Player of the Year -- Stephanie Kelly

For the season, Forest Park senior Stephanie Kelly had a 93.7 serve percentage and averaged 3.12 kills and 7.07 digs per match. Her position was setter, but she was routinely where the Bruins needed her to be when someone needed to be there. Her play was a major reason why the Bruins rallied from a 2-1 deficit in games to win the Cardinal District Tournament and also one of the major reasons the Bruins advanced as far as they did in the Northwest Regional playoffs. She averaged nearly 24 set assists per match as well.

What is your favorite thing about playing volleyball?

“My favorite thing about playing the game is the joy it brings me every time I walk onto that court. All my problems disappear and I can let everything out."

What is the area in which you improved the most from last season to this season?

“I improved my setting techniques on how to trick the opponent’s block and defensively mess with the other team by setting my hitters a certain way.”

What was the toughest opponent you faced as a team and why?

“As a team our toughest opponent was not another team, but beating ourselves when we needed to. We got stuck in situations where we were letting it get the best of us and beating ourselves, when the whole time all we needed to do was relax and play our game.”

Who got you interested in playing volleyball?

“Both of my parents played volleyball and I grew up watching them. After sitting through some of their games, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” 

What was your most memorable moment of this past season and why?

“My most memorable moment was tackling my best friend, Gabby Cruz, on the court after she got the game winning kill off my set to win the district title. Just seeing all of my teammates’ faces, it made me feel like I had accomplished something.”

Jean Morrissey

The Woodbridge Vikings may have finished third in the regular season, but they made it to the finals of the Cardinal District tournament and advanced to the regional quarterfinals. Morrissey was chosen as the district coach of the year for good reason because the Vikings played their best volleyball late and improved steadily throughout the season.

Brigette Boyd | Battlefield, senior

The Bobcats’ emotional leader and captain, she was also routinely all over the court and rarely, if ever, on the bench, for Battlefield. Boyd attained all-Cedar Run first team status easily with her ability to notch key kills, but also with the passion and fire she displayed on a match-to-match basis.

Erin Buckley | Woodbridge, junior

Buckley stepped it up a notch when it counted—at districts and regionals. Buckley notched 127 kills, but it was her play in critical moments against Forest Park and in the regionals against Battlefield that provided her strongest case for first-team status.

Gabrielle Cruz | Forest Park, senior

Cruz was the team's leading hitter and a second-team all-Northwest Region pick. She notched the match-winning kill in Forest Park's district tournament victory over Woodbridge.

Beatriz Fernandez | Woodbridge, junior

The Cardinal District’s Player of the Year had strong numbers in kills (163) and aces (46), but her major contributions to her team were charisma and emotion. “She can fire up a team like no one else can do,” Morrissey said.

Azize Hazou | Woodbridge, senior

With 103 kills and 76 digs as a defensive specialist, Hazou will get your attention, but it was her overall hustle that caused most opposing coaches to take notice. She particularly took her play to another level in post-season matches, which is one of several reasons why the Vikings were a tough out at districts and regionals.

Krissy Lambert | Evangel Christian, junior

Lambert recorded 722 assists and 102 aces, but her most important contribution was ensuring her teammates were successful because of her outstanding sets. The Eagles won their fifth consecutive Old Dominion Association of Christian Schools title and Lambert was a major reason why.

Kenzie Higareda | Forest Park, freshman

Higareda posted 457 digs, averaging nearly 16 per match, and used a deceptive but effective jump serve to put the Bruins’ opponents off-balance. She recorded a serve percentage of 92.7 percent for the season.

Erin Morrissey | Woodbridge, senior

Morrissey missed just nine serves all season. In many ways, the contributions of Morrissey were factors in how the Vikings were able to reach the district championship match. She ended up with 573 assists, 17 aces, and a dig rating of 1.7.

Jasmine Morrow | Evangel Christian, senior

Last season’s News and Messenger player of the year, Morrow was once again Evangel’s most consistent player who cemented herself as one of the area’s best. Morrow had 550 kills, 242 digs, 191 aces and 152 assists.

Alyssa Sanchez | Osbourn Park, senior

Sanchez was the iron horse for the Yellow Jackets, rarely taking a rest during a match, while moving everywhere on the court and often notching digs that were other-worldly. She posted 335 digs overall.