2010 MIVCA Grant Recipients

Name                                      School

Taylor Breault                         Bad Axe

Jordan Fish                             North Branch

Laura Hewitt                           Summerfield

Jennifer Hurand                      Flushing

2010 MIVCA Scholarship Recipients

Name                                      School

Class A

Allison Patrick                        Fraser

Sarah Pink                             Avondale

Class B

Kelsey Carney                      Jackson Northwest

Leigh Slater                           South Lake

Class C

Rebecca Groach                   Whiteford Agricultural

Michelle Leeuw                      Hackett Catholic Central

Class D

Anna Fales                              Algoma Christian

Danielle Weaver                      Cedarville

2009 MIVCA GRANT RECIPIENTS

NAME                                      SCHOOL

Mackenzie Myers                    Pellston

Elizabeth Hartges                    Stephenson

Leighanna Loomis                  Whittemore-Prescott

Caitlin Kopmeyer                    Lahser

2009 MIVCA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

NAME                                      SCHOOL

Class A

Kathryn Hohs                         Forest Hills Central

Becca Means                           East Kentwood

Class B

Jeanne Kochkodan                  Detroit Country Day

Courtney McAvoy                  Lahser

Class C

Kaitlyn Squanda                     Reese

Andrea Curtin                         Cabrini

Class D

Kayla Miller                            Engadine

Jessica Heaven                        Hesperia

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. …

2012 Miss Volleyball Top Ten Candicates

Tori Blake, 6-3, middle blocker, Midland. Setting school records in solo blocks, assist blocks and totals blocks she was the focal point of Midland’s Class A state championship last season. Also a standout in track and high jump, she has a 3.7 grade-point average. She has verbally committed to play at Wisconsin.

Abby Cole, 6-5, middle hitter, Grand Haven. A second-team all-stater as a junior and a third-team as a sophomore, she earned a spot on this year Under Armor All-American Watch List. She also played varsity basketball and has a 3.7 grade-point average. She is committed to play at Michigan.

Allie Havers, 6-5, middle blocker, Mattawan. A first-team all-stater as a junior and a second-team as a sophomore, she is equally good – if not better – at basketball. A first-team all stater two years straight in basketball, she is committed to play basketball for Nebraska.

Ellen Hays, 5-7, Libero, Bedford. A second-team all-stater as a junior and a third-team as a sophomore, while leading Bedford in digs for two years. She is committed to play at Toledo.

Mackie House, 5-5, Libero, East Grand Rapids. Playing varsity for three years, she has been captain for two straight years. Miami (Ohio) and Michigan State are possible landing spots for her talents, she has a 3.5 grade-point average.

Amanda McKinzie, 6-0, outside hitter, Battle Creek St. Philip. She is a two-time first team all-stater and all-city player. A league MVP and a three-time all league, she has been on varsity all four years. She maintains a 3.87 grade-point average, and plans to attend Virginia Tech.

Leah Perri, 5-11, Middle blocker, Gull Lake. A first-team all-stater, she helped Gull Lake to a 2011 SMAC Conference Championship and 2011 Class A quarterfinals (MHSAA Regional & District Champions). She has recorded 192 aces, 1,223 digs and 321 blocks to date. She holds a 4.0 grade-point average and plans to attend Clemson.

Chloe Reinig, 6-4, outside hitter, South Lyon. A first team all-state, all-area (Player of the Year), all-county dream team, all-conference, all-tournament team and team MVP. As a freshman, she led Marian to a State Championship. She holds a 3.7 grade-point average and has committed to Michigan State.

Hope Rillema, 5-9, outside hitter, Whitehall. A first team all-stater last season, she helped Whitehall to a conference championship. She is team captain, a member of the national honor society, while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. She has committed to Morehead State.

Katie Schau, 5-9, setter, Gull Lake. A first team all-stater last season, as a junior she helped Gull Lake to two conference championships. She was first team all conference three years in a row. She is a member of the National Honor Society, maintaining a 4.1 grade-point average. She has committed to Minnesota.

As Maddy Doyle, the 10th recipient of the state’s Miss Volleyball award, maneuvered down the Farmington Hills Mercy auditorium aisle with tears in her eyes this afternoon, she realized her coaching staff, family and friends had kept a big secret from her all weekend.

