While Jones recognizes that Arrington is a team player, he also knows that her abilities make her one of the best in the nation.
Arrington and her Pope teammatesare gunning for a third-straightGeorgia championship.
Photo courtesy of Dixie Wilson
"Honestly, from day one I knew Mary Hannah was going to do something great with volleyball," Jones said. "I actually was watching her play in an 8th grade match with our feeder program when I first noticed her talent. Everything she did was so fluid and smooth- footwork, arm swing, passing form, but the biggest thing was she was already reading and anticipating the game so well."
"I really think Mary Hannah is one of the best all-around players I've ever coached. She literally can do it all," he added.
Awards have been plentiful for the Greyhound senior. She was the Cobb County Player of the Year and the Marietta Journal Player of the Year as a junior. She also earned Georgia 4A Player of the Year honors and was a MaxPreps All-American.
Arrington also helped lead the Greyhounds to a pair of state championships, a AAAAA title in 2009 and a AAAA crown in 2010. Last year she had 452 kills to go with 275 digs and 92 aces.
Despite the individual honors, Arrington's goals for her senior season remain the same – win a third straight state title.
"We want to win another state championship," she said. "I think Pope is stronger than ever this year. We have a lot of postseason experience and we have extremely strong team unity."
The Greyhounds are off to a strong start with only one loss on the season, a defeat at the hands of defending 5A state champion Walton.
"Walton and Chattahoochee will be our toughest competition this year," said Arrington. "They are both solid teams with many high level players."
Already committed to play at Auburn University, where her father Pat played football in the 1980s, Arrington is looking forward to playing at the next level.
"I'm extremely excited for the opportunity of being a D1 student athlete, but I know it's going to take a lot of work and effort, because even though I've already been playing at a high level, college is a whole new level of commitment and dedication," she said.
Arrington credits her many coaches with preparing her to take the next step.
"I've learned something from every coach I've ever had," she said. "It started with Dan Clotfelter who taught me the fundamentals of volleyball. Bryan Jones was my next coach and he taught me to always have fun when I play. It's just a game. Suzanne Fitzgerald came next and taught me what team commitment and determination really meant. My most current coach Heidi VanBeveren taught me a lot about mental toughness."
She added that the recruiting process was stressful at times but that making her final choice was not difficult.
"It wasn't hard for me choosing Auburn," she said. "I have always known it like a second home and I just got that gut feeling when I was there."
Besides winning a state championship, Arrington stresses that she strives every day to become a better team player and to be a role model on and off the court.
"Make sure you love the sport if you plan to go this far. Play because you want to and that you enjoy the sport," Arrington advises. "Remember that volleyball is a team sport. Always put your team's success in front of your personal success."
