Did you see that? (9/3-9/9)

September 10, 2012

School is back in session, and MHSAA teams should be hitting their best strides as league competition gets underway in most sports.

Here's a look at some of the highlights from the first full week of September, with links to additional coverage.

Volleyball

Spikes under the sun: Muskegon Mona Shores finished 3-0 in its home invitational Wednesday against a strong field of Grand Haven, Fruitport and Spring Lake. That's reason to celebrate on its own. But the best part of this story is where the Sailors did their damage -- on two portable courts stretched across the school's football field. (Muskegon Chronicle)

St. Philip takes Cereal City: Despite being one of the smallest schools in the state, it's rare that Battle Creek St. Philip doesn't leave a tournament as champion -- especially in its home town. But the Tigers hadn't won the Cereal City Invitational since 2007, until it did so with a two-set win over Class A honorable mention Temperance-Bedford this weekend. (Battle Creek Enquirer)

FHE is No. 1: Ada Forest Hills Eastern more than justified its ranking as best in the state in Class B by besting many of the best from the Grand Rapids area at the East Kentwood Invitational. Among others in the field were Class A No. 8 East Grand Rapids and reigning MHSAA Class A champion Rockford. (Grand Rapids Press)

Put them in the book: Johannesburg-Lewiston swept Gaylord St. Mary on Tuesday, thanks in part to 10 aces by junior Brittany Cherwinski, a total which will qualify for the MHSAA record book once documentation is submitted. In the team's previous match, junior Julia Nieman qualified for most assists in a match. (Gaylord Herald Times)

Cross Country

Harbor Springs rules the mud: Both the Harbor Springs boys and girls teams won their Charlevoix Classic Mud Runs on Saturday on a course that featured standing water and hay bales among other obstacles. It was the 21st year of the race. (Charlevoix Courier)

Running to records: Sault Ste. Marie has a freshman to watch in Parker Scott, who won his school's Bill Lynn Trails race Saturday in a time of 16:36 -- at least 26 seconds faster than any of the three first-place times from last season's MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals. The time was a school record. (Soo Evening News)

Swimming and Diving

West Ottawa wins West Michigan: Facing many of the biggest and best from that side of the state, Holland West Ottawa won the West Michigan Relays after finishing third in the event each of the last three seasons. Among those also in the field was reigning MHSAA Division 2 champion Holland. (Holland Sentinel)

Tennis

Dow rises again: The Division 2 top-ranked Midland Dow tennis team remained perfect this season by winning its third tournament of the fall, at Grosse Pointe North. Among others in the field were No. 2-ranked Portage Central and No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (Midland Daily News)

Story in Photos: 2022 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 18, 2022

The 2022 Volleyball Finals field is full, with Division 2 and 3 title contenders earning their way Friday to the final day of this season.

Saturday’s championship match schedule, including the Division 4 and 1 finales determined Thursday, will conclude the fall at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena:

10 a.m. – Division 4 – Athens (34-12-3) vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (43-7-6)
Noon – Division 1 – Bloomfield Hills Marian (48-1) vs. Northville (47-3)
2:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Pewamo-Westphalia (45-2-2) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (39-5-3)
4:30 p.m. – Division 2 – North Branch (52-7) vs. Cadillac (34-10-4)

Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Friday’s Semifinals:

Cadillac’s Makenzie Johns (13) blasts a ball over the net as Dearborn Divine Child’s Reese Ringwelski (1) puts up a block. Johns had eight kills as Cadillac prevailed 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-13.

Cadillac’s Makenzie Johns (13) blasts a ball over the net as Dearborn Divine Child’s Reese Ringwelski (1) puts up a block. Johns had eight kills as Cadillac prevailed 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-13.

The Vikings’ Cassie Jenema (4) sets for her teammates as Divine Child awaits on the other side of the net. The Falcons finished this fall 16-19-1.

The Vikings’ Cassie Jenema (4) sets for her teammates as Divine Child awaits on the other side of the net. The Falcons finished this fall 16-19-1.

North Branch libero Hailey Green (4) passes the ball from the back row during her team’s 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 win over Grand Rapids South Christian. She had 19 digs.

North Branch libero Hailey Green (4) passes the ball from the back row during her team’s 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 win over Grand Rapids South Christian. She had 19 digs.

The Sailors’ Kennedy Arp (6) looks for an opening in the Broncos’ defense. She finished with four kills as her team concluded the season 36-7-3.

The Sailors’ Kennedy Arp (6) looks for an opening in the Broncos’ defense. She finished with four kills as her team concluded the season 36-7-3.

Lola Stecker (3) blocks a Calumet kill attempt during Kalamazoo Christian’s 16-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11 comeback win over the Copper Kings, who finished 30-7.Lola Stecker (3) blocks a Calumet kill attempt during Kalamazoo Christian’s 16-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11 comeback win over the Copper Kings, who finished 30-7.

Kalamazoo Christian teammates converge on libero Hope Krichke (4) to celebrate their Semifinal win.

Kalamazoo Christian teammates converge on libero Hope Krichke (4) to celebrate their Semifinal win.

Pewamo-Westphalia’s Chloe Hengesbach (4) and Sierra Schnieder (12) put up a strong block during the Pirates’ 25-15, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Cass City. Schneider finished with four blocks.

Pewamo-Westphalia’s Chloe Hengesbach (4) and Sierra Schnieder (12) put up a strong block during the Pirates’ 25-15, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Cass City. Schneider finished with four blocks.

The Pirates’ Taylor Smith (11) sets for Schneider. Smith posted a match-high 26 assists. Cass City ended the season 34-9-3.

The Pirates’ Taylor Smith (11) sets for Schneider. Smith posted a match-high 26 assists. Cass City ended the season 34-9-3.

TOP PHOTO Kalamazoo Christian’s Annelise de Jong (2) and Calumet’s Allison Bjorn (17) simultaneously make contact with the ball at the net during their Division 3 Semifinal on Friday.