Undefeated Onsted Finds Winning Formula

September 28, 2019

By Doug Donnelly
Special for Second Half

ONSTED – Rhonda Hubbard teaches physical education and science in the classroom. But, on the volleyball court, she’s become a chemistry instructor.

Her creation this fall has been mixing up a 25-0 Onsted volleyball team.

“We were all so excited for this season,” said Wildcats junior leader Mya Hiram. “We knew we had the skill and talent and were just excited to work together. It’s all about team chemistry. Our team chemistry is amazing. That is a huge part of how good things are going.”

Onsted sits atop the Lenawee County Athletic Association at 7-0 and has beaten every team except Ida at least once in league play. The Wildcats have lost just two sets all season – one to Adrian Madison in the Tecumseh Tournament and one to Mason at the Mason Invitational – in rocketing to the undefeated start. The loss to Mason came in the first set.

“We didn’t get nervous or anything,” Hiram said about the 25-19 setback. “We all just kind of came together, re-grouped and did what we had to do. It pushed us that much harder.”

The Wildcats are experienced with several contributors back from last season’s 35-16-5 team.

Siena Heights University commit Kinsey Wagner leads the senior group that includes Brooke Gorney, McKenna Smith, Randall Strack and Randall Sexton. Hiram is part of a talented group of junior athletes that includes Brianna Benz and Kayla Ross. Kamryn Ross, Ruby Foster and Kennedy Ross are the three sophomores. 

Hiram is one of several Onsted players who play multiple sports. She’s being recruited by dozens of college basketball teams, including some Division I programs. She also plays volleyball year-round.

“This group has played almost endlessly,” Hubbard said. “They play basketball and other sports, but they also play a lot of club volleyball. They put the time in, that’s for sure.”

It’s hard to pin-point one player on the deep Wildcats roster. Through 24 matches, Smith (92.1 percent), Wagner (96.8 percent), Ross (95.6 percent) and Gorney (91.4 percent) were all serving above 90 percent. Hiram averages 3.33 kills a game with Wagner averaging 3.03. Ross has 248 digs with Hiram having 210. Smith has 468 assists, an average above eight per game. Wagner has 42 blocks.

At the Mason Invitational, Wagner, Hiram and Ross all made the All-Tournament team. Hubbard said one thing that makes this group special is the opponent doesn’t know who to focus on.

“They are all very court-aware,” she said. “They move the ball well. I don’t have one go-to girl, although we could have. That makes us harder to defend because (the opponents) don’t know who’s going to get the ball.”

Hubbard is an Adrian graduate who coached the Maples freshman volleyball team 13 years before becoming the Adrian varsity head coach in 2004. This is her 10th season as the Onsted varsity volleyball coach. She also has coached track for 30 years.

“I was a sports nut,” Hubbard said about growing up. “Give me a sport and let me play it. It didn’t matter what it was. I loved the game, loved playing the game and had good mentors. I love coaching and do it because I love the kids. They keep me in it.”

Onsted has this weekend off before returning to the court Monday against Hudson. The MHSAA Tournament starts the first weekend in November. Hubbard isn’t concerned about still being undefeated.

“I think the girls understand it’s more important to be undefeated in the state tournament than the regular season,” she said.

Hiram said while the team is very aware of its record, she and her teammates aren’t resting on it or thinking too much about it.

“When we step onto the court, that doesn’t make us nervous at all,” she said. “It pushes us. We have a lot of confidence.”

Onsted’s most recent LCAA championship came in 2012, while Hubbard’s 2017 team won a District title. Onsted’s only Regional volleyball championship came in 1992. That Wildcats team lost in the Semifinals.

“I think they are capable of going deep into the tournament,” Hubbard said. “It’s just a matter of making sure to focus and do what we are supposed to do. We can do well at the county tournament, District, Regionals … but we all know anything can happen.”

While the victories are piling up, Onsted also faces some tough competition ahead.

The Wildcats still must play LCAA opponent Ida twice, play in the Lenawee County Tournament and will take the court at the Polish Classic Invite at Bronson on Oct. 5. Niles, Sturgis, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, Edwardsburg and Bronson also will be there. Bronson is the four-time reigning Division 3/Class C champion.

“We put that tournament on our schedule a couple of years ago because we know they are competitive teams,” Hubbard said. “You have to do that to get better. We want to play the teams that are going to push us and make us better. If we get beat, okay, it’s not the end of the world. To be unbeaten right now is awesome, but we know who we still have to play.”

Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.

PHOTOS: (Top) Onsted’s Mya Hiram (4) moves the ball ahead during a match this season. (Middle) Kinsey Wagner prepares to serve. (Photos by Laura Harvey.)

Onekama Seeking to Take Next Step After Back-to-Back Trips to Regional Finals

By Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com

October 11, 2024

Over the past few seasons, the Onekama Portagers have demonstrated they have the right skills to consistently win high-profile volleyball matches.

Northern Lower PeninsulaAnd they are hoping to carry those skills into another postseason rematch with Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.  

Sacred Heart has stood in the way of Onekama reaching the Quarterfinals – winning their Regional Finals matchups the last two seasons.

Anticipating winning a fifth-straight District title, the Portagers can’t help but look ahead to another possible Regional meeting with the Irish, the current top-ranked team in Division 4. Onekama is listed as honorable mention in coaches poll.  

The Portagers improved their record to 23-8-1 overall Thursday with a Northwest Conference title-clinching sweep of Benzie Central. It was the first championship for Onekama since returning to the conference during the 2016-17 school year.

With the conference title and another trophy from winning their own invitational this fall, the Portagers have a fifth-straight District championship in their sights.

“We’d like to make this five, and the girls are looking forward to it,” Onekama coach Linda Elo said. “Winning the conference is special because it has been a competitive conference for a lot of years.”

Leah Gary (3) works to get the ball past an opposing block.The key to Onekama’s success has been the play of setter Elizabeth McKeough, libero Ava Mauntler and outside hitters Hailey Hart and Delaney McCarthy.

McKeough, McCarthy and Mauntler, a member of the all-Region team last year, are sophomores. Hart is a junior. The Portagers also have a host of support players who posses defensive prowess.

“The strength of my team is a strong setter, my libero and two outside hitters, and they do a really good job,” said Elo, now in her ninth season as the Onekama coach.  “Defensively, I am a coach who pushes a lot of defense – it’s an important part of the game.”

Heading into the conference clincher, Hart was leading the team with 251 kills, McCarthy had 200 and senior middle hitter Leah Gary – also the team leader in blocks – had 101. At 5-foot-9, Gary and McCarthy are the team’s tallest players.

Also prior to the Benzie match, Mauntler had 70 serving aces and 379 digs, both team highs. McCarthy and McKeough are right behind Mauntler in aces, and McKeough leads the team in setting at eight assists per game.

During the sweep of Benzie, McCarthy racked up a 19-point service run and Hart added a 13-point service run. Hart added 16 kills, while Gary chipped in with eight kills and McKeough collected 30 assists in the 25-9, 25-4, 25-4 dominating performance. 

“The girls have really good systems play, and they get better all the time,” Elo said. “We are not the tallest team, but these girls get good touches blocking to start our defense and we have people in the back line that are willing to go on the floor if they need to.”

While acknowledging most coaches love their own squads, Elo is quick to say her team is special. She notes her Portagers are fun to watch, and she gets frequent compliments from opponents and their supporters. 

“When they get going and get up to speed, they don’t quit,” Elo said. “And they do a good job being great teammates. When you add that all in, it’s a good formula.”

The Portagers pose for a team photo following their home invitational championship. Eight of the team’s 13 rostered players came into the season with previous varsity experience.

District play for the host Portagers will get underway on their home court in early November. Bear Lake, Brethren and Frankfort are the other teams in the District. Frankfort also is a Northwest Conference opponent, and Brethren will join the league next year.

The Portagers have a Quarterfinal appearance on their minds. But if the Portagers get out of the District, Sacred Heart will likely be an obstacle again in the Regional.

Onekama first appeared the rankings Sept. 16. The Irish, on the other hand, have been listed among the top five all season, moving into the top spot this week.

They’ve met once this fall, on Aug. 24, with Sacred Heart winning a two-set match 26-24 and 31-29.

“You’ve always got to look down the road,” Elo said. “We faced Sacred Heart last year in Regional Finals with three freshmen on the team. We lost, but they learned the pressure of those high-profile games.”

Tom SpencerTom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Onekama players including Elizabeth McKeough (3), Maddie Gunia (10), Hailey Hart (11) and Ava Mauntler (20) huddle during a match. (Middle) Leah Gary (3) works to get the ball past an opposing block. (Below) The Portagers pose for a team photo following their home invitational championship. (Photos courtesy of Meredith McNabb.)