The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abby Kuyper Fairview, junior
In a year, Abby Kuyper went from a player relatively known in the Patriot Athletic Conference to an all out force on the Northeast Ohio volleyball scene. Teams in and out of the PAC had to game plan around the hard-swinging strong side hitter all season and the junior still put up staggering numbers across the board. In 77 sets played, Kuyper totaled 372 kills and finished the regular season with the third-best Morning Journal area average at 4.9 kills per set. She added 75 aces on an 80.9-percent serving efficiency, 18 blocks, and, as a six-rotation player, chipped in 253 digs (3.3 per set). Fortunately for the Warriors, Kuyper still has one season left at Fairview and will no doubt continue her trend of dominance. Until next year, though, she can call herself the Morning Journal volleyball Player of the Year.
COACH OF THE YEAR Ellie Caldwell Fairview
Caldwell ends her impressive four-year run at Fairview with an overall record of 48-16and led her team to back-to-back 16-0seasons in the Patriot Athletic Conference as well as a pair of league titles — the first and only championships in program history. She installed an offense the Warriors executed to near perfection match after match and led the team to a Division II district semifinal before eventually losing to runner-up Rocky River. More importantly, though, Caldwell helped re-establish Fairview volleyball and proved last year’s winning season was no fluke, and will leave the program in good hands no matter her successor.
— Marissa McNees
FIRST TEAM (In alphabetical order) S Natalie Appleton, Sr, Avon Lake
Set Avon Lake career, single-season and single-match records for assists. Played 81 sets and finished with 837assists (10.3per set), 214digs (2.6per set) and 89.1-percent serving efficiency with 30aces.
DS Serena DeNoto, Sr., Columbia
Division III, District 3all-star. Led the area in digs per set. Played 71sets and finished with 511digs (7.2per set), 94-percent serving efficiency and 350successful serve receptions.
OH Kaye Dregalla, Sr., Olmsted Falls
Three-year letter winner and First team AllSouthwestern Conference. Played 76sets and finished with 262kills (3.4per set), 235 digs (3.1per set) and 88.4-percent serving efficiency with 45aces.
S Maddy Jerdonek, Sr., Avon
The Fairfield University commit earned her 2,000th assist this season. Played 69sets and finished with 673assists (9.8per set), 128digs (1.9per set), 21blocks and 92.7-percent serving efficiency with 38aces.
MH Maggie McAndrews, Sr., Bay
A six-rotation player for the Rockets. Played 65 sets and finished with 342kills (5.3per set), 92.1-percent serving efficiency with 28aces, 71blocks (41solo) and 292digs (4.5per set).
DS Audrey McConihe, Sr., Amherst
The Cleveland State commit earned First team All-Lorain County and All-Southwestern Conference honors. Played 73sets and finished with 474digs (6.5per set), 98.8-percent serving efficiency with 14aces and 509successful serve receptions.
DS Raygan Murray, Sr., Rocky River
A Seton Hall commit who missed a portion of the regular season with a concussion and still put up big numbers. Played 68sets and finished with 357digs (5.3per set), 90.8-percent serving efficiency with 29aces and 490 successful serve receptions.
MH Ava Rauser, Sr., Rocky River
A 6-foot-1Harvard commit. Played 76sets and finished with 290kills (3.8per set), 85.7-percent serving efficiency with 25aces and 84 blocks (56solo, 1.1per set).
OH Gillian Romanchok, Sr., Avon
The 2018Lorain County Miss Volleyball is also a Clarion commit. Played 62sets and finished with 211kills (3.4per set), 158digs (2.5per set) and 89.7-percent serving efficiency with 18aces.
OH Leah Schmidt, Sr., Westlake
A University of Utah commit. Played 76 sets and finished with 374kills (4.9per set), 86.1-percent serving efficiency with 51aces, 40blocks (22solo) and 243digs (3.2per set). First team All-Southwestern Conference and First team All-District 2.
