TROPHY CLUB, Texas — The
Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) volleyball team received its MaxPreps National Championship banner Friday and MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Sophee Peterson was also honored during a pep rally at the school.
The Bobcats went 42-0 en route to
winning the Conference 6A state championship for the second straight season. They went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the
MaxPreps Top 25 and won the school's third state title, all under coach Brianne Groth.
"It's hard because you try not to compare (seasons), but this year and last year are different," Groth said. "Last year, it was 'Can we do it?' where this year was 'We better do it.' "
The Byron Nelson volleyball team poses with its MaxPreps National Championship banner on Friday along with National Volleyball Editor Aaron Williams at a pep rally Friday at the school. The Bobcats went 42-0 with their second Texas state title and second MaxPreps National Championship. (PHOTO: Michael Horbovetz)
MaxPreps
has been recognizing volleyball national champions since 2009. Byron Nelson
joined Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.) as the only schools
to earn back-to-back
championships.
"To be able to say we were two-time MaxPreps National Champions and that only one other team has done it ... I don't think it's set in yet. But five, six years down the road, it's really going to set in just how special this group was and just how talented they were," Groth said.
Peterson, a junior already committed to national champion Texas A&M, totaled 1,459 assists (13.9 per set), 274 digs, 161 kills, 70 blocks and
44 aces. She dished up 30 or more assists in 27 matches — with a high of
57 — and enters her senior season with 3,660 assists.
She was joined on the MaxPreps All-America team by Washington commit
Kylie Kleckner (519 kills) and Rice commit
Ashlyn Seay (523 kills).
Byron Nelson is the first school to have two players named MaxPreps National Player of the Year. Paige Flickinger was honored in 2019 and Peterson becomes the first junior to receive the honor.
"I feel grateful," Peterson said. "It's a really special award. There are so many great players in this country and it's really great to be recognized and it shows how much of a powerhouse Byron Nelson is and it's a cool honor that I get to share with Paige."
Byron Nelson Bobcats
Coaches
Brianne Groth
Chrissy Garcia
Haley Tippett
Brylee Anglin
MaxPreps National Player of the Year Sophee Peterson of Byron Nelson poses with her trophy alongside volleyball editor Aaron Williams on Friday at a school pep rally. (PHOTO: Michael Horbovetz)
