Title IX at 50: Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 12, 2021

The national high school record book’s lists for most girls volleyball coaching wins – both among those still active and all-time – is filled with Michigan legendary leaders.

Temperance Bedford’s Jodi Manore tops both of those illustrious rosters. And it’s not even close.

Manore entered this season with a 2,128-369-59 coaching record at the high school level, from two stints at Bedford – beginning with the winter season of 1979-80 through 1983, and continuing with her return to her alma mater during the winter season of 1989-90 through today.

At the start and in between, Manore also served as the University of Toledo’s first women’s coach preceding and during her first tenure with Bedford, and then until returning to the Kicking Mules for her current run. Along the way, she’s led them to Class A championships in 1998, 2001 and 2005, five more Finals runner-up finishes and a total of 24 trips to the Semifinals.

Manore’s 2,128 wins were 363 more than the total of the next closest active coach after last season and 296 more than former Portage Northern and Delton Kellogg coach Jack Magelssen – the previous MHSAA and national record holder.  

Manore was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Hall of Fame this summer. (Click for an indepth 2015 Second Half feature.)

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

Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

Oct. 5: Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: 
Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: 
Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: 
Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read

Be the Referee: Libero

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

September 17, 2024

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Libero - Listen

In volleyball, a libero is a defensive player who plays in the back row. It’s a fairly new position, as it was introduced in 1998 – and the libero plays by some unique rules:

► The libero wears a different color jersey from the rest of the team – so they are easily identifiable. Only one libero can be designated for each set of a match.

► The libero can serve, but can't perform an overhead set in front of the attack line, or complete an attack if the ball is above the net.

► The libero is never allowed to rotate to the front line.

► The libero is the first line of defense, often passing to the setter and covering open spaces.

► The libero can be replaced without restriction – but in the event of an injury, can only be replaced by the player the libero originally replaced.

Previous 2024-25 Editions

Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen

PHOTO Livonia Franklin libero Mckenna Moore (1) defends during her team's match against Livonia Churchill this season. (Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)