SECOND TEAM
(In alphabetical order) MH Emerson Dobbins, Sr., Open Door: Division IV Lorain County Player of the Year; 74sets, 260kills (3.5per set), 465(6.3per set), 89blocks (69solo, 1.2 per set), 95.4-percent serving efficiency, 65aces MH Jeanie Edgington, Sr., Olmsted Falls: First team All-District 3; 75sets, 199kills (2.7per set), 48.1kill percentage, 80blocks (18solo, 1.1per set), 86.8-percent serving efficiency OH Lindsey Frambach, Jr., Midview: First team AllLorain County; 75sets, 284kills (3.8per set), 188digs (2.4per set), 76-percent serving efficiency, 30aces OH Abby Kirk, Jr., Avon Lake: Second team AllLorain County; 80sets, 308kills (3.9per set), 204 digs (2.6per set), 301successful serve receptions, 89.1-percent serving efficiency, 52aces MH/S Alexis Lehmkuhl, Sr., Wellington: First team All-Lorain County; 84sets, 298kills (3.5per set), 302 assists (3.6per set), 188digs (2.2per set), 175blocks (2.1per set), 96.7-percent serving efficiency OH Abby Monn, So., Elyria: First team All-Greater Cleveland Conference; 73sets, 322kills (4.4per set), 252digs (3.5per set), 33blocks, 30aces OH/S Karissa Rankin, Sr., Oberlin: D-III Lorain County Player of the Year; 88sets, 314kills (3.6per set), 283successful serve receptions, 113digs (1.3 per set), 84.1-percent serving efficiency, 84aces S Samantha Ruggles, Jr., Lake Ridge: First team All-Lorain County, 70sets, 367assists (5.2per set), 201kills (2.9per set), 322digs (4.6per set), 91.1-percent serving efficiency, 52aces S Emma Szoradi, Sr., Fairview: District 2all-star; 77sets, 735assists (9.5per set), 162digs (2.1per set), 88.6-percent serving efficiency, 25aces OH Olivia Young, Sr., Rocky River: 78sets, 307 kills (3.9per set), 230digs (2.9per set), 414successful serve receptions, 90.1-percent serving efficiency, 31aces
THIRD TEAM
(In alphabetical order) MH Maddie Colahan, Sr., Vermilion: 86sets, 195 kills (2.3per set), 92blocks (36solo, 1.1per set), 113 (1.3per set), 78.5-percent serving efficiency, 43aces MH/S Jalen Gibbs, Sr., Wellington: 84sets, 242 kills (2.9per set), 194blocks (2.3per set), 228digs (2.7per set), 282assists (3.4per set) DS Elodie Joyce, Bay, Jr.: 74sets, 502digs (6.8per set), 344successful serve receptions, 96.6-percent serving efficiency, 48aces DS Lindsey LaPinta, Fr., Olmsted Falls: 76sets, 324digs (4.3per set), 298successful serve receptions, 96.6-percent serving efficiency, 26aces OH Lauren Sheehan, Jr., Brookside: D-II Lorain County Player of the Year; 75sets, 248kills (3.3 per set), 211digs (2.8per set), 91.3-percent serving efficiency, 26aces RS Taylor Small, Sr., Amherst: 73sets, 272kills (3.7per set), 59blocks, 85.3-percent serving efficiency, 10aces S Marissa Smiley, Sr, Rocky River: 77sets, 734 assists (9.5per set), 205digs (2.7per set), 22 blocks, 92.6-percent serving efficiency, 46aces RS/S Madi Smith, Sr., Elyria: 73sets, 273digs (3.7 per set), 215kills (2.9per set), 358assists (4.9per set) OH Meghan Sozio, Sr., Fairview: 77sets, 197kills (2.6per set), 194digs (2.5per set), 86.6-percent serving efficiency, 38aces OH/S Laken Voss, Fr., Amherst: 73sets, 219kills (3.0per set), 274digs (3.8per set), 395assists (5.4 per set), 98.3-percent serving efficiency, 21aces
HONOR ROLL
Amherst: Kaylin Betances; Avon: Katie Koziarz; Avon Lake: Kai Rybarczyk; Bay: Lauren McClure; Brookside: Bailey Kerstetter; Clearview: Vanecia Billings, Samantha Jancsura; Columbia: Morgan Davis; Elyria: McKenna Keir; Elyria Catholic: Julia Allegretto, Grace Schuckman; Fairview: Jade Peace; Firelands: Joselyn Moquette, Emily Squires; Keystone: McKenna Saterlee; Lake Ridge: Annika Miller; Lorain: Emily VanHorn, Sydney Patterson; Lutheran West: Victoria Graves, Sydney LaPointe; Midview: Alyssa Knipper; North Olmsted: Rachel Kennedy; North Ridgeville: Avery Jones; Oberlin: Lauren Sands; Olmsted Falls: Liana Petitti; Open Door: Emily Ford, Cailey Stintsman; Rocky River: Rachael Waite; Vermilion: Bree Calaway, Angela Fetsic; Wellington: Erin Frenk; Westlake: Malorie Hurd, Jackie Moracz