SANDERSON

Statistically, she ranked top-three locally in three different major categories with 185 kills, 163 digs and 68 aces. And those numbers certainly would have been even higher had the Kings not disposed of the majority of their opponents so quickly, as all but three of their regular-season victories came by straight sets.

Even more important than what she provided statistically, coach Brittany Garcia said, was her mere presence on the court.

“She’s very vocal, she communicates well with her teammates, she just kind of lifts the entire team up,” Garcia said. “When we were down on some plays she brought everybody back up. It was just her motivation and how she was with the other girls and how she was with her teammates that stood out. Add in her talent, and she just really stepped up this year.”

Garcia was most impressed with how Sanderson delivered in key matches.

Her biggest performances came against the Kings’ most difficult opponents. In a four-set victory over Skyline, arguably the marquee match of the Kings’ season, Sanderson had 10 kills and a season-high 15 digs. The very next day, she posted those exact same numbers in a win over Gila Ridge. She set her season-high in kills (19) to go along with 10 digs in a notable early-season victory, against Southwest (Calif.).

Garcia said the Skyline game stood out the most to her.

“Against a tough team we knew she needed to play at the top of her game and she did just that, with just going up and swinging away,” Garcia said. “I used to tell her just swing away, don’t worry about the block or hitting it out, and she did that that game.”

Although Sanderson’s junior year statistics (177 kills, 154 digs) were in line with what she posted this year, that’s not indicative of what Garcia termed “tremendous” growth by Sanderson.

“I’ve seen her grow so much every single year,” she said. “Sometimes between your junior and senior year you don’t see much growth in that time, but with her you could see it.”

Specifically, Garcia praised Sanderson’s work above the net with her hitting.

“Her defense has always been great, because hard work and hustle is what makes a great defender and that’s always really been there, but her hitting has improved tremendously,” Garcia said. “Her vertical has gotten higher, her swing, her approach; just everything improved this year.”

Sanderson said her main goal heading into the season was to minimize errors, something she accomplished. And what she’ll remember most, she said, is just the whole team experience.

“That’s a good way to end my senior year on mostly positive things,” she said. “It’s nice to reflect back on good memories.”