2023
Miss Volleyball 2023
Taylor Smith named Miss Volleyball 2023 – Pewamo Westphalia High School
Former Candidates:
Adrienne Greshaw – North Branch
Avery Weslow – Forest Hills Central
Carley Piercefield – Lakewood
Cayla Cogan – Clarkston
Elana Erickson – Forrest Hills Northern
Gianna Bender – Hudsonville
Hailey Green – North Branch
Isabelle Swiercz – Hudsonville
Zoey Dood – Grandville
2022
Miss Volleyball 2022
Harper Murray named Miss Volleyball 2022 – Ann Arbor Skyline High School
Former Recipients:
Abby Reck – Northville
Ava Sarafa – Marian
Ella McAllister- Marshall
Ella Schomer – Marian
Erin Madigan – Dakota
Harper Murray – Skyline
Kennedy Louisell – Forest Hills Northern
Laurence Abraham – Detroit Country Day
Nina Horning – Lake Orion
Sarah Vellucci – Novi
2021
Miss Volleyball 2021
Ava Brizard named Miss Volleyball 2021 – Marian High School
Former Recipients:
Sarah Sylvester – Marian
Sydney Tomlak – Stoney Creek
Renee Brines – Cadillac
Evelyn Doezema – Grand Rapids Christian
Serena Nyambio – Detroit County Day
Maradith O’Gorman – Lakewood
Josephine Bloom – Notre Dame Prep
Brooklyn Connor – Forest Hills Central
Alyssa Borellis – Notre Dame Prep
Taylor Humphrey – Byron Center
2020
Miss Volleyball 2020
Julia Bishop named Miss Volleyball 2020 – Farmington HiIls Mercy
Former Recipients:
Sydney Palazzolo – Eisenhower High School, OH
Mikayla Haut – St. Mary Catholic Central, OH
Jenna Reitsma – Lowell, Outside Hitter
Charli Atiemo – Farmington Hills Mercy, MH
Callie Mae Bauer – Hudson High School, OH/S
Aubrey O’Gorman – Lakewood High School, Middle Blocker
Anna Smith – Mendon High School, Outside Hitter
Addie VanderWeide – Grand Rapids Christian, OH
Abby Olin – Coopersville High School, MH/OH
2019
Miss Volleyball 2019
Jess Mruzik named Miss Volleyball 2019 – Farmington HiIls Mercy
Former Recipients:
Alexa Rousseau – Bloomfield Hills, Setter
Allie Wiese – Mattawan, Libero
Adelyn Simpkins – Schoolcraft, Outside Hitter
Ashley Slater – Grandhaven, Outside Hitter
Celia Cullen – Brighton, S/OOP
Elizabeth Norris – Corunna, MH/S
Jess Mruzik – Farmington Hills Mercy, Outside Hitter
Jordyn Gates – Grand Rapids Christian, Setter
Kendall Murray – Ann Arbor Skyline, Outside
Keona Salesman -Bronson, Outside Hitter
2018
Miss Volleyball 2018
Madeline Chinn named Miss Volleyball 2018 – Click here!
Former Recipients:
Allyson Severance – North Branch High School, Outside Hitter
Desiree Becker – DeWitt High School, MH
Jessica Robinson – Troy High School, Outside Hitter
Kiera Lasky – Bronson High School, Libero
Madeline Chinn – Notre Dame Prepartory School, Outside Hitter/6 Rotation
Madison Dowd – Bloomfield Marian High School, Setter
Natalie Risi – Notre Dame Preparatory School, 4 year OH/6 Rotation Starter
Paige Briggs – Lake Orion High School, Outside Hitter
Ryann Jaqua – Portage Central High School, Outside Hitter
Sidney Schiller – Lakeview High School (Battle Creek), OH/MB Rotation Player
2017
Miss Volleyball 2017
Erin O’Leary named Miss Volleyball 2017
2017 Miss Volleyball Candidates
Abby Malinowski- Clarkston High School, Outside Hitter
Abryanna Cannon- Novi High School, Outside Hitter
Erin O’Leary- Novi High School, Setter
Gaby Harper- Caledonia High School, Outside Hitter
Hailey Delacher- Rockford High School, Setter
Kiana Mayer- Bronson High School, Setter
Lauryn Gibbs, Mount Morris, Libero
Maria Mallon- Anchor Bay High School, Outside Hitter
Madison Gates- Grand Rapids Christian, Setter
Madison Whitfield- Saline High School, Middle Hitter
Sophie Riemersma- Zeeland East High School, Outside & Middle Hitter
Michigan Top 10 Finalist
2016
Meredith Norris says this highest honor for a Michigan prep volleyball players puts her school on the map.