“I’m so mad at them, but I’m too happy to stay mad right now,” Doyle said. “They were good. I instantly started crying. Even thinking about it makes me want to cry. It’s the biggest honor I could ever imagine. Nothing makes me happier than sharing this. It makes me feel special. It makes me feel happy, and I just want everyone to be proud of everything I’ve done. I didn’t want to let people down.”

Usually stoic, Doyle burst into tears again on the auditorium stage, filled with flowers, cookies, banners and family.

Doyle won the award, presented by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association, in conjunction with the Free Press, with 177 points, followed by Alexis Huntey of Morley Stanwood, who will be her teammate at George Washington, with 108 and Adrianna Culbert of Delton Kellogg with 93.

Coach Loretta Vogel had to lie to keep the secret. She had promised her senior outside hitter that if she won the award, the first person she would call would be Doyle. Joyce and Doug Doyle had decided they wanted to keep the announcement a secret until today’s ceremony, under the premise that Doyle would be celebrating her signing day.

So when Vogel talked to Maddy on Sunday night, she told her she hadn’t heard.

“I put it on the downside, and my voice was low to make it seem like ‘Hey, Maddy, I don’t think this is going to work out,” Vogel said. “She was real good about it, and I said, Maddy, they’ll call me, and I can assure you I’ll tell you, and she said ‘Loretta, will you call me?’ And I said, ‘Maddy, you’ll be the first phone call I make.’”

Doug Doyle said it wasn’t hard keeping the secret.

“We found out Friday evening,” he said. “It was emotional. We were just so happy for her; it was something she worked really hard for. Obviously, it’s a team sport, but this is a wonderful honor or her. She’s been so level-headed all weekend.”

Sister Meredith (23) and Kelsey (21) also played at Mercy and were at today’s ceremony.

Doyle, a 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter, led the Marlins to a 65-4 record this season and a No. 1 ranking in the state. At one point, they reached 20th in the nation. She finished the year with 717 kills and 501 digs, finishing with 165 career victories as a varsity starter.

Doyle and her teammates were beaten by Canton on Friday. The Marlins were runner-ups last year to Birmingham Marian.

Courtney Crowley, Doyle’s best friend, said, “She’s a really good team leader. She tries hard all the time. She talks throughout the game and promotes everyone to do their very best. This will help us get over losing to Canton.”

Vogel said: “I’ve been coaching for 37 years, and to have someone receive this award … I think is beyond words for a high school coach, or a coach, period. To have someone selected by the coaching association that they think that highly of an athlete at this level is just heartwarming for me.”

Here is an alphabetical look at the finalists:

Emily Blank, 6-3, Outside Hitter, Temperance Bedford: A first-team all-stater in her junior year. She went to the state semifinals in 2010 and won six tournament championships. In 211 games, she recorded 602 kills and 119 blocks. She has a 3.98 grade-point average. She has signed with Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia

Adrianna Culbert, 6-0, Outside Hitter/Setter, Delton Kellogg: A first-team all-stater last season as a junior. As a sophomore, she led team to Class B championship game in 2009. She has committed to play at Colorado State.

Maddy Doyle, 5-9, Outside Hitter, Farmington Hills Mercy: A second-team all-stater in her sophomore year, first-team all-stater in her junior year. She helped win the Class A district championship in three consecutive years and was on the regional championship team in her sophomore and junior years. As a junior, she had 601 kills and 420 digs. She has a grade-point average of 3.8 and committed to play volleyball at George Washington University.

Lauren Hazekamp, 5-7, Setter, Fruitport: A first-team all-stater in her sophomore and junior years. As a junior, she led her team to a state championship with a 53-6 record. For her volleyball career, she averages 8.94 assist per game at a 40% success rate. She has a grade-point average of 4.044 and committed to play volleyball Hope College

Mary Henry, 5-11, Setter, Birmingham Marian: A first-team all-stater as a junior. She led her team to two Catholic League championships her freshman and sophomore years, and a Class A state championship in her junior year. In her junior year, she averaged nine assists and two digs per game. She has a grade-point average of 3.64 and has been offered a scholarship to play at Rutgers.

