Hickey named SCCAL MVP
SC senior helped team win regular season and tournament titles
Senior middle blocker/outside hitter Kona Hickey didn't have eye popping numbers on the court for Santa Cruz High's successful and balanced boys volleyball team, but his talent, leadership and passion were undeniable.
Hickey was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League MVP by local coaches after helping the Cardinals (26-8, 10-0) win the league's regular season and tournament titles.
Hickey said he was happy to receive the award. He figured someone on his team would earn it.
The thing he was most proud of this season?
“Seeing my teammates grow as players and individuals,” he said.
Santa Cruz earned the No. 6 seed for the Central Coast Section playoffs and qualified for the prestigious Open Division. The Cardinals' season came to a close with a loss to No. 3 Valley Christian of San Jose, the eventual champion, in the first round of play.
Hickey, who is 6-foot-2 and has a 23-inch vertical, will attend Cal Poly Humboldt next year and play volleyball for the school's club team. He plans to major in marine biology or geology.
“He's a passionate player and a great leader,” Cardinals coach Justin Bates said. “He has speed, agility, and the ability to read a setter and put up a solid block. He gets a solid read on the hitters.”
Bates added that Hickey was great with getting the team to refocus.
Harbor's Josh Rejfir was named Frosh of the Year.
First-year Scotts Valley coach Mikayla Fish was named Coach of the Year by her peers.
Hickey was joined on the all-SCCAL first team by two of his teammates, sophomore outside hitter Gammon Nilssen and sophomore libero/outside hitter Julien “JuJu” Pally.
SCCAL runner-up Harbor (16-16, 7-3), which lost to No. 1 seed and eventual champion Harker in the CCS D-II semifinals, also had three players named to the first team: Menlo College-bound senior setter Andre Yarme, sophomore opposite Noah Luksich, and junior outside hitter Gryphon Butler.
Aptos senior middle blocker Jackson Bloom rounded out the first team after helping the Mariners (10-8, 5-5) finish third in league.