By Perry A. Farrell Detroit Free Press
It was a long morning for Meredith Norris. She came arrived at Corunna High School with a puffy face after a dentist appointment.
Then she got a tweet from a friend, alerting her that she had been named Michigan’s Miss Volleyball minutes before a celebratory assembly. Grandmothers Mary Norris and Maple Smith surprised her, along with grandfather Harvey Norris and aunt Terre Smith.
“It was still really cool,” Norris said. “My face was numb until 20 minutes ago, so I’m really glad that resolved itself. That would’ve been awkward.’’
Norris won the closest Michigan Miss Volleyball vote ever, edging Novi’s Alyssa Cummings, 160-159, in voting points. Norris had 22 first-place votes Cummings had 19.
“Wow,’’ Norris said of the close vote total.
Lexi Nordmann of DeWitt was third in voting conducted by the Michigan Volleyball Coaches Association, with 127.
The 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter made up her mind at an early age that volleyball would be her ticket to a college scholarship. She is headed to Michigan State next season.
“My eighth-grade history and conditioning teacher made that phrase up for me: D-I or D-none,” Norris said. “He’s a lifelong friend and an amazing person. He’s the AD at Fowlerville right now, Brian Osborn. He made it up for me, and I stuck to it.’’
Norris became only the second player in Michigan history to record 3,000 kills in her career. She also led the team to its first regional championship and has a Tuesday date against Cadillac in Grayling for a chance to advance to the Class B state semifinal at Battle Creek.
She has 3,093 kills, 306 aces, 2,182 digs, 289 blocks and 283 assists in her career. Norris also has the top two all-time single-game kill marks (56 and 53), according to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, and four of the top 13.
Incredibly, the team lost when she set the record against Goodrich last year.
“It was the district final,’’ she said. “We had an amazing fight. We were down, 16-24, and came back and won the set, 32-30. I don’t even know how to explain it. Then we came back down, 9-14, in the fifth set and came back to within 14-13, and they scored that last final point, and it was heartbreaking. We worked so hard and we just couldn’t pull out the win. That same team went to the quarterfinals. Imagine if we would’ve gotten one more point.’’
When Norris was born in 1999, her mother, Nikki, was coaching volleyball at Corunna. As she grew up, Meredith would find herself bouncing around the gym during practices and at the end of the bench during games, soaking up what was happening on the floor.
“I remember one trip to Warren, I had both girls in the car, and she said, ‘I’m doing this to get a college scholarship,’’’ said Nikki, now the school’s athletic director. “I said, ‘Oh, that is not our intention for you. That’s not our expectation. I don’t want you to feel the pressure that you need to get a college scholarship.’
“I told her I just wanted her to do what she loved. She said, ‘Well, that’s what I’m going to do.’ … It has been a lot of fun to watch her work and understand what it takes to achieve that goal.’’
Added coach Kari Carnell: “She has worked extremely hard; she’s a definite student of the game. She picks things up quickly. She set goals for herself and she has been able to reach them by working hard and getting it and understanding it. She has traveled all over to play volleyball. She has a lot of experience. She has an awesome job of representing herself and the things she stands for.’’
Corunna volleyball coach overcomes pain to complete first Marathon
Even though she stands out physically and athletically, Norris embraces her teammates.
“She’s a really good friend and super at volleyball,’’ said Skye Rivett, her best friend on the team. “She’s easy to talk to and really understanding. She’s not cocky about it. She could be, but she’s not. It kind of rubs off. Everyone wants to be that good to impress her. She makes everyone a little bit better.”
2016 Miss Volleyball Voting
Meredith Norris, Corunna, 160
Alyssa Cummings, Novi, 159
Lexi Nordmann, DeWitt, 127
Ali Finch, Cadillac, 107
Charley Andrews, Harper Creek, 95
Madison Miner, North Branch, 81
Emily Martin, Northville, 70
Stefanie Jankiewicz, Farmington Hills Harrison, 37
Emmalee Flagstead, Montague, 28
2015
Summer drive nets Milana honor. Romeo standout used motivation from being cut to have standout season
By Perry A. Farrell Detroit Free Press
Gia Milana shows off her Miss Volleyball trophy at Romeo High. “I’m just really excited right now,” she said.
