Today in the MHSAA: 11/14/18
November 14, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
We’ve linked up coverage of all 16 Girls Volleyball Quarterfinals from Tuesday plus a special announcement celebrating this fall’s top player.
1. Volleyball: Top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central came back from a 2-1 deficit to down No. 5 Manchester in a Division 3 Quarterfinal – Monroe Evening News
2. Volleyball: No. 3 Lake Odessa Lakewood fell in the first set but won the next three over No. 5 Wixom St. Catherine in Division 2 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
3. Volleyball: Top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian swept No. 6 Hamilton a Division 2 Quarterfinal – WZZM
4. Volleyball: No. 4 Southfield Christian made its first Semifinals in this sport with a Division 4 sweep of Kingston – Oakland Press
5. Volleyball: No. 9 Carney-Nadeau moved on to its first Semifinal with a five-set win over honorable mention Onaway in Division 4 – Escanaba Daily Press
6. Volleyball: After falling in the first set, No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis came back to win the next three over honorable mention Beal City in Division 3 – MI Sports Now
7. Volleyball: No. 2 Mendon swept No. 7 Adrian Lenawee Christian to advance to the Division 4 Semifinals – WWMT
8. Volleyball: No. 1 Farmington Hills Mercy added to an impressive two-month streak with a sweep of Sterling Heights Stevenson in Division 1 – C&G Newspapers
9. Volleyball: No. 8 Northville swept Livonia Churchill to move on in Division 1 despite the absence of a top player – Observer & Eccentric
10. Volleyball: No. 2 Lake Orion swept honorable mention Flushing to move on in Division 1 – Oakland Press
Also of note …
Volleyball: No. 7 Rockford swept Richland Gull Lake to advance to the Division 1 Semifinals – WOOD TV
Volleyball: Corunna swept Kingsley in a matchup of honorable mentions to advance to the Division 2 Semifinals – Owosso Argus-Press
Volleyball: No. 2 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep swept Detroit Communication Media Arts to advance in Division 2 – Oakland Press
Volleyball: No. 6 Unionville-Sebewaing came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Brown City in five in Division 3 – Huron Daily Tribune
Volleyball: No. 2 Bronson swept honorable mention Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian to move on in Division 3 – FOX 17
Volleyball: Top-ranked Leland swept Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart to win its Division 4 Quarterfinal – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Volleyball: Notre Dame Prep senior Maddy Chinn was named this season’s Miss Volleyball Award winner by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association – Oakland Press
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)