Alexis Huntey, 6-2, Outside Hitter, Morley Stanwood: A second-team all-stater as a freshman and two consecutive years as a first-team, all-stater in her sophomore and junior years. Last season set an MHSAA record for total kills in one season (710). She led her team to 11 tournament championships, three consecutive district and league titles and a regional championship (sophomore season). Her total record on varsity is 142-22-2. She has a 3.98 grade-point average committed to play volleyball at George Washington University.

Andrea Kacsits, 6-5, Middle Hitter, Rockford: Two second-team all-state selections as a freshman and sophomore and a first-team all-stater as a junior. She led her team to three consecutive district titles and a regional title (sophomore season). She has 1,257 career kills, 462 total blocks and 253 digs. She has 4.0 grade-point average and committed to play volleyball at Ohio State.

Paige Neuenfeldt, 6-1, Middle Blocker, Birmingham Seaholm: A first-team all-stater as a junior. She recorded 451 kills, 227 digs and 63 solo blocks in her junior year. She has a 4.4 grade-point average and is committed to play volleyball at the University of North Carolina.

Halle Peterson, 5-11, Setter, Rockford: A first-team all-stater as a junior. She led her team to two consecutive district titles as a sophomore and junior with a combined record of 92-28. She has 1,510 career assists with a 37.4% success rate. She has a 3.7 grade-point average and is committed to play volleyball at Michigan State.

Lauren Saar, 5-11, Outside Hitter, Plainwell: A first-team all-stater as a sophomore and junior. She led her team to three consecutive conference titles and a district title as a junior. She recorded 642 kills and 558 digs with a serving percentage of 98.2%. She has a 4.06 grade-point average and is committed to play volleyball at Georgetown University.

BIRMINGHAM MARIAN’S COCKLIN IS 2009 MISS VOLLEYBALL WINNER

BY PERRY A. FARRELL

Miss Volleyball 2009

Alexandra Cocklin ~ Marian – 180 Votes

Rachel Charles ~ Marian ~ 96 Votes

Jessica Nagy ~ Airport ~ 71 Votes

Lena Oliver ~ St. Philip ~ 66 Votes

Kristen Etterbeek ~ Holland Christian

Whitney Heeres ~ Flushing

Grace Hill ~ Portage Northern

Kristina Krautmanis ~ Portage Central

Kelsey Kuipers ~ Otsego

Sydney Lenhart ~ Temperance Bedford

Senior Alex Cocklin is trying to make her third straight trip to the state finals in volleyball. If Birmingham Marian, which had a 74-game winning streak headed into the week, does make it back to the final it will do it with a Miss Volleyball winner on the roster.

Beating out a group of nine, which included her teammate and best friend libero Rachel Charles, Cocklin, a 6-foot outside hitter, was officially awarded the honor Monday afternoon at her high school.

“There are a lot of great lady volleyball players in the state,” said Athletic Director Dave Feldman. “What separates her is her genuine concern for everyone on her team. No one person can do it alone. As talented as she is she realizes she can’t do it alone and she really is loved and respected by everyone on the team. She is what makes our team so successful. She is the type of person I would want my daughter to grow up to be like. She is a way better person than she is a volleyball player.”

Cocklin is Marian’s first Miss Volleyball and she owns the school records for attacks and kills in a career and season.

Cocklin, who signed her letter of intent to Akron On Friday, would like to rid the team of last year’s state finals loss to Jenison.

“The energy is what I remember,” said Cocklin. “After being there my sophomore year and getting back my junior year; it was one of those feelings with the cameras and lights and everybody around you….Everybody was so energized about being back there again. Everyone was so energized on both sides.’’

Marian has already avenged its losses to Plainwell and Portage Central and has handled North Branch, No. 1 in Class B, more than once.

“It was our first tournament and we really didn’t know what to expect,’’ said Cocklin. “After we lost those two matches, which have been our only two losses all year so far, we knew exactly what we needed to work on and we had a new lineup as well and we were still trying to get the feel of things. Irick (Coach Irick Gardner) knew what needed to be changed and he made the change right there in the middle of the tournament and we were able to come back and win it.’’

Intense would be an appropriate word to describe Gardner, who has built a power at Marian.

