NORTON SHORES – The Reeths-Puffer volleyball program is on the way up, as the record clearly indicates at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Things weren’t so great for the Rockets back in 2023, when they won only seven matches. They increased that total to 12 victories last year, however, then finished this season with 19 wins.
Now they will look forward to a very promising future, but it will be without head coach Justin Birr, whose resignation became official following R-P's three-set loss to state-ranked Grand Haven on Wednesday in a Division 1 district tournament match at Mona Shores High School.
Coach Justin Birr on the sidelines on Wednesday. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“It still hasn’t hit me,” said Birr, who is stepping aside after six years as the varsity coach to spend more time with his young children. “It’s all I’ve known for 12 years (total coaching time). I’ve been a teacher and a coach. Now I’m just going to be a teacher and dad, which is exciting.”
Despite some tough times over the past few seasons, Birr is proud that his team has shown steady improvement, and he expects that trend to continue in the near future.
“I feel very at peace with my decision because of that,” Birr said. “Because we have good coaches in our program, and we have lots of talent coming up. Due to all of that, I don’t feel like I’m leaving at a bad time.”
R-P's Carlee Bowen (5) keeps the ball in play. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Five seniors also had their last outing with the Rockets on Wednesday. One of them, Carlee Bowen, said she was proud of how she and her teammates sent their coach out.
“I’ve known Coach Birr for a long time,” Bowen said. “He’s always had my back and he’s always been there for all of us. I’m proud of us all, and truly I couldn’t be prouder of the fight we put up.”
The Rockets battled hard on Wednesday against the Buccaneers, who are ranked 10th in the state in Division 1.
They only trailed by one point, 9-8, early in the first set. Then Grand Haven went on a 9-4 run to take an 18-12 lead and ended up winning 25-18.
R-P's Mairyn Peterson (12) battles at the net. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The teams were tied 6-6 in the second set before Grand Haven finished with a 19-9 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the final set, Reeths-Puffer once against started tough, trailing just 8-7 after the first 15 points. Grand Haven closed the set on a 17-6 run, however, to move on to Thursday’s district championship match.
Freshman Kate Tindall had a good overall night for the Rockets, which 12 assists, two aces, one block and three digs.
Lexie Danz had five kills and four digs, Peyton Radel had three kills, Mairyn Peterson added two kills, and Bowen finished with eight digs.
R-P's Lexie Danz (2) dives for the ball. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Reeths-Puffer finished the season with a 19-21 record.
While Birr is still getting used to the idea of not coaching again, at least for a while, he said he’s looking forward to the next chapter of his life.’
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“I miss a lot of their lives doing this,” he said about his kids. “As anybody involved in athletics knows, it’s late nights and weekends. I’m just really looking forward to them looking at the sidelines of their games and seeing me there more often. I’m just really excited about being present for all of that.”