Senior-driven Bucks Living the 'Dream'
By
Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com
October 4, 2016
Buchanan may never have another class of volleyball players like the one winding down its final high school season for the Class B third-ranked Bucks this fall.
In her 13th year coaching the team, Lisa Holok isn’t taking it for granted.
“They’re insanely special, said Holok, whose program has produced a number of college players over the years. “We’ve had our eye on this group since the eighth grade just because they are so special.”
Headlining the senior group is outside hitter Franki Strefling, who is headed to Eastern Michigan University next year on a full-ride scholarship. But she’s only one of seven seniors to have raised Buchanan’s profile over the last few seasons.
The squad set single-season records for wins in 2014 (46) and 2015 (48). The Bucks have lost only 23 games over the last four years.
Buchanan did experience a disappointing Regional Semifinal loss in 2015 (swept in three) and a 3-1 loss in the Regional championship match in 2014 — both at the hands of Battle Creek Harper Creek.
But the Bucks, and this senior group in particular, think now is their time. They’re 33-3 and well seasoned after competing (and winning) some of the most talent-packed tournaments on the west side of the state and in northern Indiana.
“They all really love the game,” Holok said. “The communication between them is almost seamless. We always knew we could make a run. We expected it and we work for it. This summer when we had our workouts, it was a different feel. I think it was more of a sense of urgency for them just because it’s the final season.
“Although they are super serious about volleyball, they are also fun loving and goofy. They’re like family; they’re like sisters. They fight like sisters. They make up like sisters. Behind the scenes, the talk of where they want to end up has been very real for them this year.”
Most of the Bucks’ regular-season matches in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph League in recent years have been tests of discipline. Winning by large margins, Buchanan had to manufacture competitions within competitions to remain engaged — not allowing another point after building a big lead, not committing service errors, not playing down to a lesser opponent’s level.
That hasn’t been an issue this year, however. Nor has needing extra motivation.
“Leaving regionals last year with another loss to the same team for the second year in a row, we knew we had work to do,” defensive specialist Taylor Reed said. “We set our goals high for our last time around. One major goal we set out for our team was to beat our rival, Harper Creek, which we've already accomplished in an earlier tournament in the season. Winning state, of course, is our overall goal.”
It has been a long road to finally be in the position to possibly achieve that goal.
“Over the past four years, the seven of us have been through everything together,” Liz Kuntz said. “And when I say everything, I mean everything from heartbreaks and hard conditioning days, to devastating injuries. I'm so thankful to not only call them my teammates, but some of my closest friends.”
The personalities are as different as their roles on the court.
Strefling is the one who “keeps it real” and is willing to say the things out loud that might be difficult for her teammates to hear. But Kuntz said Strefling’s “impeccable” understanding of the game makes the advice easy to take.
Alex Tobler is a fierce competitor but is emotionally uplifting when her teammates need it. Setter Britta Mollberg rarely loses her cool as the offense’s quarterback.
Reed takes pride in bruises, and Taylor Strauss keeps everyone focused on daily and long-term goals. Andrea Blair doesn’t let anyone off the hook in practice, constantly pushing her teammates to be better. But she’s the first to provide levity when necessary.
“This team is what we like to call ‘The Dream Team,’" Reed said, “not because of our winning record, but more because of the chemistry we have. We know all of each other's strengths and weaknesses because most of us have been playing together from elementary YMCA ball to club and now high school ball. Five of the seven seniors we have now all started on varsity as freshmen.
“We know exactly whom we are playing next to, and it all just flows together. It's definitely an advantage to have this bond that not many teams can say they have.”
Super Seniors
(Statistics prior to Saturday)
• Taylor Strauss (libero) — 345 digs, 98 percent serving and 4.7 digs per game. All-region player in 2015 and all-league in 2013, 2014, 2015.
• Franki Strefling (outside hitter) — 351 kills, 214 digs, all-region in 2013, 2014 and 2015, all-conference 2013, 2014 and 2015 and all-state in 2014 and 2015; broke school single-season kill record last year, four-year team captain.
• Taylor Reed (defensive specialist) — 185 digs, all-conference in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
• Britta Mollberg (setter) — 239 digs, 845 assists, broke school single-season and career assist records, all-conference in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
• Liz Kuntz (middle blocker)— 200 kills, 48 blocks, all-conference in 2015.
• Andrea Bair (middle blocker) — 19 blocks.
• Alex Tobler (outside hitter) — 225 digs, 365 kills, 39 aces, team captain.
Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Buchanan's Britta Mollberg (8) and Andrea Bair (6) wall off a kill attempt earlier this season. (Middle) Libero Taylor Strauss dives for a dig. (Photos courtesy of the South Bend Tribune/Michael Caterina.)
Block Party: 2025 Girls Volleyball Week 3 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 10, 2025
We’re having a party, and volleyball fans everywhere are invited.
Volleyball has become Michigan’s most popular girls high school sport, with nearly 20,000 high school players last season. “Block Party” is our newest MHSAA.com endeavor, and we’ll be providing glances at some of the best and brightest on courts all over the state during the buildup to our annual Finals weekend at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
We hope these weekly reports – as they have for football and basketball – shine more light on the week-in, week-out competition that shapes every season, and on programs you may already know about but also several more than maybe you’ll read about for the first time.
This season's first matches were played Aug. 20, making this the midst of our third week (and hence, our Week 3 Report). Records, results and schedules below are based on what’s posted for teams and used to calculate Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) on MHSAA.com. Rankings noted below reflect the latest polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA).
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. North Branch d. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (25-17, 25-19) The Division 2 No. 3 Broncos finished 6-0 at the Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Invitational, with this toppling of the No. 2-ranked team in Division 3 its best victory.
