Ten years ago, The Daily Reporter underwent a big change, as the sports department came under the supervision of a 33-year-old newbie in journalism who paired a love of sports with an affinity for writing to create what you see in the sports page today.
Technically my 10-year anniversary will take place Dec. 4, but what fun would it be to celebrate my decade of covering sports by starting in the winter? So, we here at The Daily Reporter have decided to celebrate the last decade with our Best Of series, our best of the best over the past decade in each sport across the county.
Now these lists are going to be very subjective, as these lists will be solely based on my opinion, otherwise, who I personally think are the 10 best athletes in each sport that I have covered over the past decade.
Each sport will get its due, and it will be a yearlong effort, as Fall sports will appear in the fall, winter will appear in the winter, and so on. Attached to each story will be a poll asking you, the readers, who you feel is the best of the best from the past decade, so vote now and vote often.
So, without further ado folks, here we go, the start of the 2024-25 Best Of series as we look at the Top 10 Volleyball Players of the Past Decade.
Top 10 Players (In alphabetical order by first name)
Alexa Ratkowski, S, Bronson Vikings, Class of 2016
Ratkowski was one of the most prolific setters in Bronson program history and was a member of the first state championship in Bronson’s dominant four-year run. As the quarterback of the Viking offense Ratkowski shattered assist marks each time out on the court and went on to earn MIVCA All-State honors three times, finding herself with Honorable Mention honors her sophomore season, followed by a second team nod her junior season, and a first team honor her senior year.
Ashton Wronikowski, MB, Bronson Vikings, Class of 2019
Wronikowski finished her four-year career at Bronson as one of only two members of all four Class C/Division 3 State Championship teams. Earned All-State honors three of her four years on varsity, earning second team all-state her sophomore year and first team all-state her junior and senior seasons. Wronikowski also earned Big 8 All Conference First Team honors in both her junior and senior seasons. Wronikowksi signed on to play volleyball at West Liberty University in West Virginia.
Haley McIntosh, OH, Union City Chargers, Class of 2017
Four time Big 8 All-Conference First Team selection for the Union City Chargers. Was voted as the Big 8 Most Valuable Player during her senior season in 2016, capping off a stellar four-year career as an outside hitter for the Chargers.
Jamie Wellet, OH, Coldwater Cardinals, Class of 2018
Wellet was a member of the Interstate 8 Conference Championship team in 2017 and was voted Team Most Valuable Player in 2016 and earned All-Conference, All District, and All Regional teams in 2015, 2016 and 2017
Wellet finished her career in 5th place in career assists and in seventh place in career digs While also winning the I Dig It Award (2016), Most Consistent Server award (2016), the Goldan Arm Award (2015), and Outstanding Offensive Player (2016) and was a four-year member of The Daily Reporter Dream Team
Wellet went on to play 2 seasons at Grand Rapids Community College
Jasmine Wellet, OH, Coldwater Cardinals , Class of 2018
Wellet was a 4-year varsity letter winner and a two-year team captain for Coldwater where she was voted as the Team Most Valuable Player in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and was a Member of 2017 Interstate 8 Team Conference Champions
Wellet earned Interstate 8 All Conference and All District honors in 2015, 2016, and 2017 in addition to earning the honor of being a 3-time MIVCA Class A & B All-Regional team honoree
Jasmine was the team leader in kills three times and finished her career in second place on the CHS Volleyball Career Digs leaderboard with 1415
Wellet was also awarded the Team Ace Award in 2015; Team Great Passer Award 2016; and Team Golden Arm Award in 2016 and 2017
Jill Pyles, MB, Bronson Vikings, Class of 2017
Pyles was a member of two Bronson state championship teams, winning in both her junior and senior seasons. Pyles also earned three MIVCA All-State honors, with honorable mention honors her sophomore season and First Team honors her junior and senior year. Pyles went on to sign to play at Ohio Dominican University as a middle blocker.
