Imlay City Embracing Tough Schedule, Missing Injured Standout, with End Game in Mind
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
September 13, 2023
Rachel Van Dyk wanted to make things as tough as possible for her Imlay City volleyball team.
When the third-year coach created the Spartans’ schedule for this season, it wasn’t with the goal of picking up wins in August or September, but preparing them for November.
So, it was packed with tournaments featuring Division 1 opponents and some of the state’s top teams such as Clarkston, Farmington Hills Mercy, South Lyon East, Saginaw Valley Lutheran, and even an extra date with 2022 Division 2 champion and conference rival North Branch.
“That’s the idea,” said Van Dyk, who played collegiately at Michigan State. “In looking for tournaments, I look for what’s going to give us the toughest possible schedule. We’re looking at, ‘How are we going to improve the most?’ It’s not by playing teams we can beat easily. We might get creamed sometimes, we might get humbled sometimes, but we’re going to learn from it. I’m a proponent of doing what’s going to make us the best team possible, regardless of whether our record looks good to other people.”
That record sat at 6-7-2 heading into this week, and while it’s modest, it still looked good enough against the Spartans’ tough schedule for the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association to rank them No. 10 in Division 2.
But more important than outside recognition is that Van Dyk’s players get it as well.
“I think we all understand that it’s just getting us ready to play North Branch, who we’ll see in Districts,” senior libero Lexa Forti said. “I think everything is just leading up to that game in Districts and everything. We kind of brush off the losses, I guess, even though obviously, we want to win.”
It’s the second year Van Dyk has been able to build the Spartans with the postseason in mind, although this year the schedule certainly is beefed up.
Still, a year ago it was Imlay City that pushed North Branch – where Van Dyk served as an assistant prior to coming to Imlay City – as far as anyone else, losing in five sets in the District tournament.
So the players know that what they’re doing can work, making it easier to focus on improving during the early months of the season rather than putting up an impressive record.
“I feel like our goals might be bigger than other teams’,” junior outside hitter Chloe Bruman said. “I feel like we’re pretty hard on ourselves. I think we know what we’re capable of, as well.”
One thing Van Dyk did not plan for, however – which is also making things very tough on the Spartans – is an injury to Emma Keeping.
The star sophomore played just the first two matches of the season before suffering a back injury. Van Dyk said the Spartans are likely to be without their right-side hitter and setter until early to mid-October.
Again, that makes winning tougher, especially against a strong nonconference schedule and an already difficult Blue Water Area Conference slate – the Spartans dropped a five-setter against Croswell-Lexington on Tuesday.
But Van Dyk and her players are seeing the positives in the absence of their biggest offensive threat.
“It’s required kids to step into roles that they didn’t expect to take,” Van Dyk said. “Those are some big shoes to fill, but we’ve found ways to try to see it in a positive light. Diamonds are made under pressure. The more challenges we can face, the more prepared we are for the challenge we’re going to face in North Branch in the District.”
One of the players most affected by Keeping’s absence is classmate Makayla Bruman, who shares setting duties in the Spartans rotation. Not only has she been forced to do more setting, but she’s had to find other options with Keeping gone.
One of those whom the Spartans have leaned on more is her sister, Chloe Bruman, who Van Dyk said has really stepped up and embraced her new role. Junior Yannet Zepeda is another outside hitter Van Dyk mentioned who has seen her role expand.
On top of all that, Forti is learning a new position, as she was just recently cleared following a torn ACL during basketball season. Formerly a six-rotation outside hitter for the Spartans, Forti is now playing libero.
The Spartans are hopeful that getting through this time without Keeping will lead to a much more diverse attack once she comes back.
“I think it’s going to help us out tremendously,” Chloe Bruman said. “Obviously, we rely on her. Our whole team knows that; our coaches know that. I think it’s going to be more of a relief for her to come back. She’s such a leader on the court, and not just because she’s good. I think it will definitely be more difficult for other teams, because our offensive is going to be more widespread.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Imlay City huddles up during this past weekend’s Birch Run Invitational. (Middle) The Spartans go for a kill during a scrimmage last month. (Photos courtesy of the Imlay City volleyball program.)
Mendon Seniors Hope to Add Volleyball Title to Historic Softball Success
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
October 7, 2025
MENDON – A few short months ago, Jadyn Samson, Cienna Nightingale, Gracie Schultz and Brook Gerth led Mendon to this spring’s Division 4 softball championship, the first MHSAA Finals title for the Hornets on the diamond.
Now those four seniors would like to finish their final volleyball season raising a trophy at Kellogg Arena as well.
But first the Division 4 top-ranked contender must clear an elusive hurdle at the Regional level.
As freshmen, Mendon's senior class got swept by Athens in the District opener. Since then, Mendon has captured two straight District trophies before getting swept by St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic in a 2023 Regional Semifinal and losing 3-2 to Concord in the 2024 Regional Finals.
Fourth-year head coach Kenny Herbert hopes Mendon's experience, chemistry and a rigorous schedule are enough to get the Hornets back to Finals weekend next month in Battle Creek.
Mendon captured two consecutive Division 4 titles under Heather Bowers in 2018 and 2019 and three Class D crowns under legendary coach Kathy Trenary in 1998, 1999 and 2001.
Before arriving in Mendon, Herbert, a native of St. Clair, served as New Haven's varsity mentor, and prior to that he was junior varsity coach at Beal City and Port Huron Northern. He also has served as a club coach for Michigan Elite and Deadfrogs.
