Meet the H-T's All-Area Volleyball Team

Dennis Maffezzoli, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
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These are the 24 nominees for the Herald-Tribune's 2021 Volleyball Player of the Year for the Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte High School Sports Awards to be held at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota in the spring. The winner will be announced at the show. More details about the program are coming soon.

During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the top three finalists and the Player of the Year. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. Check back later in the year for information on how to RSVP.

The Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

H-T ALL-AREA VOLLEYBALL TEAM

SIERRA ARNSPERGER, Braden River High, sophomore

The right-side hitter had 151 kills, 151 digs, 54 aces, 17 blocks and six assists for the Pirates.

LEAH BARTLETT, Venice High, junior

The middle blocker had 274 kills for Venice.

CALLA BEUKAMA, Bradenton Christian School, junior

The middle blocker had 181 kills, 35 aces, 26 blocks and 252 digs for the Panthers.

Cardinal Mooney Catholic's Jordyn Byrd, left, and Madeline Carson, shown here playing in a match against Out-of-Door Academy, are among the 24 players on the 2021 H-T All-Area volleyball team.
Cardinal Mooney Catholic's Jordyn Byrd, left, and Madeline Carson, shown here playing in a match against Out-of-Door Academy, are among the 24 players on the 2021 H-T All-Area volleyball team.

JORDYN BYRD, Cardinal Mooney Catholic School, junior

The outside hitter had 551 kills, 25 aces, 56 blocks and 258 digs for the Cougars.

MADELINE CARSON, Cardinal Mooney Catholic School, junior

The middle blocker had 287 kills, 27 aces, 86 blocks and 67 digs for the Cougars.

GABI CRESPO, Lemon Bay High, senior

The right-side hitter had 227 kills, 32 blocks and 47 digs for the Manta Rays.

Lemon Bay High's Gabi Crespo hits past Imagine School at North Port's Kimmy Snook (15) and Serena Kohler during a match in Englewood. Crespo and Kohler are among the 24 players on the H-T All-Area Volleyball Team.
Lemon Bay High's Gabi Crespo hits past Imagine School at North Port's Kimmy Snook (15) and Serena Kohler during a match in Englewood. Crespo and Kohler are among the 24 players on the H-T All-Area Volleyball Team.

PRESLEY ENGELAUF, Lemon Bay High, junior

The middle blocker had 50 blocks, 216 kills, 17 aces and 23 digs for the Manta Rays.

IRELAND FERGUSON, Venice High, senior

The defender, who has committed to Angelo State, had 125 kills, 29 aces and 259 digs for Venice.

MCKENNA FLAHERTY, Riverview High, senior

The outside hitter had 88 kills, 10 aces, 15 blocks and 90 digs for the Rams.

AALIYA GENAT, Out-of-Door Academy, senior

The outside hitter had 184 kills, 25 aces, 19 blocks and 50 digs for the Thunder.

HELENA HEBDA, Cardinal Mooney Catholic School, sophomore

The setter had 973 assists, 222 digs, 31 kills, 31 aces and 26 blocks for the Cougars.

Cardinal Mooney's Helena Hebda (1) and Madeline Carson (6), both members of the 2021 H-T All-Area Volleyball Team, go up for a block against Venice High's Ireland Ferguson, also an All-Area selection, during a match at Venice High.
Cardinal Mooney's Helena Hebda (1) and Madeline Carson (6), both members of the 2021 H-T All-Area Volleyball Team, go up for a block against Venice High's Ireland Ferguson, also an All-Area selection, during a match at Venice High.

PADEN KELLER, Venice High, senior

The middle blocker had 318 kills and eight digs for Venice.

ELISE KELLEY, Sarasota Christian School, senior

The libero had 417 digs, 86 assists and 74 aces for the Blazers.

HAILEY KNEPP, Sarasota Christian School, senior

The outside hitter had 356 kills, 279 digs, 50 aces and seven blocks for the Blazers.

Sarasota Christian's Hailey Knepp, shown here scoring a point during a match against Bradenton Christian, had 356 kills and 279 digs for the Blazers this season.
Sarasota Christian's Hailey Knepp, shown here scoring a point during a match against Bradenton Christian, had 356 kills and 279 digs for the Blazers this season.

SERENA KOHLER, Imagine School at North Port, senior

The outside hitter had 296 kills, 202 digs, 55 blocks and 49 aces for the Sharks.

EMMA LAADE, Bradenton Christian School, senior

The outside hitter had 393 kills, 274 digs, 23 aces and 21 blocks for the Panthers.

Bradenton Christian's Emma Laade (5), shown here spiking the ball over Southwest Florida Christian Academy defenders, had 393 kills and 274 digs for the Panthers this season.
Bradenton Christian's Emma Laade (5), shown here spiking the ball over Southwest Florida Christian Academy defenders, had 393 kills and 274 digs for the Panthers this season.

KRISTEN LOWERS, Charlotte High, senior

The setter had 277 assists, 268 digs, 214 kills, 69 blocks and 33 assists for the Tarpons.

ALEX MARSHALL, Palmetto High, junior

The outside hitter had 197 kills, 64 digs, 22 aces and nine assists for the Tigers.

ELLA PARDUE, Bradenton Christian School, senior

The setter had 611 assists, 88 digs, 46 aces and 25 kills for the Panthers.

ASHLEY REYNOLDS, Venice High, junior

The setter had 177 digs, 54 kills and 31 aces for Venice.

KENDALL STEINERT, Lemon Bay High, senior

The setter had 795 assists, 236 digs, 70 aces and 38 blocks for the Manta Rays.

BRYANNA SANDS, Braden River High, sophomore

The middle hitter had 212 kills, 204 digs, 47 aces and 17 blocks for the Pirates.

ARYANNA SPAINHOWER, Braden River High, sophomore

She had 243 digs, 186 kills, 28 aces, 14 blocks and five assists for the Pirates.

MCKENZIE SCHMUCKER, Lakewood Ranch High, senior

The setter had 527 assists, 231 digs, 121 kills, 61 aces and 31 blocks for the Mustangs.

H-T ALL-AREA VOLLEYBALL
COACH OF THE YEAR

BRIAN WHEATLEY, Venice High

The dean of area volleyball coaches led Venice to a 22-8 record. Venice reached the Class 7A-Region 3 final before losing to eventual state champion Tampa Plant.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

At the conclusion of each high school season, the Herald-Tribune sends the area athletic directors a nomination form for coaches to select and rank players for our All-Area teams. A combination of Herald-Tribune research and the coaches’ player rankings lead to the teams being selected. A player of the year for each sport will be announced at the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Area High School Sports Awards show in June.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Herald-Tribune's All-Area Volleyball Team for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties