Redmond wins MVP of All-State volleyball game
TULSA — Andrea Redmond played three positions Tuesday in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State volleyball game.
She wasn’t expecting that.
She walked out of the Mabee Center with the MVP award.
She didn’t even know that existed.
“Yeah, this was pretty fun today,” the Victory Christian star said.
Redmond, who will play at Oklahoma Baptist University, was the undeniable standout for the small school East team, which won 25-17, 25-23, 18-25.
Starting as an outside hitter, Redmond opened the first set by serving five straight points. She finished the night with 12 kills and 27 digs after playing most of the third set as a defensive specialist.
Her primary position? Middle defender.
Her performance displayed the all-around athletic ability that garnered All-State status after Redmond led Victory to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.
For her many unsuspecting skills, she thanked her coaches.
“Dan Donohue and Becky Olson, they prepared us pretty well,” Redmond said. “I was really struggling in defense and coach Olson really broke it down for me, she knew how because she had been there. She was a defender at the Division I level.”
With Redmond sparking a 5-0 advantage, the East won the first set 25-17, leading by eight points most of the way. They held a 22-13 lead in the second set before the West, led by Corn Bible’s Allison Russell, made a seven-point run.
The East held on to win 25-23.
Officials determined before the match that all three sets would be played regardless of result.
For Rejoice Christian setter Korry Burr, the All-State experience was a change of pace.Rejoice Christian reached the 4A state tournament with a unique style of play that involved little to no activity at the net.
Burr’s coach, her grandfather Wally Poplin, didn’t have the athletes to play for blocks or flashy spikes, so he improvised.
“It was special playing for him in his last season,” Burr said. “We had to do things differently, but we made it work.”
In the large school game, the East won the first two of three sets 25-15, 25-21, 18-25.
Small school
Top Performances: Victory Christian’s Andrea Redmond caught the West-side defenders flat-footed throughout the match en route to MVP honors. She and Catoosa’s Madison Chalupa dominated rallies. Noteworthy: Shannon May and Madison Chalupa of Catoosa had big plays. Chalupa’s two aces won the first set, and May swatted the winning point in the second set to clinch the match.
Dan Donohue and Becky Olson, they prepared us pretty well. I was really struggling in defense and coach Olson really broke it down for me, she knew how because she had been there. She was a defender at the Division I level.”
Andrea Redmond
Large school
Top Performances: Broken Arrow’s Mia Bledsoe brought a thunderous kill swing to the East’s effort. She and Bixby’s Rachel Fisher provided the fireworks in a 10-point win in the first set.Noteworthy: The East All-State team was hardly a group of strangers. All but three on the team played together for the Broken Arrowbased Club One Volleyball program.