"I love coaching in the small-town atmosphere. It really brings out the best in our athletes, especially here at Mendon because they have such a great tradition in all sports,” Herbert said. “Three of my four seniors this year were part of the varsity when I started here, and the other one joined the varsity her sophomore year. They have built on the tradition that's been set here and bought into the culture I wanted to instill and the standards that we've set. Day in and day out they're just hard-working kids who want to get better and win. They all care about one another, and that shows what Mendon volleyball is about.”
This year's Hornets (21-3-1) are fresh off a 25-18, 16-25, 25-16, 25-21 victory last week over No. 3-rated Battle Creek St. Philip.
Mendon began its season by winning the St. Joseph County Tournament, including earning a 25-18, 25-21 win over Three Rivers, a Division 2 school. The Hornets were 3-1-1 at the Cereal City Classic, won the Decatur quad and compiled a 3-2 record at the prestigious Division 3-4 Showdown on Sept. 27 at Schoolcraft College.
At the D3/D4 Showdown, Mendon lost in straight sets to Grass Lake before registering consecutive straight-set wins over Montrose, Division 3 honorable mention Cass City and No. 5 Pewamo-Westphalia before dropping its final match of the day in straight sets to No. 3 Plymouth Christian Academy.
Schultz, Samson and Nightingale are all four-year varsity letterwinners, while Gerth is in her third year on the varsity.
"Our seniors are leaders by example and with their voice. They run all our drills, and they know what it takes to win, Herbert said. “Right away they bought into what I wanted to do, and they've taken care of the team. We have two freshmen on our team this year, and our seniors make them feel at home like they've always been a part of the varsity.”
Schultz, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter, leads Mendon in kills with 249 to go with 49 service aces, 197 digs, 13 blocks and 18 assists.
"Gracie brings a lot of energy and is a six-rotation player who can put the ball away and command our defense – which is something we really pride ourselves on," Herbert said.
Schultz recently committed to play at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and plans to go into sports medicine.
"Having been on varsity all four years helps us in holding everyone accountable. We know what Coach Herbert's expectations are, and it helps the others follow those rules as well,” Schultz said. “We have the right team chemistry to make a run, and it’s been exciting to see the underclassmen develop since the beginning of the season.”
Nightingale, a right-side hitter, has produced 161 kills, 25 aces, 142 digs and nine blocks.
"Cienna is a very steady player who can also put the ball away. She is very composed in what she does and knows the ins and outs of the game," Herbert said.
Nightingale, the last of a talented athletic family at Mendon, plans to continue playing volleyball and possibly softball at the next level but hasn't decided what college she will attend.
"I really like playing right-side hitter because it's a super-important position with the blocking aspect, transitioning hard and attacking. I also enjoy being able to serve-receive and play defense as well because I feel I'm an overall solid player," Nightingale said.
Samson, the Hornets' starting libero, has 302 digs, 29 aces and 49 assists. The daughter of Patty and Mendon athletic director and multiple-sport coach Glen Samson, Jadyn will continue her volleyball career at Huntington College in Indiana.
"Jayden is the heart and soul of our defense. She never wants a ball to drop without going for it. She has a voice and is basically a third coach for us and understands the game better than most athletes," Herbert said.
Her voice is usually hoarse after matches as she takes that role of communicator to heart.
"Looking at the past few years, we've never came away with that Regional title. Right now that's our goal as seniors, and we know we can get that,” said Samson, who plans to study sports management. “So right now we are just showing up to the gym every day and growing together. Even with a few underclassmen on the team I think we all bond really well. We are a real scrappy team that never gives up. This is a very unselfish team.”
Freshman Lashell Blair, a 5-foot-10 middle blocker, also has been a force with 85 kills, 27 aces, 23 blocks and 34 digs. Freshman 5-8 middle blocker Sabrina Monroy has three aces, 36 kills and 21 blocks.
"Lashell is just a great athlete and another kid who can put the ball away. She understands the game very well and has done a great job of picking up the speed and tempo of the varsity game," Herbert said. "Sabrina is one of the best blockers on our team because she does a great job of reading the other side of the net.”
Gerth has 51 kills, 21 aces, 55 digs and 20 blocks. "Brooke has really matured the past couple years and come out of her shell. This year she transitioned from the middle to playing outside hitter and has embraced that role," Herbert said.
Junior setter Karyssa Holtz has done an effective job at setter with 468 assists to go with 45 aces, 46 kills and 107 digs. "Karyssa has grown tremendously into that setter's role. She takes control of running our offense and has done a good job with it," Herbert said.
Junior Michelle Gomez-Sanchez, a defensive specialist and outside hitter, has 14 aces, five kills and 74 digs. Sophomore Graye Lukeman, another defensive specialist and outside hitter, sports totals of six kills and 25 digs.
"Michelle will sacrifice herself to go after every ball. She always has a smile on her face and just wants to play and contribute to the team," Herbert said. "Graye continues to improve every day. She fits the mold of what our team is, and I'm excited to see how she benefits our team in the future.”
Rounding out the squad is junior right-side hitter Harley Stover. "Harley is a voice to our team and a teammate that anyone would ask for,” Herbert said. “She is very supportive of everyone and their success."
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) Mendon senior right-side hitter Cienna Nightingale (9) attacks the net against a pair of Battle Creek St. Philip blockers last week. (Middle) Fourth-year Mendon head coach Kenny Herbert exchanges hi-fives with one of his players during a timeout. (Below) From left, Mendon four-year varsity volleyball letterwinners Nightingale, Jayden Samson and Gracie Schultz pose for a photo following the win over St. Philip. (Nightingale and Herbert photos by Nicci Plummer. Group photo by Scott Hassinger.)