It already was a big day at Romeo High School. The football team, one of four left in the Division 1 playoffs, was being honored at an assembly. The girls golf team, swim and diving teams, boys and girls cross-country teams, and the volleyball team also were being honored Monday. They didn’t know that a Lady Bulldog was being recognized as the best volleyball player in Michigan.
Gia Milana, who led Romeo to the Division 1 state title a year ago, was named Miss Volleyball by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association. She received 299 votes to dominate the field. Victoria Iacobelli of Novi was second with 125 votes, Dylynn Otte of Grand Rapids Christian third with 105, and Emily Tanski of Gabriel Richard fourth with 92.
“I’m just so blessed by God that I have the ability and opportunity to do this,” Milana said in front of a packed gym. “I’m just really excited right now and thankful to everyone that contributed to my success.”
Gina Milana was asked what she wanted the world to know about her daughter. She couldn’t immediately answer. However, she did say one of the best things that happened to Gia was a disappointment she experienced over the summer. She was one of 20 high school volleyball players picked to try out for the High Performance Youth National Team. The group trained in Colorado Springs, Colo. Twelve made the team and competed in Lima, Peru. She was one of eight cut.
“That was probably one of the best things that could’ve happened, to be honest,’’ Gina said. “I don’t think she has ever been told she wasn’t good enough in volleyball. I think it’s very easy to get by on what has always gotten you through. I think when she walked into that gym with those girls, she felt for the first time she might not had everything that it took. As much as it hurt, it drove her and focused her on what she really needed to do if she wanted to take the sport to the level that she wants to be playing it at.’’
Monday she had everything that it took. She realized she’s not the same because of what she went through over the summer.
“When you’re training with the top-20 girls in the country and they’re hitting balls at you and you can’t let the ball touch the floor, there’s a lot on you,’’ Gia said. “It’s a lot to learn. I matured a lot over the summer. Being in that atmosphere and being held accountable for every touch that I had, it all mattered. I learned a lot.’’
Teammate and friend Breanna Olley said there was an adjustment period. “We saw it; we knew she was more advanced than us,’’ Olley said. “The way she approached the game … she taught us when she knew. She brought her knowledge to the game and made us and herself better players.’’
Milana was so focused on the task at hand, playing Traverse City West at Midland High today, she didn’t know when the award was handed out.
“I knew it was going to be announced soon, but I didn’t know when,’’ she said. “I want to make the most out of what this team can do and get the farthest that we can.’’
Her mother then realized what she wanted people to know about her daughter they didn’t know. “She hates losing more than she loves winning, how’s that?’’
Good.
JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DETROIT FREE PRESS
PAST WINNERS
2003: Linsey Taatjes, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 2004: Angie McGinnis, Fraser 2005: Stephanie Booms, Marysville 2006: Alisha Glass, Leland 2007: Lauren Jones, East Kentwood 2007: Kyndra Abron, Livonia Churchill 2008: Olivia Kohler, North Branch 2009: Alexandra Cocklin, Birmingham Marian 2010: Jordan Fish, North Branch 2011: Maddy Doyle, Farmington Hills Mercy 2012: Amanda McKinzie, Battle Creek St. Philip 2013: Carli Snyder, Macomb Dakota 2014: Katharine Carlson, Notre Dame Prep
2015 Candidates
Romeo’s Milana among Miss Volleyball Top 10
By Perry A. Farrell Detroit Free Press
State champions. Outside hitters. Star Liberos.
This year’s top-10 finalists for Michigan’s Miss Volleyball Award are all great players, although a couple of stars might have just missed the cut. The coaches who vote for the award will have to do their diligence with the likes of Gia Milana of Class A state champion Romeo, Victoria Iacobelli of Novi and Lake Orion transfer Courtney Wightman, who dominated for three years at Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes.
Here’s a quick look at the final 10:
SARAH DEVRIES
G.R. NORTHPOINTE, 6-FEET-1, SETTER, MIDDLE HITTER
The hard-hitting four-year starter was first-team all-state in Class C as a junior and third team as a sophomore. Led the team to the 2014 conference title as the team advanced to the regional final before losing to Schoolcraft. The 4.0 student entered the season with 1,247 kills, 1,235 assists and should surpass 1,000 digs for her career this season.