“After working with him for four years he’s a great coach,’’ said Cocklin. “He definitely knows his stuff. He’s very intense on the court, but off the court he’s the most lovable guy ever. He’s a really great person in general, and after a while you get to know how to handle him. Everybody knows coming into Marian and coming into the volleyball team that he is a very intense coach, but that’s what makes us so good.’’

Gardner said: “She’s a competitor, and I think that has made it easier for her. She has started since her freshman year. She enjoys the game. She enjoys attacking the ball. If it was up to her she would play back role and front role for the team. It’s more of my decision not to have her in the back role. She is a complete player.’’

Some of Alex Cocklin’s High School Career Achievements:

All American ~ AVCA Under-Armor

Captain of Marian 3 years

Marian H. S. – Most Kills in Single Season Record – 791 Kills, beating her previous record of 737 kills.

4^th Highest Kills in a Championship Match – 29 Kills

Rise Magazine – ESPN – Greater Detroit Athlete of the Year Finalist

Gatorade – Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year 2^nd Place

Sunkist/Oakland Press – Athlete of the Week (9/09 & 11/09)

Wendy’s / State Champs’s – Athlete of the Week 09/09

Oakland Press – Athlete of the Week (09/09 & 11/09)

Prep Volleyball – Senior Aces

All League 3 years, All Catholic 3 years, All Eccentric Newspaper Best 6 Players 3 years,

All Region 4 years, All State Honorable Mention, All State 2^nd Team, All State 1^st Team 2 years.

The 2009 nominees for Miss Volleyball are:

Alexandra Cocklin – Birmingham Marian
Rachel Charles – Birmingham Marian
Kristen Etterbeck – Holland Christian
Whitney Heeres – Flushing
Grace Hill – Portage Northern
Kristina Krautmanis – Portage Central
Kelsey Kuipers – Otsego
Sydney Lenhart – Temperance Bedford
Jessica Nagy – Carleton Airport
Lena Oliver – Battle Creek St. Philip

North Branch’s Olivia Kohler named Miss Volleyball

November 17, 2008

BY PERRY A. FARRELL
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

When it was time for North Branch’s Olivia Kohler to sign her national letter of intent to attend Grand Valley State on Monday, she was sent to her school’s auditorium.

“I didn’t think they did this at all the signings,” Kohler said later. “I said, ‘Why am I going to the auditorium to do it?’ ”

As Kohler bounded down the aisle, she was surprised to see her parents on stage — with teammates and fellow students also in attendance. Then she spotted the film crews.

When Jenni Thunberg was introduced as chairwoman for the seventh annual Miss Volleyball Award, Kohler’s eyes were as big as half-dollars.

“Oh, my God” she squealed when she finally realized that — in the closest vote ever — she had nudged out Jenison’s Megan Hendrickson to win the award.

Kohler received 151 votes to 142 for Hendrickson, the early-season favorite.

“I had no idea — I was in shock,” said Kohler, the shortest winner of the award at 5-feet-4. “This is overwhelming. I just can’t describe it. The last few weeks have been exciting. Our team is doing well. We have quarterfinals tomorrow, and we’re really pumped about that. This just makes it all that much better.”

She asked her teammates to join her on stage.

“My teammates are like my family, and we’re good friends on an off the court,” Kohler said.

Teammate Larissa Deshetsky — who was paralyzed for a time as a sophomore because of Guillain-Barré syndrome — remembered Kohler being there almost every day during her recovery.

“We’ve been best friends all through school,” Deshetsky said. “We’ve been playing since sixth grade, and we haven’t stopped playing at either the club or high school level. We have a really good chemistry.”

Entering today’s state quarterfinal, North Branch is 277-15-3 since Kohler joined the varsity as a freshman. Along the way, there have been four undefeated Tri-Valley East championships, three Class A district crowns, one Class B district crown, one Class A and one Class B regional championship and one Class A runner-up finish in the winter of 2007.

For the season, Kohler has converted 745 of 783 serve attempts (95.1%), including 116 aces. She has 321 kills, seven solo blocks, 46 assists and 473 digs.

For her career, she has converted 2,532 of 2,702 serves (93.7%), plus 492 aces, 955 kills, 26 solo blocks, 153 assists and 1,569 digs.

