Editor’s Note: This is the fourth part of a 10-part series reviewing the area’s top local sports stories of 2023. No. 7: Morley Stanwood and Reed City volleyball seasons
BIG RAPIDS — It was another strong year for volleyball in Mecosta and Osceola County, with two district teams tied atop the CSAA Conference and another winning the district title.
Reed City and Morley Stanwood were two of the best teams in the region and they proved that by topping the CSAA conference standings in 2023.
For Red City, it was their first volleyball conference title in decades. They sealed the deal with a win over White Cloud on October 20. The Coyotes finished the year with a 25-10-3 record.
“It was a big game for us tonight. The kids knew it was coming. White Cloud knew it was coming,” coach Don Patterson said after the win. “They played really hard.” “It’s a big deal, we’ll be able to fly the conference championship flag on the big wall in the gym.”
Senior Kylie Wake was the leader for the Coyotes, recording 421 kills, 68 aces, 410 digs and 91 blocks. She was a first-team all-conference player for her efforts that saw her surpass 1,000 career kills. I signed to play at Wayne State.
“Kaylee has been a 4-year starter and 2-year captain for us. She is one of the best players in the area,” Patterson said.
For Morley Stanwood, the Mohawks finally beat Kent City on September 12, but fell to Reed City in the regular season, earning a tie between the Coyotes, Mohawks and Kent City. They finished the year at 28-11-2 with a 9-1 conference record.
All of this was done with a smaller than usual squad for head coach Ruben Kozuch. But the small team had a lot of experience.
“This was one of the smallest teams I’ve coached in 23 years, but they played with big hearts,” Kozoch said. “They have a lot of experience playing this game and it showed on the field. With five seniors starting on the floor, there was definitely something to be said for a group of girls who gelled well together. They knew each other’s tendencies with tremendous help on the defensive end.”
None of these schools that finished atop the CSAA would win a district title. That will go to Crossroads Charter Academy, which upset Pentwater in three sets to win the title under first-year coach James Nostrant.
“That was our goal when we started this season. We were in the locker room before the game and this is what we said,” Nostrant said after the win. “All our blood, sweat and tears. We did everything, we changed everything. Changes in positions, exercises, And everything we did all season was to get to this district cup.
The Cougars finished the year 9-10-0.