2. Rockford d. Grand Rapids Christian (25-19, 25-21) The Rams downed the Division 2 No. 2 Eagles and also No. 7 Grand Rapids South Christian among other notables during its Rockford Rumble.
3. Traverse City St. Francis d. Roscommon (25-23, 23-25, 25-20) The Division 3 No. 8 Gladiators’ win over top-ranked Roscommon made a big wave, although St. Francis did also fall to Division 1 Midland Dow on this night.
4. Bloomfield Hills Marian d. Utica Eisenhower (29-23, 19-25, 15-9) This was arguably Division 1 No. 3 Marian’s most impressive win during a MI Elite Program Cup run that also included a two-set sweep of No. 9 Brighton. Eisenhower was ranked No. 6.
5. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central d. Imlay City (25-18, 20-25, 15-11) SMCC’s only loss at Notre Dame Prep was to North Branch (above), and the Kestrels earned a notable victory over Division 2 No. 5 Imlay City along the way.
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Bloomfield Hills (15-1-0) The No. 4-ranked Black Hawks did suffer their first loss of the season last week – in two sets to Marian. But they’ve otherwise have been unbeatable with wins over No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy, honorable mentions Lake Orion and Novi and another Tuesday over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, which ended Bloomfield Hills’ season last fall in a District Final. The Black Hawks will see Marian again Thursday.
Rockford (16-0-0) As noted above, the top-ranked Rams cruised through their Rockford Rumble, never dropping a set during victories over South Christian, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Christian and Division 1 honorable mention Mattawan. The win over the Eagles was Rockford’s second this fall; they’ve also downed No. 8 Grand Haven, honorable mention Byron Center and Division 2 No. 4 Holland Christian among several impressive squads over the first three weeks.
DIVISION 2
Grand Rapids Christian (7-4-0) The Eagles’ losses have all come to ranked Division 1 teams – twice to Rockford and once apiece to Grand Haven and honorable mention Hudsonville. Meanwhile, Grand Rapids Christian defeated Division 1 No. 7 Jenison and Mattawan at Rockford over the weekend, and most recently Grand Rapids South Christian and Holland Christian at a power-packed tri last week. South Christian had ended the Eagles’ season with a five-set Regional Final loss last year.
Parma Western (9-0-1) The Panthers will pick up Thursday after a two-week match break and are ranked No. 10 in Division 2 coming off last season’s Regional Final run. Their only non-win was a two-set draw with Division 4 honorable mention Adrian Lenawee Christian, and wins over Division 3 No. 4 Pewamo-Westphalia to start the season and No. 9 Hanover-Horton at the Chelsea Invitational stand out most. Parma Western will see No. 9 Tecumseh on Thursday.
DIVISION 3
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (10-1-1) The reigning Division 3 champion is off to another fast start, with that loss to North Branch over the weekend and an early two-set tie against New Boston Huron their only non-victories this fall – and the Kestrels have defeated Huron twice since including 25-18, 25-17, 25-12, on Tuesday. SMCC has lost only four sets total, and only one during an eventual match win.
Saginaw Valley Lutheran (9-2-1) The Chargers aren’t ranked at this time but may get some looks soon. They opened the season with a loss to Division 4 No. 7 Crystal Falls Forest Park at the Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart Invitational, but came back to defeat the Trojans in the semifinals that day before falling to still-undefeated Division 1 Greenville in the championship match. Valley Lutheran has lost only one set over six matches since, to Division 2 Williamston at the Owosso Tournament where the Chargers finished 4-0-1.
DIVISION 4
Hancock (8-1-1) The Bulldogs have followed up last season’s run to the Division 4 Semifinals with a fast start, finishing 4-1-1 at the Kingsford Invitational against a field including several larger opponents after finishing 1-2-1 at the same event in 2024. Hancock will have another chance to improve on last season when it heads to The Rock Invite on Saturday at Gladstone – where it went 1-1-1 in 2024.
Mendon (12-1-1) The Hornets are coming off their toughest weekend of these first few, having finished 3-1-1 at the Cereal City Classic with a loss to Division 1 Battle Creek Lakeview and draw with Division 2 Pennfield but wins over Division 1, 3 and 4 opponents. They also opened the fall with a 5-0 run through the St. Joseph County Tournament as they look to build on last season’s Regional Final run.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Wednesday – Flint Powers Catholic (7-5-1), Yale (14-2-0), Traverse City St. Francis (9-6-0) at Essexville Garber (9-6-2) – This quad features the No. 8 team in Division 3 – St. Francis – and the Division 2 honorable mention Dukes.
Thursday – Fowler (7-2-1) at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (8-3-3) – The Division 4 top-ranked Eagles visit No. 8 Sacred Heart, which reached the Semifinals last season.
Thursday – Frankenmuth (3-3-4), Rochester (1-6-0), Temperance Bedford (9-1) at North Branch (11-0-0) – In addition to North Branch being ranked No. 3 in Division 2, Frankenmuth is No. 8 and Bedford always is a top team in Division 1.
Saturday – Motor City Power Series at UWM Sports Complex in Pontiac – Division 1 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills, honorable mention Northville, previously-mentioned North Branch, Canton, and White Lake Lakeland will make for an intriguing field.
Saturday – Makayla Kohn Memorial Invitational at Caledonia – The field of Mattawan, Edwardsburg, Byron Center, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Ionia, Portage Central, Cadillac, Ada Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and Traverse City St. Francis includes ranked teams from Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
PHOTO Laingsburg and Bath volleyball players meet over the net while connecting with the ball during a match Aug. 27. (Photo by John Johnson.)