VICTORIA IACOBELLI
NOVI, 5-10, OUTSIDE HITTER
Novi entered the week as the top-ranked team in Division 1, and Iacobelli is a big reason why. The four-year starter was first-team all-state a year ago and was named Oakland County player of the year. MaxPreps.com named her All-America and a candidate for the national junior of the year last season. In 2014, she had a school-record 642 kills and started this season with 1,235 for her career. Her 1,320 digs are on pace to finish in the top 15 in MHSAA history.
SKYLAR IOTT
MONROE ST. MARY’S CC, 6-1, MIDDLE, OUTSIDE HITTER
Made first-team all-state as a junior. Led the team to the Class C state title with a 45-8-2 record. Made the state quarterfinal as a sophomore. Has a 3.61grade-point average and plans on playing volleyball and studying premed in college.
EMMA KOWALKOWSKI
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP, 5-5, LIBERO/OUTSIDE SETTER
The four-year varsity performer made first-team all-state as a junior in Class B. Made second-team all-state as a sophomore and helped the team to a 62-2-1record and the state title. Had 198 aces entering the season with 330 sets played and 1,497 digs. Has a 3.85 grade-point average and will attend Western Kentucky in 2016.
EMILY LACHMANN
GRAND HAVEN, 6-0, OUTSIDE HITTER
Made second team all-state as a junior and was on the 2015 preseason All-America list. Led team to a 52-9 record a year ago as the team advanced to the semifinals. She had 128 aces a year ago with 491 kills, 487 digs and received the team’s best defensive player award. Committed to Hillsdale.
GIA MILANA
ROMEO, 6-2, OUTSIDE HITTER
The four-year starter had an outstanding junior year, leading the Lady Bulldogs to the Class A state title. Made first-team all-state and was third team as a sophomore. Was selected to compete on the Girls Youth National Training team as one of 20 players across the country. Over the past two years, had 1,231kills and was spectacular in the state semifinal and final. Committed to the University of Maryland and has compiled a 3.58 grade-point average.
DYLYNN OTTE
GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN, 5-11, OUTSIDE HITTER
Made first-team all-state as a junior, helping her team to a 41-7 record. Had a 94.1% serving percentage. For her career, entered the season with 708 kills, 59 aces and 736 digs. Has a 3.7 grade-point average and committed to Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville.
EMILY TANSKI
ANN ARBOR RICHARD, 5-9, OUTSIDE HITTER
The four-year starter received all-state honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and has made All-Catholic each year. Led the team to three district titles and won the regional championship last season. Plays travel volleyball and has a 3.90 grade-point average. Committed to the University of New Hampshire.
TAYLOR WIESE
MATTAWAN, 5-4, LIBERO
Last season, had 51 aces and a 94.9% serve rating. Recorded 87 assists, 695 digs and helped the team finished the year 39-8. Was all-state first team as a junior and second team as a sophomore.
COURTNEY WIGHTMAN
LAKE ORION, 5-10, OUTSIDE HITTER
Transferred from Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes. Made Class Dall-state as a junior, sophomore and freshman. Her Lakes team advanced to the semifinal a year ago. Had 444 kills a year ago, 39 blocks and 34 aces. Committed to Oakland University.
KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/DETROIT FREE PRESS
Romeo’s Gia Milana practices a serve last month. She led the Bulldogs to the Class A state title last year and made first-team all-state. Milana carries a 3.58 GPA and has committed to the University of Maryland.
2014
Tanya Carlson was an All-State volleyball player at Pontiac Catholic in 1988 and 89.
About 18 years ago she started coaching at the school renamed Notre Dame Prep, assisting longtime coach Betty Wroubel, whom she ran into while attending a basketball game.
It was about that time she gave birth to Katherine, who literally grew up in the gym.
“Literally, since the day Katherine was born she has been in the gym,” said Tanya. “She’s a gym rat. She has always been around it. She was around when Molly Coldren was there. She was the team mascot, running around at practice, shagging balls and doing her thing.”
Basketball and soccer were always Katherine’s favorite sports.
“Quite honestly she could’ve been better in basketball,” said Tanya.
Michigan Miss Volleyball – Katherine Carlson
She turned out not to be bad in volleyball.
On Monday in one of the best fields ever assembled for Miss Volleyball candidates in the state of Michigan, the coaches tabbed Carlson as the 2014 winner.
