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March 19, 2006Glass finally gets that elusive titleIn the end, the best player got a chance to finish on one of the four best volleyball teams in the state.A state championship was the only thing that has eluded Leland senior Alisha Glass, until Saturday's come-from-behind victory over the Comets' old nemesis, Battle Creek St. Philip. And it couldn't happen to a nicer person or a truer talent. When Glass was named Miss Volleyball on Monday, she had to speak in front of a small assembly of students. Even with a microphone, it was hard to hear Glass. That's because you won't find anyone more humble from a kid who has every reason not to be. This is a player who owns state and national records. And owns means she's so far in front it will take a long time before she's challenged. The Penn State-bound Glass also set a championship record on Saturday that might not be touched for a long time. She finished with 48 kills in the match - an outstanding tournament for a lot of players - to best the previous mark of 30. Glass reeled off runs of four straight kills several times in the final three games to lead the Comets back. As a coaching friend of mine said after Leland went down 2-0, if there's any player that can lead them back, it's Miss Volleyball. As if hearing the conversation, that's exactly what she did, willing Leland to the state title. And the attacks came from all over as St. Philip couldn't find an answer, even with Tigers' coach pointing to a spot on the floor where Glass kept putting her killer cross hit. "Back row, front row," teammate Daina Parent said. "She was unstoppable." "Everybody in the gym knew where the ball was going and it didn't matter," said Leland coach Laurie Glass, Alisha's mother. "Off-side, right-side, middle or back row, she found the open spot on the court." Now volleyball, like a lot of other sports, is a team game. No one individual can win it. And Alisha Glass didn't win the title by herself on Saturday either. She got great sets from Whitney Grant, good swings from other hitters like Jennifer Hecht and a strong defensive effort that routinely dug up standout Allyson Doyle and most of the other Tigers. "Our defense was amazing," Grant said. "I give all the credit to the defense." But Alisha Glass definitely led the way, becoming just the second of the four winners of Miss Volleyball - which goes to the best senior player in the state - to also claim a title in the same season. "Who cares about that," Alisha Glass said after the match, in her typical soft-spoken manner. She's the best volleyball player this area will likely ever see and might be one of the best the state has ever had. And it was nice to see her go out with a state title after losing in the semifinals as a sophomore and in the final match as a junior. It couldn't happen to a nicer kid. Penn State's gain is this area's loss.
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