Performance of the Week: Kingsley's Jenna Middleton

September 25, 2026

Jenna Middleton headshot

Jenna Middleton ♦ Kingsley
Senior ♦ Volleyball

Kingsley’s record-setting outside hitter became the 35th player in MHSAA girls volleyball history to reach 2,000 kills during the rally scoring era, doing so during her team’s win over Negaunee on Sept 12, and then set the school record for kills three days later during a win over Grayling. She’s up to 2,057 career kills after adding 23 more to her total Tuesday against Harbor Springs. 

The returning all-stater also was her team’s leading hitter as the Stags won last season’s Division 3 championship, and she’s helped Kingsley to a 27-3-1 record and No. 5 ranking this week in Division 2. She does not intend to continue playing volleyball after high school, but plans to attend Northern Michigan University and study English and potentially creative writing or journalism.

@mhsaasports 🏐 POW: Jenna Middleton #Kingsley #Volleyball #Record #PerformanceOfTheWeek #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports 🏐 POW: Jenna Middleton #TikTalk #FunFacts #FYP #HighSchoolSports #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

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Past 2026-27 honorees

Sept. 18: Caden Livermore, Grandville cross country - Read

(Photos courtesy of the Kingsley volleyball program.)

Be the Referee: Volleyball Obstruction

By Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director

September 23, 2021

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 – Volleyball Obstruction - Listen

Ever wonder why in volleyball some balls hit into obstructions remain in play, while others are replayed, and some end the rally?

If a ball hits an obstruction over a playable area during a rally, and then is played by the same team, it has the same status as any other hit. However, that isn’t the case in all other instances.

If the ball hitting the wall or an object attached flush to the wall doesn’t actually interfere with a player’s legitimate effort to play the ball, the ball is dead and a loss of rally and point shall be awarded. If it does interfere with the playing of the ball, a replay is declared if the wall is less than six feet from the boundary.

If the ball hits a suspended backboard over the playable area, a replay will be declared as long as the referee believes the ball would have remained in play. Serves that hit any obstruction are a loss of rally and point.

Previous editions

Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch - Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen 
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen 
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics – Listen