Outdoor high school volleyball was played in Greater Lansing for the first time on Thursday, Aug. 20 when Lansing Catholic hosted the Volley Turf Takeover at Cougar Stadium. The event was inspired by East Grand Rapids, which has hosted outdoor volleyball games at its football stadium the last three seasons.
Williamston recorded a four-set win over Portland in the opener, winning by scores of 25-21, 17-25, 27-25 and 26-24. Lansing Catholic recorded a four-set victory over DeWitt in the finale.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Williamston, Lansing Catholic record wins in Volley Turf Takeover

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - Four area high school volleyball teams got their season started in a unique way on Thursday night, playing outdoor matches on Lansing Catholic's football field as part of the first annual "Volleyturf Takeover."
The concept of outdoor volleyball matches has grown in popularity ever since the Nebraska Cornhuskers drew 92,000 people to an outdoor volleyball match at Memorial Stadium in 2023.
Similar events have popped up around the country in recent years, including the "Rally on Reed's" at East Grand Rapids High School in West Michigan.
But Thursday night's event was the first time the concept has been tried in the Lansing area, and strong crowds came out to support two matches, Portland vs. Williamston and DeWitt vs. Lansing Catholic.
Williamston defeated Portland 3-1 in the first match, while Lansing Catholic topped DeWitt _-_ in the nightcap.

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Jill Marlan has heard about the success East Grand Rapids has had with its outdoor volleyball event at its turf football stadium in recent years.
That event and seeing things like the college outdoor volleyball game hosted by Nebraska in 2023 that set attendance records inspired Marlan to want to do something similar in Lansing.
So Marlan did her research and talked with the leadership at Lansing Catholic about the possibility of the event taking place locally. And her work over the last year and a half has led to Lansing Catholic planning to host what is being called the Volley Turf Takeover on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Cougar Stadium.
The event will feature a varsity volleyball doubleheader that begins at 5 p.m. with a matchup between Williamston and Portland followed by DeWitt facing Lansing Catholic at 7 p.m.
"I just think volleyball is trending right now and one of the fastest growing women's sports and (one of) the most watched women's sports right now so I'm just really excited to bring this to the Capital City," said Marlan, whose daughter, Leighton, is a senior on the Lansing Catholic team.

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