Today in the MHSAA: 11/23/15

November 23, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Girls Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving and Volleyball seasons finished this weekend, with two first-time champions crowned both in the pool and on the court and a third volleyball champion ending the longest title-winning streak in that sport’s history.

Swimming and Diving

Ann Arbor Skyline competed in Division 1 this season after finishing second in Division 2 a year ago, and emerged as champion for the first time in any division behind standout Katie Portz – Second Half

Dexter won its first championship since 2002 by clinching Division 2 during the final event of the afternoon at Oakland University – Second Half

Grand Rapids Catholic Central cleared the Division 3 field by 100 points to win its first MHSAA championship in this sport – Second Half

Volleyball

In a rematch of last season’s Class A Final, Novi went from runner-up to champion with a four-set win over Romeo – Second Half

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard became the first undefeated team since 1998-99 by defeating reigning champion North Branch in Class B – Second Half

Bronson earned its first championship since 2009, finishing tops in Class C after entering the tournament ranked No. 1 – Second Half

Leland earned its first Class D title in a decade by ending Battle Creek St. Philip’s record nine-year championship streak – Second Half

Today in the MHSAA: 11/20/19

November 20, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The field is set for this weekend’s MHSAA Volleyball Semifinals at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena after 16 Quarterfinals on Tuesday, including five that matched top-10 ranked teams.

Division 1: Reigning champion and current state poll honorable mention Lake Orion is one win closer to playing for another title after defeating unranked Mount Pleasant – State Champs Sports Network

Division 1: No. 2 Lowell came back after losing the first set to No. 3 Mattawan to earn its first trip to the Semifinals – FOX 17

Division 1: Top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy continued its near-perfect run this fall with a Quarterfinal win over unranked Macomb L’Anse Creuse North – Oakland Press

Division 1: Unranked Ann Arbor Skyline will make its first trip to the Semifinals thanks to a sweep over unranked Livonia Churchill – Detroit News

Division 2: Reigning champion and top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian will return to the Semifinals after a win over No. 4 Hamilton – WZZM

Division 2: No. 5 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep is headed back to the Semifinals after a sweep of unranked Warren Regina – Oakland Press

Division 2: No. 2 Lake Odessa Lakewood swept honorable mention Ida to earn a rematch with a familiar opponent – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Division 2: No. 6 Kingsley swept unranked Freeland to advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2004 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Division 3: No. 7 Beaverton ran its winning streak to 37 with a sweep of honorable mention Traverse City St. Francis – Midland Daily News

Division 3: No. 10 Saginaw Valley Lutheran earned its first Quarterfinal win in this sport, sweeping unranked Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest – Saginaw News

Division 3: No. 1 Schoolcraft swept No. 4 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian to move on to the Semifinals – WWMT

Division 3: No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central swept unranked Hudson to also earn a familiar trip to Kellogg – Adrian Daily Telegram

Division 4: Reigning champion and top-ranked Mendon earned a return trip to Battle Creek with a 3-1 win over No. 2 Camden-Frontier – Sturgis Journal

Division 4: No. 5 Leland swept No. 6 Merrill to also earn a return to Kellogg Arena – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Division 4: No. 10 Rudyard won in four sets over honorable mention Carney-Nadeau to earn a trip downstate – MI Sports Now

Division 4: No. 4 Southfield Christian swept unranked Ubly to reach the Semifinals for the second-straight season – Oakland Press

Also of note …

Volleyball: Mercy’s Jess Mruzik was named the 18th Miss Volleyball Award winner – State Champs Sports Network