Kohler was first-team all-state last year and third-team as a sophomore. She’s also all-state in track in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

Thunberg said she remembers seeing Kohler’s potential before high school.

“I was doing a clinic for Hangtime Sports near Midland, and Olivia was at a camp in the eighth grade,” Thunberg said. “It’s nice to see her get this now, because she made a great impression back then. She breaks the mold of the 6-1 player winning the award.”

Karen Kohler said it was difficult keeping the secret after finding out late Sunday night that her daughter, who has a 33-inch vertical leap, had won.

“Oh, my God, this is unbelievable,” Karen said. “I feel like a bowl of Jell-O. I have never been so excited, except for the birth of my grandson. It’s an awesome accomplishment for her.

“When I was carrying this child, she never stopped moving. She stood up and walked around holding the furniture at 5 1/2 months. She walked on her own at 10 months.”

Kohler also excels in the classroom, where she’s on pace to be the class valedictorian with a 4.053 grade-point average. She scored a 31 on the ACT.

“She has an older sister, Chelsie; everything that she began, Olivia had to do at the same time,” Karen Kohler said. “They’re three years apart. She has always tried to keep up with her big sister. She has always been competitive and a go-getter. No one can keep up with her.”

Final Voting Results

Olivia Kohler, North Branch – 151 points
Megan Hendrickson, Jenison – 142 points
Megan Steenhuysen, East Kentwood – 72 points
Abby Lovell, Marian – 71 points
Jordyn Skinner, South Christian – 67 points
Rachel Davis, Plainwell – 56 points
Kathleen Donehue, South Lyon – 45 points
Taylor Root, Jenison – 45 points
Lindsey Dulude, Midland – 28 points
Marie Roof, Mona Shores – 22 points

Previous MISS VB winners

Fall 2007
Kyndra Abrom -Livonia Churchill

2006-07
Lauren Jones – East Kentwood

2006
Alisha Glass – Leland

2005
Stephanie Boom – Marysville

2004
Angie McGinnis – Fraser

2003
Linsey Taatjes – Forest Hills Norther

FINAL FOUR AWARDS FOR FALL 2009

Class A

COTY        Irick Gardner: Bloomfield Hills Marian

_____       Dawn Jaqua: Portage Central

_____        Mark Grenier: Livonia Churchill

_____        Loretta Vogel: Farmington Hills Mercy

Class B

COTY        James D. Fish: North Branch

_____        Jack Magelssen: Delton Kellogg

_____        Michelle Brines: Cadillac

_____        Erin Craggs: Livonia Ladywood

Class C

COTY        Jean LaClair: Bronson

_____        Brandyn Thorsen: Ravenna

_____        Fred McDowell: Marlette

_____        Shawn Murphy: McBain

Class D

COTY        Vicky Groat: Battle Creek St. Philip

_____        Tim McNitt: Pellston

_____        Randy Gallagher: Beal City

_____        Priscilla Larned: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian

2009 REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

Region 2          Andre Fortin                           Sault Ste. Marie         Class B

Region 3          Heather Miller                         Petoskey                     Class B

Region 4          Ron Stremlow                         Forest Area                Class C

Region 5          Kristin Eddy                            Midland Dow             Class A

Region 8          Sheri Warner                           New Lothrop              Class C

Region 9          Jim Pender                               Mt. Morris                 Class B

Region 10        Carolann Davis                       Plainwell                    Class B

Region 11        Jack Magelssen                        Delton Kellogg           Class B

Region 12        Tom Van Weinen                    Pennfield                    Class B

Region 13        Katherine Huffman (Jones)     Hillsdale Academy     Class D

Region 15        Patty Kopmeyer                      Lahser                        Class B

Region 16        Irick Gardner                           Marian                       Class A

Region 17        Melissa Chase                         L’Anse Creuse           Class A

Region 18        Mark Grenier                           Livonia Churchill       Class A

Region 19        Cheryl Szczodrowski               Cabrini                       Class C

2009 All Region Teams – Click on the Region to see the list in PDF format.

Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Region 10

Region 11, Region 12, Region 13, Region 14, Region 15, Region 16, Region 17, Region 18, Region 19

2009 All-Region Reps – Contact Info

Click here to see a list of the All Region teams from 2008

Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association

2010 All Region Teams