Dakota's Snyder a High Flier
November 19, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
BATTLE CREEK – Carli Snyder was easy to find for a few reasons in the minutes before Macomb Dakota finished its first championship run Saturday at Kellogg Arena.
She was the only member of her team warming up in a power blue T-shirt, for example. Then there were the secret handshakes, each one different for every other starter on the floor.
But the most obvious show-stopper was simply the ridiculousness with which the 6-foot-1 Snyder smashed every ball into the wood below.
Especially at the high school level, an uncommon athlete is easy to spot. Snyder, a two-time all-stater who led the Cougars to the Class A title Saturday, is that athlete. She put the finishing touches over the weekend on one of the best hitting seasons in MHSAA volleyball history. And by this time next year, we might be calling her a two-time champion – and Miss Volleyball.
“Her sophomore year, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s so (good).’ And then coming into this year, you didn't think she’d get that much better,” Dakota coach Tracie Ferguson said. “It’s just amazing how much she’s gotten better. I didn't think it was possible because she was so good last year.
“It’s just her mentality on the court and her leadership on the court and just keeping those girls calm and saying, ‘ We've got this.’ She’s grown so much since she was a freshman, on the mental part of it.”
Snyder gets a Second Half High 5 for leading her team to an unprecedented height. Unofficially, she finished this fall with 913 kills – good for seventh for one season in MHSAA history since the beginning of the rally scoring era in 2004-05. She had 31 kills in the Final, third most for a championship match since the scoring change. She also tallied 14 digs and three aces.
But this season, she took on something more that helped the Cougars go farther than they ever had during the 17-year history of the school.
“When I was a freshman in high school, we’d joke, ‘Freshman Carli lets out’ when I’d yell at the ref or something. I used to pull on my ears. I’d flip out if I did something wrong,” Snyder remembered Saturday. “This year, if I made a mistake, it’s next ball. Everybody knows I've got this, and it’s not the end of the world.
“A couple of years ago, it really seemed like it was.”
Dakota finished 19-27-3 the season before Snyder started high school. With her as a freshman, the Cougars improved to 28-17-4. Last fall, Dakota finished 32-13-2 and won a Regional title. And this season’s final record was 59-5.
That’s not to say Snyder was the only reason for the success. Half of Dakota’s starting lineup was seniors, and Snyder is one of four juniors talented enough to break into the main rotation. The rest of the lineup combined for 19 kills, and junior setter Megan Manuerski had 43 assists to also rank on the MHSAA Finals record book list.
But Snyder was the playmaker. Bedford managed only five blocks against Dakota. Snyder had only two errors on 54 attacks for an incredible .537 kill percentage.
“She’s pretty darn good. I wish she was a senior,” joked Bedford coach Jodi Manore, who has seen her share of big hitters over 28 seasons. “She was up over the top of us.”
Everyone knows by this point that Snyder is going to be on the attack just about every time. She had 50 of her team’s 94 kills on the weekend. Defenses are rarely caught off-guard. “It’s difficult. But I've played volleyball for a while so I’m not used to it, I’d say, but it’s kind of expected,” Snyder said. “And Megan, she puts the ball where sometimes the other team doesn't know. She holds the block so well."
Snyder will no doubt enter next season among favorites for that Miss Volleyball award, along with Battle Creek St. Philip hitter Sierra Hubbard-Neil among those who claimed championships over the weekend. Snyder also has already committed to play at the University of Florida, the Southeastern Conference champion this fall.
And she'll get plenty more chances to add to her legacy as the Cougars likely will enter next fall as Class A favorites again.
“Physically, yeah, she’s hitting the ball harder. She’s jumping higher. Absolutely,” Ferguson said. “But that’s going to continue as she grows.
“But the mentality part of it, she’s just such a great player to play with. You want her on your team. She’s just such a motivator and a confidence builder for the rest of them. She really led the way.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Macomb Dakota's Carli Snyder (5) celebrates a point with her team during Saturday's championship match. (Middle) Snyder swings on one of her many kills attempts against Temperance Bedford.
Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Week 8 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 15, 2025
We easily could devote the majority of this week’s “Block Party” to the one that took place at Schoolcraft College on Saturday as several of the state’s top teams across Divisions 1, 2 and 3 met to play more than 50 matches, including several which may have nudged this week’s state rankings.
The Region 15 Showcase also had some notables – including wins by Clarkston and Lake Orion over Division 1 contender Bloomfield Hills before both fell to South Lyon. And those were only two of several events of note.
But the biggest matches of the season are still on the way, and we continue to advance into our final three weeks before the start of the MHSAA Tournament.
Records, results and schedules below are those posted for teams on MHSAA.com, and rankings reflect the latest polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Rockford d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (25-16, 25-22) What a week for the Division 1 top-ranked Rams (31-1-0) – over the last six days they defeated No. 8 Grand Haven and No. 9 Hudsonville in league play and went 6-0 at the Beast of the East Tournament topped by this win over No. 3 Marian (34-4-0).
2. Grand Rapids Christian d. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 27-25) Fresh off moving up a spot to No. 1 in Division 2, the Eagles (19-7-0) held on for a key win over the No. 5 Cougars (26-9-1).
3. Farmington Hills Mercy d. Bloomfield Hills Marian (20-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-15, 15-10) The Division 1 No. 2-ranked Marlins came back from two sets down to claim the Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament championship after previously losing the first set but defeating Marian in four during league play.
4. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s d. Detroit Country Day (25-18, 25-19, 25-20) The Eaglets are unranked but might get some attention soon with a 26-6-3 record, CHSL Cardinal championship won last week and now this win over the formerly Division 2 top-ranked Yellowjackets (12-7-0), who also lost to Romeo over the weekend.
5. Hudsonville d. South Lyon East (20-25, 26-24, 15-8) The Eagles’ last two matches have been losses to Rockford, but Hudsonville (25-8-1) otherwise has continued to rise – moving up a spot to No. 9 in Division 1 this week after going 4-1 at Beast of the East topped by this win over the formerly No. 6 Cougars (26-7-1) and another over Grand Rapids Christian.
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (26-8-1) The Huskies are coming off a solid run at Beast of the East, falling to Marian but defeating Mattawan and then-No. 5 Utica Eisenhower. That saw them move up from No. 8 to No. 6 in this week’s poll, and they also have wins over No. 9 Hudsonville, No. 8 Grand Haven, honorable mentions Jenison, East Grand Rapids and Byron Center and three current top-10 teams in Division 2 – No. 5 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, No. 6 Holland Christian and No. 10 Edwardsburg.
Lowell (24-7-2) The Red Arrows have been especially sharp the last three weeks, with a run of 9-1-1 that has seen them move up to No. 5 in the Division 1 poll. Over those 11 matches they’ve defeated No. 8 Grand Haven, No. 6 Forest Hills Northern and Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian among others. Lowell finished undefeated in River Cities Alliance matches with the league tournament this weekend, and the Red Arrows can take another step when they host several of the state’s best Oct. 25 for the East vs. West Challenge.
DIVISION 2
Essexville Garber (32-9-2) The Dukes are on the move again after last season’s run to the Division 2 Semifinals, with 16 wins over their last seven matches including a 6-0 march through the New Lothrop Tournament this past weekend during which they gave up just one set. Garber tested itself right away this fall, with a pair of early losses to Marian and one apiece to Kingsley and Flat Rock especially sticking out over the first few weeks. They’ll get the chance Oct. 30 to avenge a midseason loss to Division 3 No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran.
Marshall (25-8-1) A win over Division 3 honorable mention Bronson last week was the latest highest for the Redhawks, who sit at No. 9 in Division 2 with 10 wins over their last 11 matches. They are undefeated in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference play with Battle Creek Harper Creek and Hastings left before the league tournament Oct. 25. Much like a win over Division 3 No. 7 Kalamazoo Christian earlier this month, upcoming matches against No. 10 Edwardsburg and Division 3 No. 6 Pewamo-Westphalia also will be solid tune-ups for the postseason.
