The race for Michigan high school volleyball's top individual honor is underway.
The Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association has announced the 10 nominees for the 2026 Miss Volleyball Award. The annual honor recognizes the state's top senior volleyball player based on team success, individual accomplishments and academic achievement.
The Detroit Free Press has sponsored the award since 2003.
Here are this year's nominees, in alphabetical order by last name:
Grace Goodyke
School: Grand Rapids Christian.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6 feet.
Stats: 1,291 career kills, 339 digs, 96 aces, 43 blocks and a .323 hitting percentage in 2025.
The buzz: Goodyke led the Eagles to the OK White Conference title last season and Division 2 state semifinal appearances
in 2023 and 2025. She earned first team All-State honors in 2025 after receiving second team All-State recognition in 2023 and 2024. Goodyke also competed in track and field for the past two years and holds a 4.1 GPA.
College plans: Dayton.
Mallory Johnson
School: Byron Center.
Position: Libero/ outside hitter.
Height: 5-6.
Career Stats: 1,513 digs, 351 kills, 309 assists, 192 aces, 2.25 serve receive rating
The buzz: Johnson is a member of USA Volleyball's U21 National Team and participated in the U23 Pan Games in Nicaragua. Since joining Byron Center as a freshman in 2023, she's helped the Bulldogs compile a 101-24-2 record and advance to the Division 1 state semifinals in 2025. Johnson earned first team All-State honors as an outside hitter in each of the past two seasons after receiving second team All-State recognition as a libero in 2023. She also plays tennis and holds a 3.32 GPA.
College plans: Nebraska.
Kate Kalczynski
School: Farmington Hills Mercy.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6-2.
Stats: None provided.
The buzz: Kalczynski has garnered national recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), PrepDig and MaxPreps. She helped lead Mercy to Division 1 state championships in 2023 and 2025 and earned All-State honors in each of the past three seasons. Kalczynski ranks among the nation's top players and stands as Michigan's top-ranked outside hitter.
College plans: Penn State.
Riley Loehfelm
School: Forest Hills Northern.
Position: Outside hitter.
Height: 6-1.
Career Stats: 1,004 kills, 81 blocks, 83% serving percentage.
The buzz: Loehfelm earned second team All-State honors last season and received OK White All-Conference honors in 2024 and 2025. She helped lead the Huskies to a Division 2 state championship in 2023 and contributed to a 77-16 record over the past two seasons.
College plans: Villanova.
Cynthia Ockerman
School: Brighton.
Position: Middle Blocker.
Height: 6-2.
Stats: None provided.
The buzz: Ockerman ranks among the Top 35 players in the nation according to PrepVolleyball and as PrepDig's No. 1 middle blocker. She earned Junior Volleyball Association All-National Team honors in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and won two AAU National championships. Ockerman helped lead the Bulldogs to a KLAA conference title in 2025 and earned second team all-state honors.
College plans: Clemson.
Camille Robinson
School: Battle Creek Harper Creek.
Position: Outside Hitter.
Height: 5-10.
Stats: None provided.
The buzz: Robinson earned AVCA Phenom Watch List recognition and MIVCA First Team All-State honors in 2024. She helped lead Harper Creek to the state semifinals that season and played a key role in the program's 124-40-8 record during her three-year career.
College plans: East Tennessee State.
Marlie Smith
School: Clarkston.
Position: Setter.
Height: 5-9.
Stats: None provided.
The buzz: Marlie helped Clarkston reach the Division 1 state semifinals in 2023. She earned second team All-State honors in 2025 after leading the Wolves to a 23-5-1 record and a district finals appearance.
College plans: North Carolina.
Sophia Smith
School: Bloomfield Hills Marian.
Position: Opposite Hitter.
Height: 6-2.
Stats: None provided.
The buzz: Sophia earned third team All-State honors in 2024 and second team All-State recognition in 2025. She helped lead Marian to a Catholic League championship in 2023 and a Division 1 state quarterfinal appearance. The Mustangs have compiled a 133-22 record during her three seasons with the program.
College plans: Boston College.
Mallory Wandel
School: Rockford.
Position: Outside Hitter.
Height: 6-1.
Career Stats: 1,516 kills, 660 digs, 145 blocks, 74 aces, .256 hitting percentage.
The buzz: Wandel is a two-time first team All-State honoree and an AVCA All-American. She led the Rams to a Division 1 state runner-up finish in 2024 and a state semifinal appearance in 2025.
College plans: Michigan State.
Mallory Woiteshek
School: Grand Haven.
Position: Outside Hitter.
Height: 6-3.
Career Stats: 1,516 kills, 163 aces, 135 blocks.
The buzz: Woiteshek earned All-State honors every year since her freshman year. She's led the Rams to three consecutive district titles and one regional title in 2023. Woiteshek has also earned All-State honors in basketball.
College plans: Michigan State.
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Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 10 finalists for 2026 Michigan Miss Volleyball award
