewamo-Westphalia’s Chloe Hengesbach (4) and Sierra Schnieder (12) put up a strong block during the Pirates’ 25-15, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Cass City. Schneider finished with four blocks.
The Pirates’ Taylor Smith (11) sets for Schneider. Smith posted a match-high 26 assists. Cass City ended the season 34-9-3.
TOP PHOTO Kalamazoo Christian’s Annelise de Jong (2) and Calumet’s Allison Bjorn (17) simultaneously make contact with the ball at the net during their Division 3 Semifinal on Friday.