Big Hitter Now Chelsea Show-Stopper
By
Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
October 8, 2015
By Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
CHELSEA – Emma Hess has spent much of her young life chasing dreams and overcoming odds.
Too young to be involved with the volleyball team? She became a ball girl and manager for the Chelsea High School varsity as a fifth-grader.
Too inexperienced to get a part in a movie? She has been in three movies and moved to California for a year to pursue acting before she decided to return to Chelsea.
Too short to be an outside hitter on the varsity volleyball team? She played on a club volleyball team, took jump training to help elevate her leaping ability and made the Class B all-state team as a junior outside hitter.
Now a senior, the 5-foot-8 Hess is leading Chelsea to another fine season. The Bulldogs are 20-8 and ranked No. 7 in the latest Class B state poll.
Learning the game
Being the daughter of a former setter at Ohio University, Hess was introduced to volleyball at a young age and had the passion to play. Mary Jo Hess, Emma’s mother, was the seventh-grade coach, so Emma had a chance to be manager as a third-grader.
Two years later, she was doing the same thing for Chelsea coach Laura Cleveland’s varsity team.
Cleveland wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the little girl with a big smile when they first met.
“I saw a small little kid, but the biggest thing I saw in Emma – she had a great smile – was that she had a great attitude for learning,” Cleveland said. “When she came in when I was coaching, she would listen to what I was saying, and she would watch the girls and watch the demonstrations and then she would go over and practice it.
“She has a love for the game, and she has an attitude for learning. I think she always had a passion for it since she was little. She made the decision to pursue the passion, and it’s really turned out terrific for her in terms of being able to enjoy playing and playing at a high level because she has put in so much work.”
Hess began playing organized volleyball in the seventh grade, but at the same time she had another dream. After watching several movies on the Disney Channel, Hess told her mother that she wanted to become an actress.
In front of the camera
Sam and Mary Jo Hess listened to their daughter and decided to help her achieve her dream.
“I didn’t they took me seriously, but my mother found me an agent in Michigan, and I got a couple of jobs,” Hess said.
Mary Jo Hess conceded that there was some apprehension about letting Emma pursue acting at such a young age.
“I never would have pursued it for her if I hadn’t gone and seen about getting an agent and heard from some real professionals in the business that were saying, ‘This is really something you should do,’ ” Mary Jo Hess said. “I wanted her to play volleyball since she was a little girl, so when the acting thing came along, I wasn’t expecting that at all.
“We wanted to make sure if this was something she would pursue later, we wanted to know the right people and have her in the right place and make sure she would be taken care of. The worst thing that could have happened is, if we hadn’t done that, when she graduates high school she leaves and you hear about a lot of people who get manipulated.”
In a short amount of time, Hess was able to get three movie credits: “Smooch,” “James and Jenna” and “Home Run Showdown” were filmed in 2011 and 2012. She was credited as Emma-Lee Hess.
“She had a ton of success early,” Mary Jo Hess said. “I had heard a quote that said, ‘It’s typically 45 auditions before you book something,’ and by her fifth audition she had booked something that was a good gig for a commercial.”
Perhaps the largest hurdle of the three movies was landing the role in “Home Run Showdown,” which had more than 1,000 kids audition for parts – and Hess was the only girl on a story surrounding a Little League baseball team. It was filmed mostly in the Michigan towns of Milford and Taylor and also in Toledo, Ohio, and the cast was headlined by recognizable actors Dean Cain and Matthew Lillard.
“It wasn’t really big, but it paid money,” Hess said. “It was an experience, and it was really fun. I spent my whole summer with about 30 guys playing baseball and was the only girl.
“I also did a Hallmark movie called ‘Smooch,’ which plays on Valentine’s Day normally, and I also did a short film called ‘James and Jenna.’ I got to meet some really cool people on that.”
So, in the eighth grade, Hess moved to California to pursue acting, but she soon discovered that the business side of it was extremely tough, and she returned home after a year.
“I really wanted to pursue the TV aspect of it, but there was so much rejection out there, and I guess I wanted to do something where I would be rewarded,” Hess said. “I wanted people to know my name in acting, and because it wasn’t happening at the pace that I wanted, I decided to focus on something else, so volleyball became my motivation.
“Being in a town like this, people know me for the movies a little bit, but being known for volleyball is really important to me. Volleyball became my motivation.”
Above the net
In the ninth grade, Hess returned to Chelsea and returned to volleyball. She made the junior varsity team, but she was an outside hitter and not a setter as her mother had hoped.
“Mom wanted to raise a setter, but she has her daddy’s leaps, so I had to let that go,” said Mary Jo Hess, who is an assistant coach on the varsity. “When she was a freshman and setting on the JV, a short time afterward Coach Cleveland moved her, and that was OK, and of course I defer to her for everything.”
