#TBT: Marysville Domination Unmatched
August 20, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Marysville volleyball program built a pair of incredible streaks at the turn of this century, one that was equaled last season – and a second that likely won’t be approached.
Battle Creek St. Philip enters this fall with a chance to break Marysville’s record of eight straight MHSAA championships won from 1997-2004 – the Tigers tied that streak by again winning Class D a year ago. But no team in MHSAA history has come within 90 wins of Marysville’s incredible 192-match winning streak from 1996 into 2000.
The 192-match winning streak also remains fourth nationally – Amherst’s Sweet Home Central won a ridiculous 292 straight matches from 1978-87.
The photos above and below are from the 2000-01 Class B Final, a sweep of Fruitport 15-2, 15-9, that left the Vikings a mere 60-1 on the season after suffering that streak-breaking loss. Four players – Karen Conger with 19, Megan Harrison 15 and Kelly Thomas and Brittny Godlewski with 14 apiece – had double-digit kills in the match, and Thomas also had 22 assists. Marysville faced and defeated Fruitport in three straight Class B Finals from 2001-2003.
This summer, longtime Marysville coach John Knuth was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He led the program from the 1983-84 season through 2007, then came back as co-coach for 2011, and finished with a record of 1,135-84-38 to rank fourth on the MHSAA coaching wins list in his sport.
PHOTOS: (Top) Marysville players celebrate match point against Fruitport in the 2001 MHSAA Class B Final at Western Michigan University. (Middle) Longtime Marysville coach John Knuth remains fourth in MHSAA history for volleyball wins with 1,135.
Story in Photos: 2025 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 21, 2025
BATTLE CREEK – The final four championship contenders earned their ways to the season’s final day during Friday’s Division 2 and 3 Semifinals at Kellogg Arena.
Saturday’s Finals will see the following face off:
10 a.m. – Division 4 – Fowler (35-8-2) vs. Mendon (38-6-1)
Noon – Division 1 – Farmington Hills Mercy (41-5-3) vs. Bloomfield Hills (43-6-1)
2:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Detroit Country Day (28-9) vs. Flat Rock (39-8)
4:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Kingsley (56-4-1) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (30-11-3)
All four matches offer the opportunity for a first-time champion as Fowler, Bloomfield Hills, Flat Rock and Kingsley will be playing for an inaugural title. Country Day will be playing for a repeat after winning its first championship a year ago, while Mercy and Kalamazoo Christian won in 2023 and Mendon’s most recent Finals victory came in 2019.
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Friday’s action.
Kalamazoo Christian junior Eliana Keller unloads a kill attempt during her team’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 win over Saginaw Valley Lutheran. She finished with 11 kills.
Valley Lutheran sophomore Grace Parker (7) attempts to split by a block by Keller and senior Lydia Boley. Parker had five kills for the Chargers (51-11-3).
Kingsley junior Aizlyn McKinley (10) follows through on a kill attempt as Monroe St. Mary’s Olivia Beaudrie (2) and Kiley Urbanski (9) set up a block during the Stags’ 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 8-25, 17-15 victory.
SMCC junior Olivia Horning extends for a dig. She finished with 11 for the Kestrels (36-6-1).
Flat Rock and Fremont players meet on a ball at the net during the Rams’ 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22 win. Both teams were appearing in a Semifinal for the first time, and Fremont finished 38-14.
Flat Rock junior Sarah Giroux connects on a kill attempt. She finished with 30 kills and 24 digs.
Detroit Country Day’s Elise Hiemstra (9) winds up for a hit during her team’s 18-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-23 win over Grand Rapids Christian. Hiemstra had 19 kills for the match.
Grand Rapids Christian junior Taylor Frost (4) sends a kill attempt toward a block by Country Day sophomore Sici Guerrant (11) and junior Leah Green. Frost had18 kills for the Eagles (36-10), and Green had nine blocks for the Yellowjackets.
TOP PHOTO Flat Rock players pile onto the Kellogg Arena floor after clinching their first trip to the MHSAA Finals on Friday.