BATTLE CREEK — Leland’s “Magnificent Seven” had their last dance Saturday morning.
Unfortunately for the Comets, their last dance didn’t end in the same fashion as the famed Chicago Bulls’ 1997-98 season did with a championship trophy. Nevertheless, Leland’s feat will be remembered for the journey on which the seven players embarked.
Leland’s varsity volleyball team had just seven players on the roster in a sport that requires just six players to fill a team. The five seniors and two juniors were also the last team Leland head coach Laurie Glass would coach as she announced her retirement after the heartbreaking defeat.
After 29 years of coaching at Leland, Glass announced her retirement Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t the last dance feeling the team had hoped.
“We’ve been playing with each other since seventh grade. To be able to create a strong bond with each other, there’s not a different group of girls I’d want to play this game with,” senior Mallory Lowe said. “We’ve been with each other for so long, and it was just everything in that moment and making this run. … It was special.”
The Comets lost in five sets in the Division 4 championship game to Clarkston Everest Collegiate — 27-25, 25-18, 22-25, 19-25, 13-15 — at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.
The Comets captured their ninth runner-up title in 14 state championship appearances. Leland’s feat tied Battle Creek St. Philip for the most runner-up titles in MHSAA history.
Glass said after the loss that she knew this year would be her final season, but she wanted the attention to be on the seven players on the floor.
“I wanted to see this group through and for them to be there with me in this moment,” Glass said while holding back her tears after announcing her retirement. “I’m proud to be from Leland and to have coached at Leland. I couldn’t have gone out a better way.”
Seniors Fiona Moord, Shelby Plamondon and Lowe sat next to Glass when the announcement was made, tears streaming down their face as Glass said her goodbye to the media. Moord and Lowe said before the championship game that it was an honor to be coached by Glass.
“She’s been a great coach and is wise,” Moord said before the state semifinals match. “She has so much to share with us, and that’s been an incredible resource. I’ve enjoyed my years with her.”
Leland junior varsity head coach Travis Baker is expected to be the varsity head coach next season.
“I’ve learned so much about the game and how to work with kids and athletes,” Baker said. “I’ve been working with her for the last 15 years, and I’m very thankful.”
Baker and the seven assistant coaches helped coach the Magnificent Seven to a 41-17-2 overall record and a Northwest Conference title. The Comets finished with a district and regional title while defeating Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart and Crystal Falls Forest Park in the state championship playoffs.
The Comets caught a bit of déjà vu on Saturday after battling five sets to Forest Park on Friday afternoon. They found themselves in the same situation against Clarkston Everest Saturday morning.
Saturday’s five-set match had numerous momentum swings, lead changes, and ties.
The Trojans jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first set before senior Olive Ryder tied it up 1-1 with a kill. Clarkston Everest rallied on a 6-0 run to lead 7-1, but the Comets didn’t quit. Senior Kelsey Allen and Moord ended their run, followed by attacking errors from the Trojans’ to make it 11-8.
Clarkston Everest added to their lead, but Leland countered.
The Comets burned their final timeout after being down 21-18, but Moord and Allen came out of the timeout with a purpose. The senior duo splashed points on the Trojans to take a 23-22 lead for the first time in the set. But after several ping-pong lead changes and an attacking error point from the Trojans, the Comets snatched the first set.
The second set was smooth sailing for the Comets as they rallied to a 6-0 lead before the Trojans got a point. The Trojans stormed on a 4-1 run to make it 7-4, but the Comets countered with a 6-1 run of their own to make it 12-5. After both teams exchanged runs, the Comets maintained the momentum and took the second set.
The third set had more than six ties and a plethora of lead changes that started with Clarkston Everest leading 3-1.
The Comets and Trojans went point-for-point before Leland gained a 7-6 lead. The Trojans tied it 10-10, but a kill from Allen and a trio of service aces from Ryder put the Comets ahead 14-10. The Trojans responded, however, to knot it 15-15.
The Comets jumped out front again but only held a point or two lead on the Trojans before they tied it 22-22 and finished the set on a 3-0 run to win the third set.
With the momentum swinging in the Trojans’ favor, the Comets started the fourth set with a 6-3 lead after junior Abby Hicks and Ryder tacked on points. The Comets and Trojans traded blows before the Trojans tied it 8-8 and eventually took a 9-8 lead. Clarkston Everest stayed ahead the entire match despite the Comets fighting to regain the lead.
Leland jumped to an early 10-3 lead in the final set. After a couple of attacking errors from the Comets, the Trojans found themselves down 10-5 — but the momentum began to swing in the Trojans’ favor after they went on a 6-1 run to make it 11-10.
After a service error from Hicks and an attack error from Moord, the Trojans tied it 13-13. Clarkston Everest finished the set on a 2-0 run to win the state championship.
With the emotions flowing down the Comets’ faces after seeing a 2-0 set lead slip away, Glass continued to pump her team up as the runner-up trophy was delivered to them.
“A lot of teams out there would’ve given their eyes and teeth to have this moment, even if they were crying,” Glass said. “There were only two teams left in the state, and we were one of them. It’s hard because they’re feeling the pain of the loss, and it’s the end of their careers. At the same time, publicly, I wanted them to be proud of what they did.”
Moord ended with a team-high 17 kills, an assist, three aces and 10 digs. Ryder finished her last match as a Comet with 10 kills, 21 digs and half a dozen aces. Allen had 12 kills, a trio of digs and blocks. Plamondon finished with 12 kills and three blocks. Lowe had 18 digs.
Hicks planted herself in the MHSAA history books with 45 assists — tying three others with 45 assists in a championship match. Junior Kally Sluiter ended the game with six digs, an ace and three blocks.
The Comets next season will look different, but the Magnificent Seven will be always be remembered in the halls of Leland.