Cleveland saw something special in Hess despite being a few inches shorter than ideal for an outside hitter.
“As a freshman, we tried her as a setter, but then I thought, ‘No, that one’s a hitter,’” Cleveland said. “The thing about volleyball is that height would be great, but really it’s speed, and Emma has speed. If you’re fast and jump well and are faster than the block, those are things you really want.”
Although Hess is able to elevate above the net and delivers some powerful kills, her game is not all about speed and power. She has excellent vision and often will place the ball in a vacant spot on the court with a softer hit for a kill.
“I have a height disadvantage, especially being on the outside where most sets go to,” she said. “I really try to beat people at their own game, so if you’re not going to be on the line, I’m going to shoot it there.
“I try to read beforehand and pick out things that I know they’re not going to be able to pick up. That’s a big part. Being able to tip smart is really important. I have to go up and jump really high, and I use everything I’ve got to get up, and I swing hard. I don’t want them to be able to touch it because that’s the best feeling, getting a kill.”
Hess made varsity as a sophomore, and last year she made all-state as a junior.
“I love hitting a ball that no one touches, and even if there is a block, knowing that at my height and at that disadvantage, to take advantage of another team like that is great,” Hess said. “You get so excited, and the crowd pushes you so much.”
Never satisfied, Hess then set another goal for this season.
“This year, I want to run the defense and have the most kills,” she said.
Cleveland confirmed that the latest challenge is another win for Hess.
“She really is reading well and is in the right positions, and that is one of her biggest assets,” Cleveland said. “That’s both offensively and defensively.”
Hess wants to continue playing volleyball in college and has talked with Ferris State, Northwood and Eastern Michigan. She has a 3.977 grade point average, so academics won’t be a problem. Ambition won’t be a problem, either.
“I definitely want to do something in political and social studies and maybe major in political science,” Hess said. “And then I want to go to law school.”
It might not be wise to bet against her.
Chip Mundy served as sports editor at the Brooklyn Exponent and Albion Recorder from 1980-86, and then as a reporter and later copy editor at the Jackson Citizen-Patriot from 1986-2011. He also co-authored Michigan Sports Trivia. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Chelsea's Emma Hess hits during a match this season. (Middle) Hess played a prominent role in the 2012 film "Home Run Showdown." (Below) Hess goes high over the net on a kill attempt. (Photos courtesy of the Hess family.)
VIDEOS: Below are a video of Hess' highlights and also the trailer for "Home Run Showdown." Hess plays the role of Fassi.
Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 10, 2025
After just a week, our list of MHSAA Finals hopefuls has whittled down to 128 who hoisted District title trophies – and they will have an opportunity to raise another Mitten in just a few days as they continue their march to Battle Creek.
Up next are Regional Semifinals on Tuesday, and all Regional Finals on Thursday. Links to interactive brackets for all four divisions plus information on purchasing tickets is available on the Girls Volleyball page, and a list version of this week’s slate is posted on the Scores page – with green TV icons linked to broadcasts on the NFHS Network.
See below for a look at District Finals that were among the biggest headliners, and glances at three Regionals in each division that should generate the most buzz. Records, results and schedules below are those posted for teams on MHSAA.com, and rankings reflect polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Bloomfield Hills d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (18-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21) There’s no understating the significance of this win for No. 2-ranked Bloomfield Hills (39-6-1), as Marian (44-6-0) had made at least the Semifinals four of the last five seasons and won three-straight Division 1 titles from 2020-22.
2. South Lyon d. South Lyon East (27-25, 17-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-6) The honorable mention Lions (35-10-0) hung on through the end of what could have been a match-clinching fourth set for No. 5 East (38-8-1), then dominated the fifth to avenge two regular-season losses with a Division 1 District title victory.
3. Romeo d. Utica Eisenhower (19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-9) Unranked Romeo (27-10-1) claimed a Division 1 District championship by avenging a pair of regular-season losses to the Macomb Area Conference Red rival Eagles (33-5-3), who entered the postseason ranked No. 7 and won the first two sets of this match.
4. Parma Western d. Marshall (25-18, 25-21, 30-28) These Interstate 8 Athletic Conference opponents met for the third time, unranked Western (40-9-3) getting the win in this Division 2 District Final after No. 9 Marshall (32-12-5) won the first meeting and they played to a draw at the league tournament.
5. Grand Rapids Christian d. Grand Rapids South Christian (15-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-22) The No. 3-ranked Eagles (24-8-0) locked up a Division 2 District championship, adding to a Sept. 2 win over the No. 8 Sailors (24-9-0).
