FENNVILLE – MacKenzie McIlwain has led the Fennville volleyball team to its best season in 25 years and the success has turned into milestones – a lot of them – including an unprecedented combination no other player in area history has ever achieved.
In the past week, McIlwain passed 1,500 career assists and 1,000 career digs – something no other volleyball player has done in Holland-area history.
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“It means a lot. These are some things I have been working on my whole career,” she said.
If that wasn’t enough, she is closing in on 300 career aces, a feat achieved by just 50 players in Michigan high school history and the most ever in the Holland area.
“The minute she told me she wanted to be a setter, I told her she had to have exceptional defense if she is going to be an elite setter,” said Fennville coach Rebecca Hughes, McIlwain’s mother. “She put in a lot of work to be an exceptional defender.”
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That is something McIlwain took to heart.
“I prioritized my defense before setting,” she said. “You have to defend before your team can set a ball. My team has done a lot of help me achieve these.”
McIlwain was honored prior to a 3-0 win over Black River at home on Thursday, Oct. 8.
It is a rare combination for any player because setters usually don’t get a ton of digs because teams try to get the ball to the setter on the second touch of the point.
Good teams will aim their serves at setters when possible to keep opponents out of system. But even with teams aiming for McIlwain, she gets the ball up and keeps points alive any way she can.
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The senior sits at 293 aces following Fennville’s victory after serving up two in the match.
“I am a strong person and that helps my serve. But court vision and strong contact comes naturally, so I just have to hit my spot,” McIlwain said.
Fennville’s Kenzie McIlwain celebrates reaching 1,000 career digs before the match against Black River on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Fennville’s Kenzie McIlwain prepares to serve the ball toward Black River on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Fennville’s Kenzie McIlwain celebrates reaching 1,500 career assists before the match against Black River on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Fennville’s MacKenzie McIlwain digs a ball against Black River on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Fennville High School.
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But just after the team honored her milestones, McIlwain sprained her ankle on the second point of the match.
She sat out the first set, fought through the pain and played the second and third sets.
“I stepped on someone’s foot. I am not sure if it was one of my teammates or their blocker at the net, but stuff like that happens,” McIlwain said. “It was probably tougher staying out then playing on it. My team can take care of themselves and don’t need me to win.”
But the energy was definitely different when McIlwain was back in.
“She’s tough. She will push through for her team. That is just how she is. She will make whatever work,” Hughes said. “The team did a good job of adjusting to having her out.”
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Fennville (22-6-1, 3-1 SAC division) can earn a conference title for the first time in 25 years with a win over South Haven on Monday, Oct. 12.
“We can’t all do it alone and our team chemistry has really shown this season and has helped us win some five-set matches,” said McIlwain, who has received a couple of college offers and gotten more looks from NCAA Division III programs.
With growing team success and milestones continuing to grow, this could be a pivotal season in Fennville volleyball history.
“It is good for our team and the future of the program,” Hughes said. “We don’t have those types of milestones recorded here. She is at the top of the leaderboard for a lot of stats. Having that gives the younger generations something to aspire to.
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“She is setting a standard here that will elevate everybody’s game after her.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Fennville’s MacKenzie McIlwain reached unprecedented milestones no one in area history has reached
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