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Alisha Glass

Title IX at 50: Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 7, 2021

Labeling just one athlete the “greatest” of millions who have competed over a half century of MHSAA girls sports history – comparing the all-time best from multiple sports over multiple eras – is both bound to be unfair and ultimately impossible.

But Leland two-sport star Alisha Glass should be part of any related conversations.

The 2006 grad finished her Comets career with national high school career records of 3,584 kills and 937 aces, and her then-national record of 680 career blocks now ranks second. Total she continues to hold four MHSAA records, including for 48 kills during a five-set win over Battle Creek St. Philip in the 2006 Class D Final. She also earned all-state on the basketball court.

After finishing at Leland, Glass started all four of her seasons at Penn State and set the Nittany Lions to three straight NCAA championships. She was named USA Volleyball Indoor Female Athlete of the Year for both 2013 and 2014 and also was honored as the Best Setter of the 2016 Olympics after helping the U.S. to the bronze medal.

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard. 

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Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read

Title IX at 50

Title IX at 50: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 31, 2021

Before the passage of Title IX in 1972, fewer than 300,000 females participated in athletics nationwide, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

During the 2019-20 school year – the most recent not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – nearly 76,000 girls competed in athletics in Michigan alone, filling more than 120,000 spots on teams for 750 high schools statewide.

By protecting people of all genders from discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, Title IX began a now half-century long journey toward equalizing those opportunities.  

In advance of next June’s 50th year since the passage of Title IX, every Tuesday this school year we’ll celebrate a person, team or moment that has contributed to Michigan’s rich history of females participating in athletics at MHSAA member schools.

We begin with Michigan's contributions to the yearlong NFHS celebration, which last week highlighted a trailblazer, moment of magnitude and pioneering program across its social media channels.

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.