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold, and top two seeds at each are noted.
DIVISION 1
Hartland
South Lyon (35-10-0) vs. Brighton (32-7-2)
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (28-6-3) vs. Farmington Hills Mercy (21-4-2)
Mercy has been considered one of the statewide favorites all season and entered the playoffs ranked No. 3. The Marlins have regular-season wins over South Lyon and Brighton but will see honorable mention St. Mary’s for the first time this fall. The Eaglets have won 21 straight matches and like Mercy are Catholic High School League division champions. Like St. Mary’s and South Lyon – the latter coming off its big win over No. 5 South Lyon East noted above – Brighton entered the postseason an honorable mention in Division 1 as well and has won 12 of its last 14 matches.
Hudsonville
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (39-8-1) vs. Grand Haven (36-10-0)
Hudsonville (31-8-1) vs. Rockford (43-1-1)
All four entered the postseason ranked – Rockford at No. 1, Forest Hills Northern No. 6, Hudsonville at No. 9 and Grand Haven No. 10. The Rams have defeated Hudsonville three times, although the Eagles forced a fourth set in both league matches, and Rockford swept Grand Haven in their two Ottawa-Kent Conference Red meetings. Rockford and Forest Hills Northern last met in a Regional Semifinal last season, when the Rams won in four sets. The Huskies may get the chance to avenge but can’t look past Grand Haven; they’ve defeated Grand Haven twice this season but also lost in three sets when the teams met in early September.
Portage Northern
Mattawan (22-18-0) vs. Byron Center (34-5-2)
Caledonia (24-18-0) vs. Battle Creek Lakeview (38-8-7)
Byron Center entered the postseason as an honorable mention in the final coaches poll and also won its District a year ago before falling to Lakeview in a Regional Semifinal. The Bulldogs have a win over Mattawan and a pair over Caledonia this season but have not faced Lakeview this fall. The Spartans have a five-set win over Mattawan but will be seeing Caledonia for the first time this season as well. Lakeview did go on last season to reach the Division 1 Quarterfinals and avenged its only loss over the last month by defeating Portage Central in their District Final last week.
DIVISION 2
Charlotte
Parma Western (40-9-3) vs. Niles (16-16-0)
Battle Creek Harper Creek (30-21-1) vs. Tecumseh (53-2-0)
Tecumseh is ranked No. 6 and the presumed favorite this week after also finishing Division 2 runner-up a year ago, although Harper Creek also reached the Semifinals last season and should provide a challenge. Tecumseh has defeated Western twice and Harper Creek once this fall and not seen Niles to this point. But Western and Niles both are coming off what would be considered upsets last week, Western defeating No. 9 Marshall (see above) and Niles clinching its District title against honorable mention Edwardsburg after falling to the Eddies just two weeks before.
Grand Rapids South Christian
Grand Rapids Christian (24-8-0) vs. Holland Christian (26-8-0)
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (34-12-1) vs. Lake Odessa Lakewood (22-22-0)
As noted above, Grand Rapids Christian is ranked No. 3 and is seeking its first Division 2 championship since winning three straight from 2018-20. The Eagles own one win this fall over all of the other three teams competing at South Christian this week, but this Regional is loaded with Grand Rapids Catholic Central ranked No. 4 and Holland Christian ranked No. 5. If Holland Christian were to get past Grand Rapids Christian and see the Cougars, it would be a first meeting this fall between those two. Lakewood and Grand Rapids Catholic Central also are meeting for the first time.
Yale
Marysville (31-13-1) vs. Detroit Country Day (19-8-0)
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (31-14-2) vs. North Branch (40-8-0)
This Regional is anchored by the reigning Division 2 champion Yellowjackets and top-ranked North Branch, which overtook now-No. 2 Country Day in the final coaches poll. They have not faced each other this season, but Country Day won their Quarterfinal match a year ago in five sets. There is plenty of intrigue in this bracket because of the two unranked teams as well. Marysville and Notre Dame Prep also are among the most successful programs in MHSAA history, and the Fighting Irish won the Division 2 title just four years ago. Both Regional Semifinals are first-time meetings this season. Marysville did win its lone matchup this fall with NDP, at the latter’s invitational in September.
DIVISION 3
Centreville
Kalamazoo Christian (26-12-3) vs. Bangor (28-5-2)
Constantine (27-10-3) vs. Bronson (28-17-6)
Kalamazoo Christian defeated Bangor and Bronson at last year’s Regional on the way to reaching the Division 3 Semifinals in Battle Creek. The No. 8-ranked Comets haven’t faced either this season but do have a win over Constantine. Bronson, an honorable mention heading into the postseason, hasn’t faced any of this week’s possible opponents but has taken all but one of its losses this season from Division 1 and 2 teams. Bangor is 15-2-2 since the start of October, and Constantine has won 11 of its last 13 matches – although Bangor dealt the most recent defeat.
