Undefeated Calumet Upholding Tradition
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
October 22, 2020
CALUMET — Over nearly two decades, Calumet has developed a tradition of excellence in high school volleyball.
First-year coach Kate (Twardzik) Bonacorsi remembers what it was like during the early years.
“We were an unknown,” she said. “Hardly anybody would come to the volleyball matches. Then we won the (Class B) Regional in 2003 and kind of raised the bar.
“A lot of the credit has to go to my mom (Lisa Twardzik) for all the work she put into the program and the passion she had for the game.”
Their multiple-generation coaching connection is just the latest from a legacy that is again producing a team capable of achieving high aspirations.
The Copper Kings – honorable mentions in this week’s Division 3 coaches poll – are fresh from Monday’s 3-0 victory over Houghton and will take an 11-0 record into Saturday’s Western Peninsula Athletic Conference finals on their home court.
Calumet finishes its regular season at Marquette on Oct. 29, then hosts Hancock in a District opener Nov. 4.
“This is pretty exciting after putting all the time in the gym,” said senior libero Cami Johnson. “We have good chemistry on our team for sure. It’s inspiring too for us to be on a competitive team. We were able to see our older sisters play and be part of a successful program, and that motivated us to work harder. I’m proud to be from Calumet.”
The Copper Kings, who fell to Manistique in Regional openers the past two seasons, hope to go deeper in this year’s MHSAA Tournament.
They hope those defeats pay off when the postseason begins.
“When we saw them in warm-ups, they looked pretty good and we were a little nervous about playing them,” said senior outside hitter Elli Djerf of taking on the Emeralds in 2019. “There’s a chance we could see them again this year if we win our District.
“We learned quite a bit from those losses. With COVID-19 you never know when your season might end. We’re not as nervous this time. We play every match like it’s going to be our last.”
Among the team’s highlights this fall was a 3-1 triumph over Marquette at home Sept. 14.
“We made a bit of a statement that night,” said Johnson. “Our hitters were executing, and they had a few strong hitters. We were a little worried when we missed two weeks due to COVID, but after the break we came back super fresh.”
Djerf was the West-PAC’s Player of the Year last season as a junior, and Johnson was the Defensive Specialist of the Year. Now-senior setter Kristi Keranen also made the all-league first team.
Also among the team’s leaders is sophomore middle hitter Helen Beiring. “Helen plays well above her age,” Bonacorsi said. “She’s a very savvy player, and our setter is doing a good job.
“We have strong players at every position, and they challenge each other in practice. Just being able to have a season, maintaining a high standard and living up to expectations has been a highlight.”
A member of Calumet’s Athletic Hall of Fame, Bonacorsi went on to play at Northern Michigan University, and her sister Erica played on the 2008 team that finished Class C runner-up to Schoolcraft.
“Erica and Abby Storm were co-MVPs in the West-PAC that year,” said Bonacorsi. “I remember going to the Semifinals and Finals after we got eliminated from the (NCAA Division II Tournament). It was exciting to see them play.”
Lisa Twardzik retired from coaching after leading the Copper Kings to another Semifinal appearance in 2016, and with a record of 625-131-43 over 18 seasons. Matt Laho took over for the next three seasons.
“Matt did a great job maintaining the program and has been gracious enough to help out, and Mom gave me some pointers,” said Bonacorsi. “Matt left me with a full cupboard. Mom is so modest and tells me ‘I don’t want to step on your toes,’ and I tell her ‘I need your help.’”
Djerf pointed to the team’s communication on the floor among areas becoming strengths this season. She also noted the team’s serve-receive and serving as contributors to Calumet’s overall continued improvement.
All have the Copper Kings in position to again thrive into November.
“It feels great to be part of a tradition. When you’re a little girl, you look up to the older girls. We thought they were so cool and wanted to be a part of that,” Keranen said.
“We work hard in practice. So far we’ve gone undefeated, and we want to keep it going.”