Carlson, the first winner from the school, received 177 votes. Second place was Katie Placek of Traverse City West with 116, Nicole Rightnowar of Temperance Bedford with 110; Laura Willson of North Branch with 91 and Jenna Lerg of Farmington Hills Mercy with 91. The award is presented by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association and the Free Press.
Katherine Carlson talks after winning Miss Volleyball
She entered a dark gym with her mom and couldn’t nearly walk as he approached the podium.
“I had no idea what was going on,” said Carlson. “Ms. Wroubel told me I won Miss Volleyball and I couldn’t believe it.
“My mom had said she lost her wedding ring and she was cleaning out my car yesterday. She was ‘oh I think I left it in your car.’ She pulled me out of class. I had to get my keys and go look for it.’ Then she said she had something to do in the gym and she wanted me to come with her. All of a sudden it’s dark and I see these lights flashing.”
Carlson currently sits at 991 kills this season and 3,165 career for her career heading into Tuesday’s quarterfinal against Dearborn Divine Child at Clawson High School.
“I totally anticipate that she will go over the 1,000 kill mark for the second straight season on this Tuesday,” said Wroubel. “This is simply just an incredible accomplishment.
“From my vantage point I cannot think of a more deserving player than Katherine Carlson. Her skill is just one thing but her love and passion, not only for the game but her teammates sets Katherine above any athlete that I have known or coached. In addition to being a great player and teammate Katherine is also an excellent student and is involved in her community.”
Carlson had a chance to showcase her talents last year in helping the Irish capture the Class B state title.
This year she has the team on track to get to Battle Creek again after a huge regional final victory at Marysville against All-American Ali Bastianelli on her home floor by coming up with 21 kills.
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter was first team All-State as a junior and was first-team All-American by Maxpreps. She was also was named first-team All-State as a sophomore. After being recruited by Notre Dame, Duke, Western Michigan, and George Washington Carlson committed to Valparaiso.
In the classroom she has a 4.37 grade-point average.
“She makes everything look so fluid and easy,” said Wroubel.
In a field that was so impressive that two Division 1 recruits weren’t on the list, both Tanya and Wroubel believed Carlson drew the attraction of coaches because of her love of the game exhibited in her play.
“It wasn’t until freshman year that she developed that true passion for volleyball,” said Tanya. “I never pushed her because it was my favorite sport. We wanted her to be a three-sport athlete. At first she seemed to gravitate towards basketball and soccer. My husband and I were big on multi-sports, using different muscle groups, different teammates; different coaches.
“I was actually surprised when she developed this huge, huge passion for volleyball.”
Carlson said basketball was her favorite sport until high school.
“It changed because I grew a little bit and I enjoyed it more,” said Carlson. “I just enjoyed hitting the ball and getting that kill. I had a passion for the game and I think that what really drove me to where I am today.”
Ashley Knutson, one of Carlson’s best friends on the team said: “It was great to see how happy she was. She plays with a lot of heart. She plays not only for herself, but for her teammates. All of her accomplishments; she always comes back to us and tell us how great we are to help her.
“She’s always very humble about her accomplishments.”
Past Miss Volleyball winners
2003: LinseyTaatjes, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
2004: Angie McGinnis, Fraser
2005: Stephanie Booms, Marysville
2006: Alisha Glass, Leland
2007: Lauren Jones, East Kentwood
2007: KyndraAbron, Livonia Churchill
2008: Olivia Kohler, North Branch
2009: Alexandra Cocklin, Birmingham Marian
2010: Jordan Fish, North Branch
2011: Maddy Doyle, Farmington Hills Mercy
2012: Amanda McKinzie, Battle Creek St. Philip
2013: Carli Snyder, Macomb Dakota
Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @farrellperry.
2014 Candidates
Past Winners
2003: LinseyTaatjes, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
2004: Angie McGinnis, Fraser
2005: Stephanie Booms, Marysville
2006: Alisha Glass, Leland
2007: Lauren Jones, East Kentwood
2007: KyndraAbron, Livonia Churchill
2008: Olivia Kohler, North Branch
2009: Alexandra Cocklin, Birmingham Marian
2010: Jordan Fish, North Branch
2011: Maddy Doyle, Farmington Hills Mercy
2012: Amanda McKinzie, Battle Creek St. Philip
2013: Carli Snyder, Macomb Dakota
Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @farrellperry.
