Sports
Holland Christian’s Grant VanderZee is Michigan’s first Mr. Volleyball
HOLLAND – When Grant VanderZee soars through the air and brings his arm back to swing it nearly looks in slow motion. But then he connects with the volleyball and a thunderous spike hits the floor in the blink of an eye and echoes throughout the gym. VanderZee’s legacy has become that loud, too. The […]

HOLLAND – When Grant VanderZee soars through the air and brings his arm back to swing it nearly looks in slow motion.
But then he connects with the volleyball and a thunderous spike hits the floor in the blink of an eye and echoes throughout the gym.
VanderZee’s legacy has become that loud, too.
The 6-foot-6 Holland Christian senior was selected as Michigan’s very first Mr. Volleyball by the Michigan Volleyball Coaches Association.
“It means a lot. I don’t think it has sunk in yet. I didn’t even know I was nominated. I didn’t know Mr. Volleyball was even a thing. It is a testament to the hard work I have put in and the time and effort my friends and family and coaches have put in to me,” VanderZee said. “It means everything.”
VanderZee received a total of 26 points in the voting, edging Detroit Catholic Central’s Patrick Burke (25) and Rochester Adams’ Graham Pease (23). Rounding out the voting were Hudsonville’s Landon Dykema (19), Hudsonville’s Ryder Roberts (15), Rockford’s Graysen Williams (10), Hudsonville’s Aiden Bigelow (5), Lakeland’s Derek Varga (4) and Holland Christian’s Spencer Walraven (3).
VanderZee led the Maroons to a 32-8 record during the regular season. He posted 240 kills and averaged 10 kills per match playing both middle hitter and outside hitter.
“I have always been a two-foot jumper and my vertical is pretty high,” VanderZee said. “Volleyball just came pretty natural to me. Hard work just sets people apart. I love to win and am pretty competitive.”
No surprise, he also is the Holland Sentinel Volleyball Player of the Year.
Boys volleyball is slated to join the MHSAA as a sanctioned sport next year, but it has been a varsity sport for a few years and growing rapidly.
VanderZee wasn’t even planning on playing volleyball in the first place.
“I started freshman year. Our setter Spencer Walraven and I were going to play golf, but we were able to play volleyball instead,” he said. It worked out really well. We are rooming together at Grand Canyon with other friends from volleyball.”
VanderZee has earned all-state honors the past three years in volleyball, leading the Maroons to the Division 2 state semifinals last season.
“It is work ethic for sure and positive attitude. This is a game of momentum and it can be tough if you get down, but he keeps everybody positive and helps everyone play better,” Holland Christian coach Mark Walraven said. “Grant deserves it and hopefully he can inspire the middle schoolers and the freshman to reach that level.”
He was a 4.2 student, class president and a three-year varsity basketball player, among other activities.
“This award celebrates more than just the athletic skill,” said MIVCA’s Bre Johnson, who presented the award on Friday. “It honors excellence in leadership, academic achievement and character both on and off the court.”
He led the Maroons past the Dutch in the regional final on Friday at Holland Christian, their second consecutive title.”
In the first set, Holland pulled with in 22-21 before VanderZee slammed the door with a kill, then a block, then another kill for a 25-22 set win.
“It is big to represent the school and the team has done that and performed well. Holland has a great blocking team and they don’t make a lot of mistakes at the net. They forced us to minimize the mistakes we were making, and find opportunities to take advantage of some matchups,” Holland Christian coach Mark Walraven said.
In the second set, Holland took a narrow lead behind the setting of Ben Fletter and maintained it with a 25-22, Arthur Powell getting the kill for the Dutch on set point to tie the match 1-1.
“They came in with a lot of energy and confidence. To come in knowing we were playing one of the best teams in the state and Grant winning the award, our guys were motivated. Arthur, our all-conference player, really did a good job and our guys just have heart on heart on heart.”
VanderZee and the Maroons took out their frustrations in set three, winning 25-11, then closing the match in the fourth set with a 25-18 win.
“We came out with fire and got back to the fundamentals and put the ball away,” VanderZee said. “It means a lot. Last year, we lost in the semis. We have done great with a younger group and have advanced a lot this year.”
The Maroons will face Grand Rapids Christian at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, at Sparta in the Division 2 quarterfinals.
But whatever happens from here, VanderZee will forever be Michigan’s first Mr. Volleyball.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.