Merrill’s second annual Homecoming Powderbuff Volleyball Game

TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

The 2024 Homecoming Powderbuff Volleyball Game was a relatively new addition to the lineup of Homecoming events in Merrill, but based on how it’s been going, it’s likely to become a standard part of the annual Homecoming celebrations for years to come.
“As the Girls Varsity Volleyball coach, the Powderbuff game has become the highlight of an already really fun week for me,” said Kasie Holt. “Last year was our first year doing it, and it was incredibly well received, so we thought of a few ways to make it even better this year; including moving it to Friday night and adding the staff game.”
This year’s event pitted the Senior Boys [in blue] against the Junior Boys [in black], with the winner to then take on the Staff Team.
“The week leading up to the game, there was a lot of big talk between the player coaches at practice about who would win,” Holt said. “(I’ll admit, I too was bragging up the Staff Team quite a bit), but it was all in fun.”
All of the coaches for the Senior Boys Team and the Junior Boys Team were Varsity Volleyball Players.
“At one point one of them said to me, ‘How do you stay coaching? It’s so hard, especially when they don’t listen to what you say!’” Holt said. “That made me laugh … if only they knew … but it is a great way for the players to see a different perspective of the game they love so much!”
During the first game (Senior Boys vs. Junior Boys), the Senior Boys took the win, beating the Juniors 2-0 in two sets, although Holt couldn’t remember the exact scores.
The Senior Boys also went on to beat the Staff Team 2-1 in three sets. [Coach Holt considered it a success that “The staff was able to take away a set from them.”]

Lessons learned, success celebrated

“By the end of the game, the boys realized how fun it can be to play volleyball,” said Kaela Clearveaux, Girls Varsity Volleyball Team member and a Junior Boys Team Coach. “As soon as we were done, a lot of them asked if they could go outside and play more volleyball in the sand!”
“It was really fun to be a coach and have fun with the whole team,” said Maddie Robbins, another Girls Varsity Volleyball Team member and Junior Boys Team Coach.”
Brooklyn Harding, a third Junior Boys Team Coach and member of the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team said, “As coaches, we learned a lot, and I feel very confident that we will win next year.”
Bre Raasch, Girls Varsity Volleyball Team member and one of coaches to the Senior Boys Team, said, “It was such a great feeling being back-to-back champions!!”
“There were so many people there and it was a great way to get our class involved and start our Senior year,” added Ava Detert, the other Senior Boys Team Coach and a member of the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team.
“The goal for our staff team was to beat the Seniors, but that didn’t happen,” said Staff Coach and Merrill High School Principal, Trisha Detert. “As the Coach, I went in with the wrong strategy.”
“Still, the highlight of the day wasn’t the score—it was the camaraderie between staff and students, and the incredible support we received from students, staff, and the entire community,” she said.