The Michigan high school sports scene roared to life this past week, with tennis and volleyball teams across the state showcasing grit, skill, and a dash of early-season drama. From Chelsea’s dominant boys’ tennis streak to Midland’s hard-fought podium finish at the Bill Baum Invitational and Calvary Baptist Academy’s volleyball surge, fans had plenty to cheer about as the 2025 fall campaign kicked off in earnest.
Let’s start on the tennis courts in Chelsea, where the Bulldogs wasted no time making a statement. Over the span of just seven matches during the week of August 18-23, Chelsea’s boys’ tennis squad racked up six wins, dropping only a single contest and sending a clear message to their rivals: they’re here to compete. The action began with a resounding 8-0 sweep of Milan, a match in which the Bulldogs’ singles players didn’t surrender a single game. Logan Fansler, Stephen McCulloch, Dawson Holm, and Gavin Heinze each powered through their matches with identical 6-0, 6-0 victories, displaying both focus and flair.
Doubles play featured its own fireworks. The team of Bradley Dunn and Isaac Snyder battled through a rollercoaster three-setter, ultimately prevailing 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 at three doubles. Meanwhile, Jordan Rudolph and Luca Giardello cruised at one-doubles with a 6-0, 6-1 win, Jack Jordan and Rowan French held steady for a 6-2, 7-5 victory at two-doubles, and Joseph Broduer with Sebastian Valdina closed out four-doubles 6-1, 6-2.
The Bulldogs’ momentum didn’t slow as they hosted a home quad on Thursday, sweeping Brighton 5-3, Mason 7-1, and Fowlerville 8-0. The Brighton matchup, in particular, delivered some edge-of-your-seat moments. Rudolph and Giardello rallied from a set down to win 2-6, 6-2, 10-7 at one-doubles, while Broduer and Valdina clawed out a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 tiebreak win at four-doubles—decisive swings that proved crucial in the overall team victory. Dunn and Snyder continued their strong play at three doubles, and Fansler and Heinze delivered in singles.
Against Mason, Chelsea’s top singles trio—Fansler, Holm, and Heinze—rolled to dominating wins. The doubles teams, including Rudolph/Giardello, Jordan/French, Dunn/Snyder, and Broduer/Valdina, all notched victories, cementing the Bulldogs’ reputation for depth and consistency. Fowlerville fared no better, as Chelsea’s singles players lost just four games combined, and all four doubles pairs delivered commanding performances.
Saturday brought another test as Chelsea hosted a home quad, finishing 2-0-1 on the day. The Bulldogs bested Gull Lake 6-2, swept Parma Western 8-0, and battled Haslett to a 4-4 draw. Heinze shined brightest, going 3-0 at four singles, while the doubles duos of Rudolph/Giardello and Broduer/Valdina remained undefeated across three matches. Dunn and Snyder posted a 2-1 record at three-doubles, and Fansler, McCulloch, and Holm each went 2-1 in singles, underscoring the team’s balance and resilience. Rowan French and Asher Lantis chipped in with a win at two-doubles, rounding out a week that saw Chelsea firmly plant itself atop the early-season standings.
Meanwhile, over in Midland, the Bill Baum Invitational brought together eight of the region’s top boys’ tennis teams for a showdown filled with individual brilliance and team drama. Midland High’s Chemics finished third overall with 15 points, trailing only Petoskey (18) and Berkley (17). At No. 1 singles, Finn O’Donnell impressed by storming into the finals, dispatching St. Clair 6-0, 6-1 and Milan 6-3, 6-0 before falling to Berkley in the championship round. At No. 2 singles, Aiden Rovoll delivered a flawless run, capturing the flight title with wins over Alpena (6-0, 6-1), Fenton (6-0, 6-0), and Berkley (6-4, 6-3).
Gavis Russell added to Midland’s haul as runner-up at No. 3 singles, defeating Milan 6-1, 6-1 and Alpena 6-1, 6-2 before dropping the final to Petoskey. In doubles, Caleb Katzinger and Zach Webb rebounded from a tough 6-1, 6-0 loss to Berkley at No. 1 doubles by edging St. Clair 8-7(6). Nathaniel Wenzell and Isaac Jones finished as runners-up at No. 2 doubles, earning victories over Fenton (6-0, 6-0) and Berkley (3-6, 6-4, 10-5) before coming up short against Petoskey in the final. At No. 3 doubles, Bennett Smith and Reave Smith also took runner-up honors, beating Bay City Western 6-4, 6-4 and Berkley 6-1, 6-1, then falling to Petoskey 6-4, 6-3.
Midland’s strong showing sets the stage for their upcoming clash with Mount Pleasant on Monday, a match that promises more fireworks as the Chemics look to build on their early momentum.
Dow High’s boys’ tennis team found itself in a unique position at the Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central quad, going 1-0-1 after a lengthy rain delay forced the cancellation of their match with Birmingham Seaholm. The Chargers edged Forest Hills Northern 5-3 and battled Grosse Pointe South to a 4-4 tie. Singles standouts included Yassin Elsaadany, who won the second flight 6-3, 6-4, and Raymond Chai, who took the fourth flight 6-2, 6-2. Doubles pairs Ian Koh/Jack Elwell, Sullivan Ladd/Viktor Pangburn, and Ethan Clark/Vettel Xu all picked up wins across their respective flights.
Dow coach Terry Schwartzkopf couldn’t hide his pride in his squad’s performance, especially under challenging circumstances. “To be so depleted due to SAT testing and compete against these teams at full strength, I am in awe of how hard these guys fought,” Schwartzkopf said. “Every single one of these boys put it on the line. ... I don't know what to expect from this season, but I can say the expectations get higher every moment I see these guys compete.” The Chargers will look to keep their spirits high as they host Bay City Central on Monday.
Switching gears to the volleyball courts, Calvary Baptist Academy’s Kings opened their season with a bang at the Reed City tournament. The Kings went 3-1, advancing to the quarterfinals after sweeping their pool play matches. They dispatched Benzie Central 25-17, 25-16, Mason County Central 26-24, 25-14, and Evart 25-21, 25-23 before running into a tough Reed City squad, falling 25-16, 25-14 in the quarters.
Chloe Williams led the charge for Calvary with 20 kills, 27 digs, eight assists, and six aces—a stat line that would make any coach proud. Lyndsey Winkles added 19 kills, 26 digs, and six aces, while Elle Savage and Lillian Rachwitz contributed 14 kills and 50 assists, respectively. Gracie Hutton’s 28 digs anchored the defense. Coach Danelle Dickerson was candid about her team’s performance: “I love getting past the first games of the season. No matter how ready you think you are for the season, the competition really reveals areas to focus our practices on going forward.” She noted the team’s strengths in hitting and serving but acknowledged that serve-receive and defensive coverage would be focal points in practice. “It was fun to have success right out of the gate this morning … but our fatigue was obvious when we reached the quarterfinal.” The Kings, now 3-1, will host Tawas on Tuesday.
With the first full week of action in the books, Michigan’s high school athletes are already setting the tone for a season packed with promise, intensity, and unforgettable moments. As teams regroup and refocus, the stage is set for even more drama in the days ahead.
