Division IIIPLAYER OF THE YEAR
A-A - Heidi Dyer, Saddleback Valley Christian (San Juan Capistrano), 6-2 SR
Heidi Dyer, Saddleback Valley Christian
Photo by David Dennis
Named the CIF-SS 3-A POY and a MaxPreps All-American, Dyer led the Warriors to the state title match and a 33-6 record. She averaged 3.1 kills, 2.9 digs and 5.1 assists per set. She also blocked 69 shots, served 50 aces (94.2 percent) and returned 286 serves with only five errors. She has signed with Pepperdine.
MH - Madison Murtagh, Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), 6-1 SR
Ronika Stone, Valley Christian
File photo by Daryl Chan
A first-team all-WCAL selection, Murtagh helped propel Sacred Heart Cathedral to the D-III state championship, averaging a team-leading three kills per set. Also one of the team's top blockers, Murtagh will play next season at USF.
MB - Ronika Stone, Valley Christian (San Jose), 6-3 JRStone
put up big numbers against some of the west's top teams in leading VCHS
to a 26-13 record. The MaxPreps All-American posted 575 kills (5.0),
served 94 percent (47 aces), blocked 68 shots, averaged 2.4 digs and
returned 269 serves.
MB - Kyra Rogers, Oakmont (Roseville), 6-0 SRRogers helped lead Oakmont to a 29-6 season and a 14-0 league mark by averaging four kills and almost four digs per match. She has signed with UCLA.
OH - Sasha Krnic, Monterey, SRKrnic helped the Toreadors to a Pacific Division title and 23 wins, compiling a team-high 395 kills and 253 digs and 70 service aces.
OH - Kelley Wirth, Campolindo (Moraga), 6-0 SRWirth, a two-time DFAL MVP, had 648 kills, 37 blocks and 146 digs as the Cougars were 29-9. A MaxPreps All-American, Wirth will attend Yale.
OH - Tesa Oaks, Woodcrest Christian (Riverside), SOOaks finished with 417 kills (5.3) to help the Royals advance to the CIF-SS Division 3-A finals, the program's first appearance in a section title match. She also registered 317 digs and 62 blocks in helping the team win the Ambassador League title. Oaks was all-CIF in Division 3A.
OH - Brianna Karsseboom, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 5-10 SR Karsseboom had 228 kills, 25 blocks and 195 digs, helping the team to a WACC Foothill title, a spot in the NCS D-3 semifinals and a berth in the NorCal playoffs.
OH - Taylor Selfridge, Culver City, 5-10 SRIn being named to the CIF-SS 3A team, Selfridge led Culver City to a 27-win season by averaging nearly four kills and four digs per set.
OH - Rebekah Cervantes, Redwood (Visalia), 5-9 SRThe co-West Yosemite League MVP finished with 301 kills, 67 aces, 26 blocks and 357 digs to help lead the Rangers to their first WYL title since 2005.
OH - Delaney Swanson, Sonoma Valley (Sonoma), 5-11 SRSwanson put up big numbers for a 29-win team with five kills and 4.5 digs per set. Swanson was league co-MVP with All-American teammate Mackenzie Albrecht.
OH - Pearl Escobar, Calexico, 5-9 JREscobar was among the state's top hitters with a 6.6 kill per set averager. And she hit nearly 50 percent. In leading Calexico to its first postseason in more than 30 years, Escobar had 70 aces.
S - Ally Wubben, Oakmont (Roseville), 5-10 SRWubben averaged 10 assists per set (1,118 on the season) and found time for 403 digs (2.8), 57 aces (93 percent) and 154 kills (1.4).
S - Blossom Sato, Santa Monica, SRSato was named the Ocean League's Most Outstanding Player and led the Vikings in most categories in their 17-11 season.
S - Mackenzie Albrecht, Sonoma Valley (Sonoma), 6-0 SR
Maddie Merlino, Rio Americano
Photo by David Steutel
A MaxPreps All-American, Albrecht was all over the court with 1,097 assists (11.8), 300 digs (3.2), 29 blocks, 65 aces and 81 kills as the Dragons went 29-4 and reached the state quarterfinals. She has signed with California.
S - Maddie Merlino, Rio Americano (Sacramento), 5-10 SRAnother outstanding setter from the Sacramento area, Merlino helped Rio win 30 matches with 70 aces, 381 digs and 1,154 assists (9.2 average).
L - Alexis Dirige, Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), 5-2 JRA MaxPreps All-American, Dirige plays much bigger than 5-2 and recorded 612 digs (6.0), served 95.1 percent (33 aces) and returned 572 serves as Sacred Heart won the state title and finished 37-3.
L - Victoria Rodriguez, La Mirada, 5-3 SRThe All-Suburban League standout led the Matadors to 23 wins with 204 digs against just three digging errors. She averaged 2.9 per set and led the team in aces with 51. The senior did her best defensive work in the playoffs, racking up season-high dig totals of 21, 24 and 18 in the playoff run.
A-A - Halland McKenna, Sage Hill (Newport Beach), 5-7 SR McKenna finished her sparkling four-year career with a program-record 1,552 kills and guided the Lightning to a 23-4 season and the state quarterfinals. The CIF-SS 3-AA POY and MaxPreps All-American, McKenna is headed to Stanford.
A-A - Ifeoma Ufondu, Quartz Hill, SRUfondu led the Rebels to a 28-2 season with team highs in kills and aces and was second in blocking and digs. She was chosen to the all-CIF SS D-3 team.
A-A - Khalia Jordan, Olympian (Chula Vista), 5-9 JRJordan averaged four kills, four returns and four digs per set as the Eagles won 24 times.