Grapevine, Birdville hitters headline preseason Fort Worth-area volleyball awards
Another Texas high school volleyball season on the horizon begs the question, who else is ready?
The regular season tips off on Monday Aug. 9 (that’s when games start to count) and the Fort Worth-area continues to have a good group of players back.
But if the summer heat got to you, let’s refresh your memory and take a look at some of the top players in the area. Here are the Fort Worth-area’s preseason picks:
Player of the Year
Janet deMarrais, Sr., Grapevine
Standing at 6-foot-3, it’s often difficult to put a block on one of deMarrais’ attempts from the outside which is why she got off 317 kills in only 23 matches last season.
The Missouri commit elevated her game during the playoffs, helping the Mustangs make program history. In six playoff games, deMarrais registered 112 kills, averaging nearly 20 a match and set a school record with 34 kills in a five-set win over Denton in the Class 5A Region 1 final.
deMarrais added five aces and a season-high 14 digs in the win to send the team to the state semifinals for the first time. On the year, she had 45 blocks and was voted District 6-5A first team as well as Class 5A all-state.
She was named Star-Telegram co-offensive MVP.
Offensive MVP
Maya Duckworth, Sr., Birdville
The Iowa State commit has been a force ever since she put on the Birdville jersey as a freshman in 2018 when she set a program record with 616 kills and was named Fort Worth-area newcomer of the year.
Duckworth was voted District 6-5A MVP and 5A all-state last season for the Hawks while registering 360 kills, 303 digs, 46 blocks and 18 double-doubles. She had at least 10 kills in all but one game and eight times surpassed the 20-kill mark, including five of her final seven matches.
Defensive MVP
Keegan O’Connor, Sr., Weatherford
O’Connor was tied for fifth in the Fort Worth-area with 462 digs last season and most among 6A returning defensive specialists. The District 3-6A Defensive MVP logged in 18 digs per match and had seven games with 20 or more.
Named to the TGCA All-Star game, O’Connor just missed the Top 10 in digs per set with 5.4.
Setter of the Year
Jessica Dunn, Sr., Southlake Carroll
The West Virginia commit was one of only 11 setters in the area to post 600 assists last season. Dunn was seventh with 698, but moved up to fourth with 9.7 assists per set.
Named District 4-6A First Team and to the all-area team, Dunn added 214 digs and had 11 double-doubles along with 30 or more assists in 14 matches for the Dragons.
Middle Blocker of the Year
Emily Adams, Sr., Arlington Martin
The reigning District 8-6A Blocker of the Year posted the highest hitting percentage in the Fort Worth-area with a 0.402 mark for the district champion Warriors.
Adams added 232 kills, which included 12 games of at least 10 kills. Adams finished with 67 blocks, second most among 6A area players, with four blocks or more in eight games.
Utility MVP
Hallee Sherlock, Sr., Keller Timber Creek
The Yale commit was a first-team selection last season in District 4-6A. Sherlock was a jack of all trades for the Falcons with her primary position at setter.
Sherlock was either first or second on the team in kills, assists, digs and aces finishing with 275 assists, 146 digs and 81 kills. She posted six double-doubles and one triple-double with a season-high 42 assists.
Newcomer of the Year Candidates
Kaitlyn Childree, Sr., Byron Nelson
Cayle Capaciete, Jr., Burleson Centennial
Angelina Masojc, Soph., Midlothian
Sydnee Peterson, Fr., Byron Nelson
Tatum Helmer, Fr., FW Lake Country
Ne’Khaela Rogers, Fr., Burleson Centennial
First Team
Outside Hitters
Makenna Miller, Sr., Justin Northwest: 6-5A Offensive MVP, 317 kills, 0.312 hitting, 17 games with 10 kills
Brynn Williams, Sr., Mansfield: 11-6A MVP, 6A all-state, 240 kills, 15 games with 10 kills
Paige Mooney, Sr., Eaton: 4-6A First Team, 182 kills, 291 digs, 8 double-doubles
Middle Blockers
Ellie Alexander, Sr., Granbury: 5-5A Blocker MVP, 250 kills, 224 digs, 86 blocks, 14 games with 10 kills
Kate Hansen, Jr., Weatherford: 3-6A Co-Offensive MVP, 6A all-state, 237 kills, 86 blocks
Setters
Courtney Hanson, Sr., Arlington Martin: 8-6A Setter MVP, 790 assists, 10 per set, 15 games with 30 assists
Morgan Howard, Jr., Colleyville Heritage: 6-5A Second Team, 791 assists, 8.9 per set, 7 games with 40 assists
Defensive Specialists
Emma Vasquez, Sr., Arlington: 8-6A Defensive MVP, 405 digs, 17 per match, 9 games with 20 digs
Jenna McMichael, Jr., Midlothian: 14-5A Defensive MVP, 509 digs, 36 aces, 5 games with 30 digs
Utility
Maddie Pyles, Sr., Kennedale: 10-4A Blocker MVP, 4A all-state, 338 kills, 174 digs, 54 aces, 22 games with 10 kills
This story was originally published August 2, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