Clinton
Hanover-Horton (41-1-1) vs. Jackson Lumen Christi (16-16-1)
Grass Lake (25-13-4) vs. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (23-4-1)
Reigning champion Monroe St. Mary prepped for this run with another schedule of nearly all Division 1 and Division 2 opponents. In addition to facing tough competition, the added significance of that for this week is the Kestrels and Hanover-Horton haven’t met since SMCC won their Quarterfinal a year ago. The Comets opened this season going 2-1-1 at the Chelsea Invitational – falling to Parma Western and tying Milford – and have won every match thereafter. They entered the playoffs ranked No. 4, with St. Mary at No. 5. Grass Lake has won 11 of its last 12 matches, the lone defeat to Hanover-Horton in the Cascades Conference Tournament. Lumen Christi has won seven of its last eight, the defeat coming against Grass Lake.
Houghton Lake
Roscommon (45-2-0) vs. Kingsley (52-4-1)
Beal City (34-9-1) vs. Breckenridge (36-6-3)
This Regional arguably packs as much punch as any in any division. Top-ranked Roscommon has lost only to No. 7 Traverse City St. Francis and Division 1 Caledonia, and has two wins over No. 3 Kingsley and defeated No. 10 Beal City in their lone meeting two weeks ago. The Bucks have lost only eight sets all season. Kingsley’s defeats were only to Roscommon and Division 2 Flat Rock and Tecumseh, and the Stags are on a two-month winning streak with only one tie mixed in. Kingsley has defeated Beal City three times, but all of the Aggies’ losses were to either ranked teams or Division 2 opponents. Breckenridge is unranked but 12-2 since the start of October and avenged its most recent loss by defeating St. Louis in their District Final.
DIVISION 4
Carson City-Crystal
Fowler (31-8-2) vs. Mason County Eastern (19-12-1)
Grand Rapids Sacred Heart (29-2-0) vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (25-8-6)
Fowler and Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart have bounced around the top 10 in Division 4 all season, settling in at Nos. 2 and 5, respectively, heading into District play. Sacred Heart actually won their lone meeting, in four sets Sept. 11. Fowler hasn’t faced Mason County Eastern this season, and the Cardinals are on a nice 8-2-1 run over the last month after a couple of rough patches earlier this fall. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart defeated Grand Rapids Sacred Heart in four sets on Sept. 25, but Grand Rapids Sacred Heart’s only other loss was to Division 3 Fennville.
L’Anse
Crystal Falls Forest Park (39-1-0) vs. Hancock (26-4-2)
Norway (18-8-2) vs. Ishpeming (22-5-2)
This Forest Park/Hancock matchup has been one of the Upper Peninsula’s most anticipated all season after Hancock won last year’s Regional Final meeting and ended a two-year string of Trojans trips to the Semifinals. Hancock advanced instead, ending last fall at Kellogg Arena, but Forest Park avenged in their only match this season Sept. 13. The Trojans’ only loss this fall came during the first tournament of the season to Division 3 No. 6 Saginaw Valley Lutheran, and Hancock’s only other defeats came to Division 2 Kingsford and Negaunee and Division 3 Calumet. Norway is on a 15-3-1 run since mid-September and will take on an Ishpeming team that hasn’t lost in nearly a month – most recently falling to Hancock on Oct. 16.
Mendon
Mendon (34-6-1) vs. Martin (16-11-0)
St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran (28-7-3) vs. Battle Creek St. Philip (24-14-5)
Mendon is seeking its first Regional title since its most recent Division 4 championship season of 2019, and the top-ranked Hornets started a 14-3 run on Sept. 30 with a four-set win over No. 8 St. Philip. If they meet again, it will mean the Tigers ended Michigan Lutheran’s 10-match winning streak, during which the Titans have lost only one set. St. Phil last week won its District for the 26th-straight season and is seeking its first Regional title since its Division 4 title-winning season of 2021. Martin has won four straight District titles and nine of its last 11 matches this fall, with both losses during that run to teams still alive.
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern’s Isabel Ayars (12) gets to a ball during her team’s Division 1 District Final win over East Grand Rapids on Thursday. (Middle) Davison’s Darby Crystal (14) winds up for a hit during the Cardinals’ sweep of Lapeer on Wednesday. (FHN/EGR photo by Michigan Sports Photo. Davison/Lapeer photo by Terry Lyons.)