Wild defensive scramble highlights November Girls Play of the Month

USA TODAY

Published Dec. 11, 2023

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is pleased to announce its Girls Play of the Month winner for November!

This play takes us to Michigan’s Division I state volleyball championship match, played Nov. 18, between Mercy High School and Forest Hills Northern. The girls from Mercy were fighting for their season, down two sets to one, with star freshman Kate Kalczynski at the service line when a wild scramble broke out.

This one was a doozy. See it here for yourself:

How it happened

Forest Hills received the initial serve and worked the ball to senior Elana Erickson, who crushed a hit from the outside. But Kalczynski kept the play alive with a fantastic defensive effort, selling out for the initial dig.

That was just the start of what could be the play of the year.

Nebraska-bound setter Campbell Flynn sold out with a diving effort of her own, punching the ball up with her left fist before crashing to the court. That set up Angie Butler, who alertly tracked the ball and got it over — getting a little help from the net as the ball caromed over for the kill. It was a fitting moment and final match for Butler, a junior, who inspired teammates this season while playing through a torn meniscus in her knee.

Mercy went on to force a decisive fifth set and rolled from there, celebrating the program's second state championship since 2019.

This play is now a nominee for 2024 Girls National Play of the Year

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is the largest high school sports recognition program in the country, honoring athletes from all 50 states. Top student-athletes in over 30 sports will be announced in teams of 25 nominees throughout this 2023-24 academic year, culminating with player of the year announcements in each sport during this summer's big event.