Today in the MHSAA: 11/3/15

November 3, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Monday saw the first games of this season’s MHSAA Volleyball Tournament – and with those, a number of key matches including a few that came down to the final set.

Volleyball

Class A No. 4 Lake Orion swept honorable mention Clarkston, guaranteeing an end to the Wolves’ string of eight straight District championships – Oakland Press

Portage Central won a matchup of Class A honorable mentions, sweeping Niles 3-0 in their opener – Kalamazoo Gazette

Class B top-ranked Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard started what it hopes will be a title run with a sweep of No. 10 Chelsea – AnnArbor.com

Class B honorable mentions Coopersville and Fruitport also met in an opener, with Coopersville coming away with a sweep – Grand Rapids Press

Also in Class B, Essexville Garber won a battle of Tri-Valley Conference teams, claiming the fifth game 15-12 to win the match 3-2 – Saginaw News

Concord lost the first two sets to Hanover-Horton in their Class C opener, but came back to win 3-2 – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Good Read

We’ve heard a few stories like this in the past, but they never get old. Algonac’s Morgan Beadlescomb is one of the top cross country runners in Michigan and won the Lower Peninsula Division 2 title last season – and last week, pulled St. Clair’s Jack Keais to the latter's first sub-16 minute finish – Port Huron Times-Herald

Today in the MHSAA: 11/17/15

November 17, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Volleyball Tournament continues with Quarterfinals tonight, so here’s a look at a team in each class – to go with today’s Second Half story on Cadillac – plus a report on this season’s Miss Volleyball, Gia Milana of Romeo.

Volleyball

In one of the least surprising awards races in a while, Romeo’s Gia Milana was named Miss Volleyball on Monday in advance of leading the reigning Class A champion against Traverse City West tonight – Macomb Daily

While Class A top-ranked Novi knows this final week well, it doesn’t know much about unranked Grosse Pointe North, its opponent tonight and one of the surprises this month – Oakland Press

Battle Creek Harper Creek, led by a strong senior crew, has improved from 21-25-10 three seasons ago to the No. 4-ranked team in Class B this fall – Battle Creek Enquirer

Laingsburg has a school record 43 wins and will play in an MHSAA Quarterfinal for the first time tonight when it faces Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in Class C – Lansing State Journal

Class D No. 8 Mendon has necessary confidence heading into its Quarterfinal against reigning champion Battle Creek St. Philip, which eliminated Mendon in this round last season – Three Rivers Commercial-News