Finding talent on the volleyball courts across northern Michigan gyms doesn’t take a whole lot of effort.
And talent jumped right off the page once again during the 2025 season.
Now that the volleyball season is closed, the list of all-region recipients hits with the same kind of force.
This season, a total of 16 athletes pulled in all-region recognition, with one also claiming all-state for a second consecutive campaign.
Pellston senior outside hitter Lanie Irwin led the way once again as the lone area all-state honoree from the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association within Charlevoix and Emmet Counties.
Irwin also picked up all-region, leading a group that included five from Petoskey, four from Charlevoix, two each from Boyne City and Pellston and one each from Boyne Falls, Harbor Light Christian and Mackinaw City.
Irwin’s all-state season came with honorable mention recognition in Division 4 following a season of 508 kills and 110 aces. She also added 429 digs and served at 91 percent for the season.
Along with the all-region recipients, an all-region dream team was also comprised of Petoskey’s Katie Parker and Sarah Bailey, Charlevoix’s Ayla Kemp, Madelyn and Grace Cameron of Alpena, Madelyn Peppin of JoBurg and Aliyah Hagemeister and Olivia McSwain of Atlanta.
Pellston teammate Breanna Willis joined her in the all-region list as a setter, with many of her 705 assists this season going to Irwin. Willis also had 119 aces, 147 kills and 381 digs.
Petoskey’s offense again ran through the work of senior setter Katie Parker, who led a group of seniors earning all-region that included Sarah Bailey, Emma Mitas, Sarah Simonis and Leah Sulitis.
Mitas, Bailey and Sulitis did their damage at the net, with Mitas bringing in 307 kills, Bailey recording 240 and Sulitis adding 158. Mitas also had 249 digs and 37 aces and Bailey added 31 aces and 69 blocks.
Simonis led in the back as a libero, recording 377 digs and 33 aces.
Charlevoix’s talent was abundant once again and most of it will be back next season, as juniors Jaslyn Blanton, Taryn Carey and Ayla Kemp earned all-region, along with senior Maryrose Halberg.
Kemp has been a three-year varsity player for the Rayders, serving as a libero. She had 688 digs and 56 yes for the season.
Carey and Halberg played mainly at the net, with Carey finishing with 117 kills and 63 blocks, to go with 328 digs, then Halberg had 139 kills, along with 283 digs and 53 aces.
Blanton did a bit of everything for the Rayders again, recording 260 kills, 408 digs and 66 aces, while also setting up the offense with 238 assists.
Boyne City’s duo were all about offense, with Addy Burns and Lily Payton the main threats for the Ramblers, in different way.
Payton, a sophomore, set up the offense behind 633 assists, then recorded 233 digs and 45 aces.
Burns became the top hitter for the Ramblers this season, her first at the varsity level, finishing with 185 kills, along with 298 digs and 44 aces.
Among the Northern Lakes Conference, Mackinaw City’s Kerry Ann Ming leads the group after a season with 302 kills and 317 digs, adding 61 aces as well.
Harbor Light Christian’s Cara Paulus earned honors as a middle hitter and Boyne Falls’ Olivia Pineda-Anderson, also a middle hitter, claimed honors.
Just outside the area, within region 3, Inland Lakes’ Addison Byrne, Chloe Robinson, Jenna Stubbs and Myla Thompson all earned all-region as well.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Pellston’s Irwin leads volleyball postseason honors as all-state
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
