This association is organized exclusively for educational purposes: to promote high school interscholastic volleyball; to provide a forum for discussion of techniques and rules of volleyball; to improve the quality and quantity of media coverage high school volleyball; also to promote and develop volleyball at all levels in Michigan.
2013 MIVCA Clinic being held August 2 & 3 at
McCamly Place/Kellogg Arena to feature
2011 Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year,
Kevin Hambly of Illinois
Click here to go to Registration page
Congratulations to 2012 recipients
Grants:
Name School
Ashley Carney Jackson Northwest
Monica David Beal City
Rachel Fish North Branch
Macy Steenhuysen East Kentwood
Scholarships:
Name School
Kimberly Cusmano Grosse Pointe North
Kara Puidokas Grand Blanc
Madeline Blocki Notre Dame Prep.
Katharine Krawczyk Allen Park Cabrini
Alyssa Kociba Bad Axe
Kylei Ratkowski Bronson
Gina Graff Forest Park
Danielle Lutz Bay City All Saints
2012 All Region, All State,
Region Coaches of the Year,
and Individual/Team Academic
recipients posted, click Awards on
on left
Congratulations to the 2012 State Champs
Class A: Macomb Dakota
Class B: Lake Odessa Lakewood
Class C: Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central
Class D: Battle Creek St. Philip
Miss Volleyall is Awarded
BATTLE CREEK — When Battle Creek St. Philip coach Vicky Groat learned the news Saturday morning that senior outside hitter Amanda McKinzie had been named the 11th recipient of the Miss Volleyball Award, she immediately became a liar.
She wanted the announcement to be a surprise this morning, even to McKinzie’s parents, Bill, who played high school football and baseball in Coldwater, Ohio, and Kim, who played high school volleyball.
“I kept the whole thing totally under wraps,” Groat said.
“I called her mom (Monday) morning and told her they could come up to the school and hear the results.”
Hysteria ensued on the phone and by 10:35 they were at school.
“Her best friend and teammate, Natalie Gallagher, can’t keep a secret at all, so I didn’t even tell her teammates,” Groat said. “I even lied to my principal. People kept asking me ‘Did you hear anything?’ I just told them I’d let them know.
“This is a big thing. I want all the emotions that go with this.”
That’s exactly what happened.
Groat and the school had Fr. John Fleckenstein make an announcement that all students and faculty had to meet with him in the gymnasium at 11 a.m.
When Jennifer Thunberg of the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association made the announcement, McKinzie sat stunned.
“It definitely surprised me,” said Amanda, who is going after her fourth state title. “I feel like I have a tremendous responsibility to the team. This is so exciting. I don’t even know what to think right now. I thought my parents would find out Sunday, and they had no idea, so they’re just as excited as I am. This is such an honor.”
McKinzie won the award, presented by the MIVCA in conjunction with the Free Press with 151 votes. Abby Cole of Grand Haven was second with 111.
McKinzie, who is headed to Virginia Tech, has played in 594 games for St. Philip with 2,437 kills, 126 blocks and 352 aces.
McKinzie is a two-time all-stater with a 3.87 grade-point average.
“When I look at the great players I look at Allyson Riley and Allyson Doyle,” Groat said. “Amanda McKinzie … she’s right up there. All of them played at different times and brought different things to the table. Amanda’s probably the most powerful we’ve ever had by far. We’ve had a lot of talented kids.”
McKinzie has been playing since third-grade and Groat had her eye on the 6-foot senior even before she entered high school.
“When I first saw her... We’re a small school and I know all the kids,” said Groat. “There’s a teacher versus student game they had going on and my son was playing to, and we went to the game to watch and just watching her, she was serious about it. She wanted to win. She didn’t care she was going against teachers.”
Kim McKinzie said Amanda gets the competitive bug from her father.
“Mandy is talented, but she is hard-working,” Kim McKinzie said. “Every point matters to her and her team matters to her. She’s not the most talkative. She’s focused.”
McKinzie said: “It obviously takes my coaches, but I have great teammates and without … It takes all of them to win.”
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