John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
PHOTO: Calumet's Helen Beiring taps the ball over the net during a match against Hancock in September. (Photo courtesy of the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette.)
Three Rivers Follows Past Standout to League Title, with More Historic Hopes
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
October 31, 2023
THREE RIVERS – Megan Jergens was a sophomore outside hitter when Three Rivers won its last Wolverine Conference volleyball title in 2013.
Ten years later, Jergens has the Wildcats sitting back on top of the league standings again as she winds down her first season as head coach.
Three Rivers (40-9-2) reclaimed the long-awaited honor with a 6-1 record sharing the crown with Edwardsburg and Otsego.
The latest championship, along with a couple of individuals on the team who have sketched their name into the MHSAA record book, has created a ton of excitement entering this week's Division 2 District tournament at Paw Paw.
Three Rivers, No. 8 in the final Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association poll, won its District-opening match Monday defeating Paw Paw 25-8, 25-20, 25-3. The Wildcats are scheduled to face Dowagiac in a District semifinal match at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Jergens, Three Rivers' junior varsity mentor the last four seasons, was hired in April to replace former coach Lauren Cholometes.
A solid summer of conditioning and attendance at a couple of camps helped put the building blocks in place for a successful season in Three Rivers.
Expectations have been high with six returning seniors and a couple of underclassmen who play key roles.
Jergens’ biggest concerns initially when she took the reins of the program were how to get a large group of returning seniors the best experience possible while being highly competitive.
"We have a lot of potential with this group and many phenomenal athletes. The main question was how can we take full advantage of this and put it to good use," Jergens said.
Three Rivers' preseason goals were similar to those at all schools with conference, District, Regional and state title hopes.
"Those are everybody's goals, but you have to set little ones to accomplish the bigger ones. It just doesn't happen overnight," Jergens said. “Here at Three Rivers, we are blessed to have a phenomenal weight room that's open four days during the summer. Except for our dead periods, all of our girls were in there lifting every day. There was a big emphasis on our summer workouts. They understand that anything we accomplish has to be earned; it's not just given to them.”
Three Rivers attended the Aquinas Summer Slam which features some of the state's elite teams. The Wildcats also spent a few days at the Ferris State University Camp.
"Playing in those summer scrimmages really helped prepare us for our early-season matches. It allowed us to get off to a much quicker start against some of the better teams in our league," Jergens said.
Besides a rigorous league schedule, Three Rivers competed against several Division 1 schools in weekend tournaments at Gull Lake, the Cereal City Classic in Battle Creek and the Williamston Tournament, where the Wildcats finished first.
"Those kind of tournaments make us work hard for every point, but in the long run it makes us a much better team," Jergens added. “Our practices are extremely competitive because of the personnel we have on this team. Our bench players would be starters at a lot of other schools. We have 14 players on the roster because their attitudes have been really positive. These girls really embrace their individual roles."
Three Rivers has three seniors who have started on varsity since their sophomore season. They are senior middle hitter Jenna Southland, along with right-side hitter Allie McGlothlen and defensive specialist Aliza Munro.
Southland, a 6-foot-2 returning third-team all-stater, leads Three Rivers in kills with 619, a .356 hitting percentage, 99 blocks, 223 digs and 59 aces. This year she has made MHSAA record books lists with 30 kills in a single match, along with most kills in a season (619) and career kills (1,438). She has committed to play at the Division II level at Hillsdale College next fall.
"Our attacking is solid because we have strong hitters all around who know where to place the ball. I feel like our determination has been a big factor as well," Southland said. "I've improved a great deal on my court vision, knowing where my blockers are and talking to the other hitters."
McGlothlen also has been a consistent performer for Three Rivers at right-side hitter. She has 223 kills, 326 digs, 35 aces and 64 blocks.
"Both Jenna and Allie play all-around for us and are powerhouse hitters. We really look to both of them for a lot of contributions," Jergens said. "All of our senior class are strong leaders on and off the court. That kind of leadership can't be taught, and I'm really thankful for that."
McGlothlen also has raised some interest from college coaches with her ability.
