Fennville's mother-daughters combo connects championship volleyball teams

Fennville hosts Black River in girls volleyball

FENNVILLE - When Morgan Winne played volleyball for Fennville High School, the team was strong.

The Blackhawks won the SAC conference title in 2000 and 2001, winning a district championship in the latter.

"It started in 2000. We had a really good team and won conference my junior and senior year. We had really good chemistry and won districts in 2001 as well. We want to strive for that this year, too," Winne said. "We have been trying to build that culture back up and we are on an upward trajectory."

That trajectory has been fun for the Winne family as Morgan Winne is an assistant coach with daughters Marynn and Adelynn on the team.

"It has been really fun to see them come out of their shells and just gain confidence throughout the season," Morgan Winne said. "It is really special to have them experience what I did 25 years ago."

The next generation of Winnes understand how special this opportunity is, especially with their mom getting to share in the journey.

"She has been there for me and my sister, supporting us," Marynn said. "Us being together definitely creates a stronger bond."

There are, of course, struggles and challenges with having a mom for a coach - and a sister for a teammate.

"We definitely argue a lot because we are siblings, but that also makes us stronger. We have a strong energy together on the court," Adelynn said. "It is definitely nostalgic for her and she has helped us understand what it takes to get here.

"It is challenging to be a mom and a coach. You feel like you need to be tougher on your own kids. It is hard to separate that boundary and find the balance," Morgan said. "It is very exciting to see all the hard work. We have always known it has been possible and to have them taste what it is like to win, they are understanding their potential. It is really fun to see, especially with my two girls on the team."

The Blackhawks will have all three Winnes together again next year as they look to keep the momentum of the program upswing going.

"It means a lot to us. We knew it was a possibility but we had to work hard and work together to get it," Marynn said. "It definitely gives us a boost for the years to come, knowing what it takes to win conference."

Contact sports editor Dan D'Addona at Dan.D'Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSport s.