Keona Salesman, OH, Bronson Vikings, Class of 2020
Salesman is perhaps the best to ever make her way through the Bronson program, and that is saying a lot. Salesman was a starter from the moment she stepped on to the court her freshman season and quickly showed why, becoming a dominant force at the net. Salesman earned four MIVCA All-State honors, being named to the third team her freshman season before earning first team honors her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.
Salesman was named to three All Big 8 teams, including her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, earning Big 8 MVP honors her final season at Bronson. Salesman finished her stellar career as a Viking setting school records for hitting percentage (.380), kills (2,501) and attacks (5,359). Her senior season Salesman was named the 2018 Division 3 Player of the Year and was a Top 10 finalist for Miss Michigan Volleyball award.
Salesman went on to sign and play for Ferris State for two seasons before transferring to Western Michigan University where she earned a number of academic and athletic All-MAC honors.
Kiana Mayer, S/OH, Bronson Vikings, Class of 2018
Mayer was a member of three state championship teams while at Bronson, winning her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. While at Bronson Mayer made the transition from outside hitter to setter where she flourished, earning MIVCA All-State honors her junior and senior season and was named a Top 10 finalist for the Miss Michigan Volleyball award. Mayer also earned Big 8 Most Valuable Player honors her senior season, the first year the Vikings competed in the Big 8.
Mayer went to the University of Michigan to concentrate on her studies before being recruited to join the rowing program where she won a Big 8 conference championship.
Kiera Lasky, Libero, Bronson Vikings, Class of 2019
One of only two members of the Bronson dynasty to have played on all four Class C/Division Three State Championship teams. Earned three Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA) All State honors, being named to the first team as a libero her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Lasky was also a Top 10 finalist for the MIVCA Miss Michigan Volleyball Award. Lasky also earned two Big 8 All Conference honors, being named to the first team here junior year while earning Big 8 Most Valuable Player honors her senior season. Lasky finished her career at Bronson High School as one of the best liberos to every step foot on the court. Lasky went on to sign with the Davenport University volleyball program.
Olivia Foley, S, Coldwater Cardinals, Class of 2022
Foley finished off her high school career at Coldwater High School as one of the best to ever don the red and white, finding herself cemented in the record books in several categories including sitting atop the record books in career digs at CHS with 1479. Foley also sits in third place all-time in career assists, second in career serving percentage, fourth in season assists, sixth in season digs, and third in season serving percentage.
Foley then took her skill set and excelled at the collegiate level as she immediately impacted the Juanita College volleyball team. There Foley has made quite a mark, earning three All-Landmark Conference First Team honors while also being named the Landmark Conference Championship MVP. Foley’s senior season she was named to the AVCA All-America First Team and was named AVCA co-Player of the Year. Foley was named MVP of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Tournament (Elite Eight Onward), Totaling 120 assists, 35 digs, and 5 blocks and earned All-ECAC second team honors. Foley was also named as a Division III Honda Athlete of the Year Finalist.
In December of 2023 Foley led the Juniata College volleyball team to their second straight Division III National Championship thanks to 32 assists from Foley.
More: Meet the 2023 The Daily Reporter Volleyball Dream Team
Honorable Mention
Bronson- Meagan Lasky, Allie Sikorski, Brealyn Lasky
Coldwater - Tyler Scheid, Mackenzie Scheid, Drue Mullin, Abby Herman
Quincy - Mackenzie Moore, Hannah Economou, Allison Parshall
Tekonsha - Alexis McKean, Alexis Newbold, Kayla Cole
Union City - Allison Adams, Logan Allen, Bracy Swift, Lilliam Bambacht, Jordan Chard
If you have any questions or comments in regard to this list or any list, please email sports editor Troy Tennyson at ttennyson@thedailyreporter.com or at sports@thedailyreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Vote: Top 10 Greatest Volleyball Players of the Past Decade
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