"Winning conference and raising that banner was really exciting and special. We worked very hard to get there," McGlothlen said. "We know we always have to be aggressive at the net even with how good our defense is."
Munro, the Wildcats' No. 1 libero, has 526 digs to go with 25 aces.
"Aliza runs our defense. She's a phenomenal serve-receive passer who keeps us steady in the back row," Jergens said.
Munro will continue her playing career the next four years for Spring Arbor University, an NAIA school.
"We never give up on any balls, and our back row communicates very well. We can be down a couple sets, regroup and come back and win," Munro said.
Lending additional power at the net is senior middle/right-side hitter Arabella Mangold. She has 258 kills, a .240 hitting percentage, 302 digs, 64 blocks and 28 aces.
"Arabella has been a real positive influence on our team. We switched her to middle hitter this year, and I couldn't ask for a better person than her in that role," Jergens said.
Sophomore Miley Southland, Jenna's younger sister, has run the offense to near perfection from her setter's spot as a second-year starter. She has 1,179 assists to go with 78 kills, 33 blocks and 46 aces. She registered an MHSAA record 46 assists in a match against Sturgis, then later surpassed that with 56 against Otsego.
Three Rivers runs a fast-paced offense with various options of attack.
"We run multiple plays that Miley can choose from, and she does a nice job of setting up our offense," Jergens said.
The Southlands also happen to be the younger sisters of Three Rivers' head coach.
"Coaching them (Jenna and Miley) is a special dynamic that I'm very thankful for. I am eight and 10 years older than them so we've never been super close, but this has allowed us to have that sister dynamic back,” Jergens said. “They respect me as a coach, so it doesn't really feel like I'm out there coaching my sisters. I look at it as a privilege, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.”
Jenna Southland is thankful for the chance to bond with her older sister.
"I love playing for Megan. She pushes me and knows what I need as a player, and I know I can trust her," Jenna Southland said.
Miley is equally ecstatic about playing for her oldest sister.
"It's a lot of fun playing for my older sister. We have real good chemistry, and she knows when to push me and when to back off a little," Miley Southland said. "I feel encouraged by my teammates, and I've really improved on my connection with the hitters. I see the court much better and know where to set the ball."
Seniors Lanie Glass and Maddie O'Hara have played significant roles as well for Three Rivers.
Glass has 99 kills, 37 aces, 114 digs and 24 blocks at outside hitter, while O'Hara sports totals of 114 kills, 74 digs and 22 blocks at left-outside hitter.
Jergens has coached most of her players on her varsity roster, since they played for her at the JV level or on her club teams.
"These girls have had me as a coach for a long time. That's made the coaching transition much easier for them since I took over," Jergens said. “I feel like we have a special relationship because they know me inside and out and what my expectations of them are. There is a mutual respect between us.”
Three Rivers' league title was just the third in school history in volleyball, joining those won in 2012 and 2013.
Should Three Rivers win its District, the Wildcats would get a possible rematch with Otsego in the Regional. Otsego edged Three Rivers in the final league match 25-20, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16, 20-18.
Three Rivers’ longest postseason run in this sport came in 2021, when the Wildcats reached the Regional Final before falling to Niles.
"Winning league has been a full-circle moment for us because volleyball isn't a sport that Three Rivers has necessarily been a powerhouse in. We have a standout conference where we have multiple teams that play at a high level," Jergens said.
“This team is really special, and they know they are special. I'm really excited to see what we can do in Districts.”
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Seniors Jenna Southland (12) and Madelyn O'Hara combine at the net to block a kill attempt by a South Haven player. (Middle) Senior Allie McGlothlen is escorted by her parents Jon and Kristine McGlothlen on Parent's Night at Three Rivers prior to that match. (Below) Three Rivers varsity volleyball players and their coaches celebrate their first Wolverine Conference title since 2013 after a recent match at Otsego. (Top and middle photo by Scott Hassinger. Below photo courtesy of Three Rivers’ athletic department.)