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In the 2007 season, Fish led the Falcons with 1,101 assists and 45 service aces, averaging 10.49 assists per game. She dished out a career high 75 assists against Eastern Michigan (10/13/07) and served up a career high eight service aces against Buffalo (10/6/07). Fish recorded 26 straight double-digit assist performances and tallied five double-doubles, including a career high 15 digs against Kent State (11/3/07). She terminated a career high eight kills against Akron (10/5/07) and recorded a career high .636 hitting percentage (7-0-11) in a perfect performance against Duquesne.

At the conclusion of the 2007 season, Fish was named to the All-Mid American Freshman team and was also named to the Holiday Inn Buena Park Titan Classic All-Tournament Team.

While in high school, Fish led the Broncos to three straight Tri-Valley East league championships, compiling a 21-0 mark in the conference during those three seasons. Fish led North Branch with 1,061 assists as a senior, while adding 75 blocks and 352 digs. As a junior, Fish had 1,283 assists, 310 kills and 228 digs as a junior. She was a First Team All-Conference selection all four years she played volleyball at North Branch and was named First Team All-State in Class A after her senior season. Fish was a finalist for the MIVCA Miss Volleyball award in 2007 and her team finished second in the state in Class A that year as well.

Fish is the daughter of James and Sue Fish of North Branch and is majoring in sports management and marketing at Bowling Green. In the summer, she plays club volleyball for the Michigan Elite team.

Yale graduate Kaitlyn Cooper is preparing for her freshman season at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. The 5-8 outside hitter has been called by her coach the "best athlete on the roster with the highest vertical leap". Cooper is expected to make a major impact on the court once she becomes comfortable with the pace and the skill of the Division 1 college volleyball game.

In high school, Cooper was a three-time All-State selection for the Bulldogs, earning second team honors as a senior. Cooper holds school records for kills in a season, digs, serve receive percentage and attacks. Cooper led her squad to conference and district titles during her freshman and sophomore season and a regional title during her senior season.

Cooper is the daughter of Randy and Shelley Cooper of Yale.

Marlette's Jenna Lange set a state record for kills (1,063) in a season and is taking her game to Oakland University this fall. The 6-0 outside hitter finished her career at Marlette with the second highest total of kills in MHSAA history with 2,723.Ê

Lange earned four letters while at Marlette playing for coach Fred McDowell. While there, her teams won four district championships, three league titles, two county championships and one regional title. Lange was a First Team All-State selection in Class B following her senior season, one in which she was also named the All-Thumb Player or the Year by the Thumb Sportswriter's Association.

From an athletic family, Lange also earned four letters in softball and basketball at Marlette. She is the daughter of Duane and Sue Lange and she hopes to enter the teaching and counseling field after graduation from college.

North Branch's Rachel Hebberd, a high school teammate of Fish's, is entering her sophomore season at Division II Tiffin University in Ohio. The 6-0 outside hitter, who holds the North Branch career and single season records for kills, is expected to contribute for the Dragons as a hitter from the outside and the inside. Hebberd was presented the U.S. Marine Corp Distinguished Athlete Award while at North Branch and was named First Team All-Conference in volleyball for three years. She was also named First Team All-Thumb by the Thumb Sportswriter's Association in 2006. Hebberd is a business major and is the daughter of Janet Hebberd of North Branch.

Lapeer East graduate Nikki Cranick is also expected to contribute heavily for the Dragons of Tiffin University in the fall of 2008. Cranick, a 5-10 junior outside hitter, is majoring in forensic psychology at Tiffin. She is the daughter of Mike and Shelly Cranick of Lapeer.

A bit further north, Lapeer East grad Ashley Purvis is entering her junior season at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This is after she completed a successful volleyball career at Mott Community College in Flint, where she was earned All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association Honorable Mention honors. At Mott, Purvis was a team captain, where she played in 2005 and '06. While there, she totaled 1,311 assists in 150 games during the 2006 season. Purvis also had a .930 service percentage and totaled19 aces, 93 kills, 307 digs, 18 solo blocks and 47 block assists.

North Branch has a total of four other graduates playing college volleyball this fall. Kirstin Fish ('05) is entering her senior season at Rochester College. Jen Moore ('06) is playing at Oakland Community College, Stefany House ('07) is at St. Clair County Community College and Jessica Curtis ('08) is on the squad at Aquinas College.

Andrew Selich is Sports Editor at The County Press. He can be reached at (810) 664-0811 ext. 8124 or andrew.selich@lapeergroup.com.