Byron Center’s Mallory Johnson Named 2026 Miss Volleyball

<!-- wp:image {"id":1064571,"width":"322px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.7499961852445258","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/11/IMG_1862-rotated.jpeg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1064571" style="aspect-ratio:0.7499961852445258;width:322px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 Miss Volleyball winner is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson']</strong> of Byron Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In one of the most talented set of finalists in the award's history, the Byron Center outside hitter and standout defender receive the most votes to top field and earn the prestigious four-year honor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson was presented the award on Friday by MIVCA in a surprise ceremony.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think the initial reaction when I walked in the gym and saw my teammates and my peers, I didn't really know what was going on at first. Then I saw my family and they made the announcement that I won,” Johnson said. “I am just super grateful to receive this honor and&nbsp; I would be able to achieve this without my teammates, my friends, and my family's support.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Nebraska commit was able to celebrate the honor with her team and coach, who also happens to be her mother, <strong>Missy Johnson</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Having my mom as a coach is super important to me. Having her on my sideline and in my corner is an experience I know not many get to have, so I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience all of this with her beside me,” Johnson said of playing for her mom. “I love being able to have my mom there with me and it's something I definitely don't take for granted.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miss Volleyball is presented annually to the senior that has excelled on-and-off the volleyball court throughout their four-year high school career. Johnson is the first Byron Center player to win the honor and the first to take home Miss Volleyball on the west half of Michigan since Battle Creek St. Philip's Amanda McKinzie won the honor in 2012.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson came into 2026 having been named First Team All-State in Division 1 in 2025 and 2024, as well as Second Team in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last fall, Johnson led Byron Center to an appearance in the Division 1 state semifinals. This year, she's led the Bulldogs to being one of the top teams in Division 1. Byron Center will compete in the D1 quarterfinals on Tuesday looking for a second consecutive appearance in Battle Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Last year was not ideal, being reverse swept in the semifinals,” Johnson said. “I know from that very day, I have thought about it and taken it to heart. We had a lot of returning players this year and I know they have thought about it as well. I'm just excited that we have an opportunity to keep playing right now and we want to see how far we can take this.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is approaching 1,900 digs over her prep career, but also has over 600 kills and 275 aces while with Byron Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She marks the third consecutive Miss Volleyball winner to be going to the Nebraska volleyball program, following Gabby DiVita (2025) and Campbell Flynn (2024).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 Miss Volleyball Final Results</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='454351' first='Mallory' last='Johnson'], Byron Center 207 points</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='442987' first='Kate' last='Kalczynski'], Mercy 113</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='442995' first='Marlie' last='Smith'], Clarkston 99</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='462086' first='Mallory' last='Woiteshek'], Grand Haven 78</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='839825' first='Camille' last='Robinson'], Harper Creek 71</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'], Grand Rapids Christian 67</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='442976' first='Cynthia' last='Ockerman'], Brighton 46</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='467901' first='Mallory' last='Wandel'], Rockford 41</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='436889' first='Sophia' last='Smith'], Marian 35</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'], Forest Hills Northern 16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->