DIVISION 3
Beal City (23-5-0) All five of the Aggies’ losses this season have come against either Division 2 teams or ranked Division 3 opponents – the latter a pair against No. 4 Kingsley and their most recent, to No. 10 Manton a week ago. That loss to the Rangers was Beal City’s only one over its last eight matches, and big opportunities remain including a regular-season finale Oct. 28 against top-ranked Roscommon. On Thursday, the Aggies will travel to face honorable mention McBain – which won both of their matchups last season including in the Regional Semifinals.
Traverse City St. Francis (18-13-0) The Gladiators’ No. 8 ranking in Division 3 tells the story more than the team’s record. All but St. Francis’ first loss this season (to Manton) came against Division 1 or 2 opponents, including four that are ranked on their respective top-10 lists this week. All of that experience could pay off with another long tournament run after the Gladiators finished Division 3 runners-up a year ago. They are one of only two teams this fall with a win over top-ranked Roscommon and began this season with Cadillac Invitational victories over honorable mention Cass City and Division 4 No. 2 Ubly.
DIVISION 4
Atlanta (26-0-1) The Huskies are closing in on a third-straight 30-win season and after reaching the Quarterfinals a year ago. A tie with Traverse City Christian at the Sept. 27 Onaway Invitational – which Atlanta then bettered with a three-set championship win over the Sabres – was the only trip-up during an otherwise flawless run so far. The Huskies have lost only five sets to a combined three opponents and have multiple wins over Oscoda and Onaway – two of the five teams that defeated Atlanta a year ago.
Buckley (22-5-1) The Bears have won 11 straight matches, but more importantly have clinched a share of the Northwest Conference championship – their first league title in this sport. That came with wins this month over Frankfort and honorable mention Onekama, and Buckley also went 4-0 at the Brethren Tournament this past weekend. The Bears will get an opportunity Monday to avenge one of their losses when they host Manton, and on Oct. 30 they face Traverse City Christian – which ended Buckley’s 2024 season in a Regional Final.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Thursday – Jenison (27-3-1) at Byron Center (22-4-0) – A pair of Division 1 honorable mentions face off in nonleague play.
Saturday – Motor City Power Series at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac – This will be the final Power Series weekend this season, and arguably the most intriguing pool includes Division 1 No. 10 South Lyon East (26-7-1), Division 2 No. 4 North Branch (25-7), New Baltimore Anchor Bay (12-15-1), Lake Fenton (13-10-0) and Detroit Cass Tech (8-11-1).
Saturday – McBain Invitational – Included in this field are Division 3 No. 8 Traverse City St. Francis (18-13), No. 4 Kingsley (39-4-1), honorable mentions Beal City (23-5-0) and host McBain (14-9-0), Division 4 No. 6 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-6-3), Traverse City Christian (21-7-2) and Midland (23-7-2).
Saturday – Clash of the Divisions at Kingsford – A handful of the Upper Peninsula’s best will compete including Calumet (15-9-1), Division 4 No. 7 Crystal Falls Forest Park (30-1), Marquette (9-9-1) and the host and Division 2 honorable mention Flivvers (16-0-0).
Tuesday – Lake Linden-Hubbell (20-4-2) at Hancock (21-3-2) – Division 4 No. 8 Hancock begins this closing stretch with Ishpeming on Thursday before facing the Lakes, a very possible District Final opponent.
PHOTOS (Top) Lake Orion’s Lilah Eliassen (9) powers a kill attempt toward a block by Bloomfield Hills on Saturday. (Middle) Farmington Hills Mercy’s Cydnee Speights (39) elevates above the net as Bloomfield Hills Marian’s Cecilia Murray goes for the block during the CHSL Cardinal championship match. (Photos by Kristina Sikora/KMS Photography.)