Monroe St Mary 'Lions' Roar in Repeat
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
January 16, 2021
BATTLE CREEK – The Kestrel is the official nickname of Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
But as sports were put on pause late this past fall, the volleyball team found another animal to represent it and get it through the break.
“We definitely adopted some new mottos over the break,” senior middle hitter Abbie Costlow said. “We got a lion – our team represents a lion. And that’s really propelled us through this last run of the state playoffs. It’s really helped us and driven our focus.”
The Kestrels were lion-like Saturday, claiming their second straight Division 3 volleyball title with a dominant 25-19, 25-16, 25-8 win against Schoolcraft. It’s the seventh title for the program, and for the second-straight year they capped it off with a win against Schoolcraft in a matchup of the division’s top two teams in the rankings.
It also was the end of a dominant run this season for St. Mary, which won its final 23 sets and didn’t drop one throughout the postseason.
While the 2019 Final was a five-set thriller, this edition was dominated by St. Mary throughout, as it charged out to a 6-0 lead in the first set and never looked back. The Kestrels trailed only once through the entire match, as Schoolcraft took a 2-1 lead in the third set. That was immediately wiped out, however.
“As we talked pregame, it really didn’t matter what they were doing on their side; it mattered what we were doing on our 30-by-30 court,” St. Mary coach Karen O’Brien said. “It was important that we just came out strong for us.”
The Kestrels’ two-headed monster of Costlow and Mikayla Haut led a dominant attack, as Haut had 17 kills and Costlow had 14. Each were above 35 percent on their attacks, and the team was at 32.1 percent overall.
“For one, our passing and our defense was extremely good,” O’Brien said. “And then, with those two things, our setter has three options. We started off, in the beginning of the first set, I think Abbie had four or five kills in a row, and I don’t know if that caught them off guard a little bit, because normally we feed Mikayla at the beginning. Abbie got the first five swings, and I just think with our passing and our defense, and a lot of that has to do with Jaydin (Nowak) playing the back row, and Ava Kuehnlein and Mikayla in the back row, that they’re so used to each other and have such great chemistry. As long as we’re passing and playing defense, we can run anything that we want to. The defense on the other side just doesn’t know who it’s coming from.”
Nowak led the defense with 23 digs, while Haut – a Miss Volleyball finalist who is headed to Fairfield University in Connecticut – added 12. The Kestrels’ two setters were also busy, as Kate Collingsworth had 28 assists, and Grace Lipford had 12.
Kelby Goldschmeding led Schoolcraft with 15 digs, while Allie Goldschmeding had 12. Kayla Onken had 15 assists for the Eagles (37-4), and Maggie Morris finished with nine kills.
“I feel like at moments we won the serve and serve-receive battle, and that was a focus, but we couldn’t control it for the whole match,” Schoolcraft coach Erin Onken said. “I think we stayed as aggressive as we could. I thought Allie and Maggie really stayed aggressive attack-wise today. Kelby made some great saves back row for us. All in all, we just got beat by a great team that had a great day.”
Schoolcraft advanced to the final without playing a Semifinal, as Saginaw Valley Lutheran was forced to withdraw from the tournament earlier in the week. Both coaches agreed that getting to play Thursday was an advantage for the Kestrels, but Onken said it didn’t affect the outcome.
“That was a disadvantage, for sure, but that’s not why we lost or why we played how we did today at all,” she said. “We should have been able to walk in here with the kids who started last year and played here last year, as many as we had starting on the floor today, we should have been able to come out with a little bit more steam. So, yeah, that stinks, but it’s not a factor for today.”
Of course, both teams had the experience of 2019 to draw from, and it was something the St. Mary players also valued.
“You never can really prepare to play in a gym this big under the lights,” Haut said. “Usually, it’s a lot louder, so that was definitely different than last year. But when you play a game in Battle Creek before, it definitely helps you.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Monroe St. Mary’s Mikayla Haut follows through on a swing during Saturday’s Division 3 Final. (Middle) Schoolcraft’s Maggie Morris winds up at the net. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
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.)