Local players named All-state in volleyball

If anyone needed more proof about the increasing talent level in volleyball across-the-board in our local area, one needs only to look at this year’s list of Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association Allstate players.

Seven different players representing three of our local schools were selected as All-state players for their performances this past season.

Region 6-AAAA champion Lafayette saw two of its players given the honor.

Senior middle hitter Jillian Morgan, who was also the region’s Player of the Year, was tabbed as the Coplayer of the Year for the 4A classification. Morgan finished with a career-high 433 kills this past season, passing 1,000 kills for her stellar career. She added 125 total blocks (49 solo) with 113 digs, 67 aces and 61 assists.

Also making the team from LaFayette was sophomore setter Colby Charland. The first team All-region selection had an amazing 1,010 assists this past season, while also recording 356 digs, 123 kills, 73 aces and 57 blocks.

Ringgold senior setter Zoie Metcalf, the Most Valuable Player of Region 6-AAA, was also named GVCA All-state in Class 3A after 847 assists, 133 aces, 97 kills, 71 digs and 12 blocks for the three-time region champion Lady Tigers. Metcalf was also selected by the MVP School of Sports organization as one of its Co-players of the Year.

Down the road in Chickamauga, the Region 7A/AA Public School champion Gordon Lee Lady Trojans placed four players on the Allstate team for the classification.

Region Player of the Year, sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn Hudson, had 284 kills, 168 digs, 49 aces and 26 blocks this past season. Her frontcourt teammate, sophomore middle blocker Arilyn Lee, finished with 193 kills to go with 57 blocks, 52 aces and 42 digs.

Senior libero Madison Mayberry finished the year with 323 digs, 38 aces and four kills to earn a spot on the squad, while sophomore setter M.K. Roberts ended the year with 519 assists, 171 digs, 58 kills, 39 aces and 10 blocks.

Lafayette and Gordon Lee both advanced to the state semifinals in their respective classifications, while Ringgold made it to the Round of 16.

Lafayette senior Jillian Morgan was recently named as the Class 4A Co-player of the Year in the state of Georgia by the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association.