Giles' Sophie Taylor is VHSL Class 1 Volleyball Player of the Year
Dec. 2—CHARLOTTESVILLE, V. — The Virginia High School League its 2023 Class 1 All-State volleyball team Player of the Year is Giles sophomore outside hitter Sophie Taylor.
Altavista head coach Debra Spencer is the Class 1 Coach of the Year.
The 5-foot-11 Taylor finished the season with 637 kills, 52 aces, 61 blocks, 309 digs, a 297 hit efficiency, and a 90% serve percentage.
A first-team all-state selection as a freshman, she earned Mountain Empire District and Region 1C Player of the Year honors in 2023. In just two seasons, Taylor achieved 1,000 career kills, leading the Spartans to back-to-back state semifinals and meeting state champion Auburn each year
Joining Taylor on the first team are Lady Spartans teammates Kaitlyn Steele and Jordan Lucas.
Bland County's Chloe Dillow was a second-team selection.
Spencer has guided Altavista to five state finals during her legendary career. She won the state title in 2002 and runner-up finishes in 2005, 2011, and 2013 before this season.
Spencer again led her Colonels to the state championship game after defeating Rappahannock in the Class 1 semifinals 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-14, 25-20).
She met the defending state champions in the finals, dropping the title match with Auburn 3-1 (16-25, 11-25, 25-23, 12-25). Her Colonels finished the season 17-9 and won the Region 1B championship.
