Ridgeland’s Te’a Owens selected as Area 6-4A Volleyball Player of the Year

Ridgeland’s Te’a Owens was named the Area 6-4A Volleyball Player of the Year on Saturday.

The senior ranks third in the state and third nationally in hitting percentage (.557), while she ranks 13th in the state in total kills (370). Those ranking and stats do not include the area tournament, when she recorded 116 kills in six matches.

Owens was joined on the All-Area first team by LaFayette’s Karissa Tatum, Heritage’s Nikol Taylor, Gilmer’s Kayleigh Reece and Northwest’s Holly Heath and Malane Kyer.

Second team picks included Ridgeland’s Taylor Williams, LaFayette’s Jade Maggard, Northwest’s Kaley Long, Heritage’s Kinsey Hargis, Southeast’s Melisa Fraire and Pickens’ Kirsten Elrod.

The Honorable Mention selections were Jamese Miller (Ridgeland), Timerra Bell and Gracie Stier (LaFayette), Baylee Burnette, Jordan Luzynski, Raven Sparks and Harley Weaver (Gilmer), Macy Harris and Cayla Jacob (Heritage), Shelby Gordon (Northwest), Kayla Duckett, Tessa Duncan, Peyton Avery and Calista Odum (Pickens) and Mckenn Lentych and Tania Lopez (Southeast).

Heritage’s Kari Cooper was named as the Area 6-4A Coach of the Year.

No. 8-ranked Ridgeland won the area championship will host Carver-Columbus, the No. 4 seed from Area 1, in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament. Northwest, the No. 2 seed, will welcome Shaw of Columbus to Tunnel Hill. No. 7-ranked Heritage, the No. 3 seed will play at NorthsideColumbus and No. 4 LaFayette will travel to Area 1 champion and No. 5-ranked Columbus.

Those matches will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13.